Pregnant 12 year old dog

Question
Hi. Our dog is 12 years old, healthy (she jogs with me over 2 miles each day, but has been having trouble doing that, and even walking up stairs lately), and we believe pregnant.  She has become very lethargic and hasn't been eating much the last few days.  She seems to be having some difficulty breathing, but that was coming on before we believe she got pregnant.  What would you suggest?

Answer
Breeding a HEALTHY female 12 is not unheard of, they just  have a higher risk potential for birth defects. Primarily due to the age of the DNA in the eggs (essentially, a female has every egg she'll ever produce when she's born). Males however make fresh sperm every day as long as they are healthy.

But breeding an older female is always a health risk.  If you suspect she is pregnant I would strongly suggest that you take her into the vet for x-rays to confirm the pregnancy and to ensure that she does not have other health issues.

Good luck.