5.5 week pregnant Yorkie!

[Littlewone]

Hi Everyone, this is my first post and I'm new to all
Of this.

I have a 4.5 pound yorkie whom Is 5.5 weeks pregnant (x-Ray booked for this coming Friday to be sure) !

She has a very tiny tummy that only just started to show maybe 4 days ago! With that being said she is playful as always yet still very clingy and tired lately! She cleans herself excessively .. Far more than ever before! However, her nipples are only a little bigger than when she was in heat and I was expecting to see drastic changes... Is this normal?

Thank you for any help

[bjh]

Welcome to YorkieTalk. I will be praying that all goes well for your little girl. Do you have experience whelping puppies? There is so much to learn and so much to prepare for. As for your question, some yorkies show earlier than others. It really depends on the number of puppies they are carrying. Most don't start showing signs of pregnancy until about 5 weeks. Is this a planned pregnancy? How old is your girl and how big was the stud? Please feel free to ask more questions, there are a lot of people on YT that can help you. Just keep in mind that your little girl is on the small side so she will be more at risk for whelping problems so you really need to be prepared.

[Littlewone]

My little Arrabella is 1.5 years old (this is her second heat) vet checked and health, temperament etc approved. With that being said I know there is much talk of a mentor on here, however I haven't been able to find one locally! I have been reading about whelping/breeding since we got her!

I work extremely closely with my vet whom also happens to live on the acreage next to us! I've watched videos and will continue to study a much as I can.

As for the stud, he too is mine (Sylus) whom is 4 pounds! I've spoken with the vet in great length prior to breeding them about if this would be acceptable and was told it should be just fine!

I have bumped up the X-ray for tomorrow her 42 day of pregnancy (if she is pregnant)! Like I stated before she has a tiny belly that started at 5 weeks but I just expected the nipples to be larger etc.

Well we will find out soon!

[bjh]

I am very glad to hear you are working closely with your vet. Personally I do not see any reason to have her x-rayed so soon. If you do it to early then you may not know for sure how many she is carrying. I think most people wait longer so as not to expose the momma and the pups to early. Here is a good website that explains a bit about xray and what to expect.

G9923 Pregnancy Determination in the Bitch | University of Missouri Extension

The nipples don't usually start getting bigger until more toward the end of the pregnancy. Each female is different. I have had some females with really tiny nipples and some with huge nipples.

How many times was she bred and over how long of a period? If she was bred several times then one of the later breeding could of taken and she might not be as far along as you think. Another reason to wait a little longer on the x-ray.

[Littlewone]

I really just let the breeding happen naturally as we weren't pushing for it! They bred 5 times over a three day period and then they appeared to have stopped!

Hmm, the vet told me not to wait too long as they may be too large to see how many?? I'm going to check out the link you just gave me!

Thank you

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Littlewone

I really just let the breeding happen naturally as we weren't pushing for it! They bred 5 times over a three day period and then they appeared to have stopped!

Hmm, the vet told me not to wait too long as they may be too large to see how many?? I'm going to check out the link you just gave me!

Thank you

I have never hear that. I do know that if a female is going to have a huge litter then it is sometimes hard to tell how many are in there. I guess since your vet is your mentor, more or less, then it would be best to do what he advises.
Hopefully she will have at least two pups in her. Often if the female is only carrying one or two pups, the pups will get to big and that can lead to a c-section.

I think most vets like to wait closer to the due date so they know how big the pups will be and if the female will be able to deliver them. I imagine your vet will want to x-ray again closer to her due date.

[MyFairLacy]

The bones don't calcify until after 45 days so an x-ray at this point is too soon. Are you sure your vet isn't recommending an ultrasound? You can do an ultrasound at this stage to verify pregnancy and possibly count puppies, but ultrasound is not very reliable for counting puppies. You should x-ray around day 58 to get an idea of how many puppies there are.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

The bones don't calcify until after 45 days so an x-ray at this point is too soon. Are you sure your vet isn't recommending an ultrasound? You can do an ultrasound at this stage to verify pregnancy and possibly count puppies, but ultrasound is not very reliable for counting puppies. You should x-ray around day 58 to get an idea of how many puppies there are.

Michelle, thanks for that information. I was hoping someone more knowledgeable about x-rays would post.

[Littlewone]

Hmm very strang, like I said before I work very closely with my vet .. We talk almost weekly. And they specifically told me that the bones calcify at 42 days... And that we could get an X-ray to confirm the pregnancy and amount of puppies!

I will be sure to question prior to is havig the X-ray tomorrow to confirm again! At very least she will get another health check

Thank you!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Littlewone

Hmm very strang, like I said before I work very closely with my vet .. We talk almost weekly. And they specifically told me that the bones calcify at 42 days... And that we could get an X-ray to confirm the pregnancy and amount of puppies!

I will be sure to question prior to is havig the X-ray tomorrow to confirm again! At very least she will get another health check

Thank you!

Just keep us posted on how things go. Good luck tomorrow.

[MyFairLacy]

Originally Posted by Littlewone

Hmm very strang, like I said before I work very closely with my vet .. We talk almost weekly. And they specifically told me that the bones calcify at 42 days... And that we could get an X-ray to confirm the pregnancy and amount of puppies!

I will be sure to question prior to is havig the X-ray tomorrow to confirm again! At very least she will get another health check

Thank you!

Unless you did progesterone testing, then you don't know what day she ovulated. Puppies are due 63 days from ovulation, not from a breeding. Unless you know exactly what day she ovulated then you don't know the exact age of the fetuses...I sure wouldn't waste money x-raying so early. If you don't see puppies you won't know whether she isn't pregnant or if it is just too early for an x-ray. If you do see puppies, it may be hard to count at this age. I would wait until she's further along. Maybe you can see about an ultrasound if you really want to confirm pregnancy now

[McheleM]

We did the ultrasound to confirm and an X-ray later.

If you've been reading and studying since you got her, surely you've come across information that states that puppies bones calcify at day 45, and teeth will show on an X-ray around day 60.
You can get an X-ray to confirm and count puppies, but not if nothing shows up.... It's a waste of time and money to X-ray earlier and hope to see something.
Sperm can last 48 hours, and if she was bred over a 3 day period, ovulation could have happened anywhere in between there and 5 days, so you have a window of time that is uncertain for you unless, as myfairlacy said you did progesterone testing.
I truly hope she does okay if she is pregnant. My girl is 5 pounds and had trouble.

The breeder section here on yorkietalk offers a wealth of information.

[Littlewone]

I've actually come across many different books/sites that state the bones calcify anywhere between 42-45 days! I've also called and spoken with 6 different vets in my local area whom all states the same fact! That is why I am so at odds with this! All of the vets told me to get it done now!

I will bring her tomorrow and speak with them yet again, if we feel it unnecessary than we will wait! I was more wanting to confirm the pregnancy than anything!

Thank you all for your help!

[Yorkiemom1]

If there is one thing breeding dogs for MANY years has taught me, experienced breeders that are professional and reputable and have devoted an enormous amount of time to producing healthy babies, usually do better with sharing all the little tips and advice than vets actually do.....we have more experience than they do with the entire process of breeding and whelping.....the exception being experienced vets specializing in reproduction! We can learn some very expensive lessons over the years, doing this. As good as a vet is, they can not stay in business unless they generate revenue for their business....xrays can be expensive, and if they have to be repeated, that is just fine with the vet! Breeders try to do everything that is necessary to whelp healthy babies, keeping the momma and babies as healthy as possible during all this. We have to SAVE money in areas where we can, without endangering the bitch and litter. Choosing to do the xray later provides you valuable information you need to get YOUR needs met. If you are going to budget for only one xray, to have it done early is going to be one of those expensive lessons you will learn. Go ahead and do your xray early.....be prepared to have to repeat it at the generally acceptable date of around day 58.....even if you get a great xray and your vet can see all he wants to see, your STILL need to re-ray at day 58 so you can take calipers and measure the pups and the moms pelvic ring to be sure they can pass through! Go ahead and get your xray early, but you really do need to plan on that second xray for the safety of the momma and pups. Good luck with your whelp, it will be a hands on learning experience for you! Your desire to confirm pregnancy only, is missing half the information you need about this whelp....ther most important information!

[Littlewone]

Well we went today! The X-ray was not done as he feels she is not pregnant! We are to go back in 10 days to be sure .. But he feels her little tummy she has is due to the puppy food she's been eating!

Thank you everyone for your help!