Pregnant? Help
 

Hi,
My daughter adopted a shih zu mix from the animal shelter July 10. She was a stray and was picked up of the streets on June 26th. They were suppose to spay her so we called for a pick up time. They were unable to locate her so As I talked to people who were looking for her two different people said "you mean the pregnant one?" I corrected them and said no I understand she is in heat and was going to be spayed before pick up. They said they deferred her spay and I would be responsible to spay he after her heat cycle. Ok I agreed. The day we were to go get her they physically could not find her. She was given to a rescue group by mistake and was to be returned the next day. Had her checked out by a vet said she was healthy and had about a week left in her cycle but I don't think it lasted that long. We took her on vacation to Idaho July 25 and she did weel until the ride home Aug 3 a week later. She threw up 3x one day and 2x the next. I made an observation to my HUbby that she seemed depressed or withdrawn and she went off her food for about a week or so. (Aug 4-Aug 12) The she acted as if she was staving. This past weekend I noticed that her tummy seemed larger. She is not chunky all over just in the belly and it is all underneath her. I can still feel her spine and her ribs. I started thinking maybe pregnant after someone asked if she were pregnant. She apparently was pregnant in the past because her teets are larger than normal and the vet said it as well but they are still large. I can't feel any movement and I don't hear any heart beat. Dates aren't really making sense maybe false pregnancy? ANy one have pictures of stages or weeks of pregnancy? Any thoughts? She is about 6.5 lbs not sure what she weighs now.

I am confused?? When she was picked up the second time she had a week left of her heat cycle?? When she was taken in to get spayed did they have an accident at that time and she was bred? Did they think she was bred when she was a stray? I think a visit to the vet would be your best bet.

She was picked up off the street on June 26th. We put a hold on her July 4th. They would not release her until she was spayed scheduled for July 7th. I called the morning of July 7th for a pick up time. They told me they did not spay her and deferred it. But two people referred to her as being pregnant. I was unable to pick her up on Tues because it was too late. I planned on picking her up Wed and they were unable to locate her. She was released to rescue group by mistake. They returned her on Thurs afternoon We picked her up that evening. I took her to a vet on Fri July 10 and he said he thought she had another week to go on her heat cycle. I was never told by the coordinator that she was preg nor was it on her paperwork, They may of confused her with another dog, I am not sure, That is why I never gave it another thought until today and thinking back I am noticing and realizing things are not adding up. If she were bred as a stray then she is very close to delivery but she is not huge but growing. Not sure if maybe she was bred at the rescue place because they were told she was a male. The whole situation is rather strange. I have looked up pictures of pregnant dogs and she sure looks pregnant.

wow, what a mess.
Shihtzus do look pregnant after the heat ends, for a while the nipples are big and belly distended. So hopefully this is the best case scenario and you will not need to worry .
pseudo pregnancy is another possibility. it lasts for a while and the dog gets unhappy and withdrawn. Nothing you can do to help that besides keeping her happy.
Now the last possibility: If she was picked up on the 26th of June, She was either just bred or she bred after she was in the rescue/shelter. Dogs pregnancy last usually for 63 days from the first "tie". You would be feeling puppies moving around a lot already if she was pregnant just prior going to the shelter. If she got pregnant at this shelter, and it sounds like a very disorganized place, anything is possible. Your best bet is to take her for Xrays and if there is anything in her belly they will be able to see it by now, even if she was just bred as you picked her up by July 10, you already have her for 40 days, puppies can be seen on Xrays at 42 to 43 days into pregnancy, accurately at 50 days into pregnancy. A Good vet will be able to tell you roughly give or take 5 days about how far she is based on how the pictures look if she is indeed pregnant.
Another possibility is if she was in heat and actually has PYOMETRA, this is a very serious condition, it is a severe infection of the uterus and require emergency attention and spay . it is not a very uncommon thing, it happens more commonly in older females that were never spayed, the uterus fill with pus, it is a mess. Deadly if surgery is not done in time to remove the infected uterus, if it ruptures the infection will spread and that is it !!!
Actually someone else lost her adopted female yorkie not too long ago, she is a Yorkie Talker, and she thought her female was just sick from eating something, she did not knew how to take the temperature to check if she had a fever... the worse came too fast , she did as much as she could but ended up loosing her dog.
i hope that will give you some "light" but honestly, i believe your best action now would be calling for a vet visit. If it turns out to be nothing you can go ahead and take advantage of the visit to schedule the Spay and have peace of mind.
I am crossing my fingers to you !

XOXO

Thanks for the info
 

Thanks for all the info. I did look up the signs and symptoms of pyometra and she does not have the symptoms, but I will be watching for them.

The signs of pyometra may not be so clear. The vomiting is what made me mention that to you. Just so you know.
Let us know how she does.

again, good luck!
XOXO

Thanks again. It sure helps knowing all the info. I did take her temp and it is 99.8. The throwing up only occured while riding in the car never around stable ground. and the last episode was more than a week ago again in a car. I will not rule out the possibility.

thanks again

So it does sound more like car sickness then.
See, this site is great but sometimes just by the descriptions we get the wrong ideas. Vomiting in the car is car sickness, common to any dog (and me...) specially if they are not used to rides.
I wish we were closer i could take a look at her; as i told you , sometimes shih's will even have milk after being in heat ! they are very funny... they act lazy and preggo and it is nothing.
The temperature is a bit lower, are you sure you took it the right way? It should not bother her, but you need to go in deep enough.

usually their temperature is about 101. they drop to 98 during labor and actually that is a sign that labor is begining, but it is not always accurate.

I would take tem again later today, just to be sure .

well, let us know what is going on.

XOXO

Kalina vomited in the car during her pregnancy, but she usually doesn't. Just FYI - I have nothing else to offer.

Yeah I would take her to the vet too. Maybe do an x-ray. Did you read your adoption contract? Some say that the dog will not be allowed to have pups, and if they are pg they are to be spayed anyway and the pups aborted. Someone here got into legal trouble with this (it was a cat though).

I agree that is a low temp, try retaking it.

A vet student took a look at her and felt that she is indeed pregnant. She was not able to feel any pups but said from her experience she is about 5 weeks which does go along with the dates that I have. I did re take her temp and it is the same. It is a digital if that makes any difference?

I did read the contract and there is no mention about spaying immediantly and it would have been their fault that this happened because it happened while she was in their care . I do not breed nor did I have and intentions of breeding this little girl.

I talked to a vet and she said to wait a few more days to see if anything new comes up and if so we will do an ultra sound or x-ray to be sure.
I did not mention her temp.

I would start taking her temp every morning at the same time and keep track, see what her norm is. Also I would put her on puppy food and start figuring out where she can have and raise the babies. You may also want to check to see which vaccinations she recieved (I assume they gave them when you adopted her) and if they interfere with pregnancy. I am glad your contract gives you some leeway. You may want to schedule her now for a spay for months down the road in case they come looking for documentation, then you can say you have it scheduled for such and such date with so and so.

Good ideas. I already started to write down her temp and I will begin to log it regularly. I talked to the vet about the puppy food. She said the quality of food she is eatting is good and no need to change to puppy but to go ahead and add a half of egg and cottage cheese everyother day. I just tried to listen to see if I could hear a heart beat and all I heard was something that sounded like a swarm of bees. I did also hear something that sounded like it was rubbing on the sethiscope and then a few little bumps. I nor Lacey were moving. I think it was a pup, or maybe I am just hearing things.......

I guess I should get together a whelping box and suppies!!!!!!!

Great grandma...kkk... that is what was saved for you.

Anyways, if you happen to talk to the vet again mention the temperature. Most breeders do switch them to puppy food as it richer, The egg yolk and cheese are good to. Try to sort of figure out the dates and see if you can get her Xray'd about 50 days or later to see how many puppies are in there .

God forbid is more than one so it will not need C-section.

How old is this dog? Do you have any idea?

I am going to take her temp again tomorrow about the same time as I did this morning and see if it is any higher. I did read on a breeding site that the temp can drop to around 100.0 degresss in the last trimester which is what I believe she is in. I think she is in her 5th or 6th week. I think she is about 42-45 days. She seems to be growing on a daily basis now.

I think I felt movement one on each side So I pray there is more than one. I was told the more the smaller each puppy should be. I would love to avoid a C section. Is it too late to switch to a puppy food?

The animal shelter and the vet figured she is about three years old. She has had puppies in the past. I feel so bad that she has to go through this again. She will be spayed as soon as she is able.

Not too late for the puppy food. just mix the puppy food with the food she eating now half and half for the first 2-3 days , then increase the puppy food amout until you have her only on puppy food. You can keep the same brand you are feeding, just do the puppy food.

Now, usually we can feel puppies moving towards the last 12 to 10 days into pregnancy. If she is getting bigger by the day and you are already feeling movvement she must be over 50 days or at least around that.

XOXO

Re took her temp this morning and it is 100.1 . I am thinking of replacing the battery as it took for ever to register.

more questions
 

I talked to a vet this morning. They said 99.8 was a little low but not to worry because today it was up to 100.1. So that is good. I am going to wait until next week to get an xray or when I start to see or feel movement this way I will know for sure sge is pregnant.

Today I noticed that she is watching my every move. Even when my daughter comes home she will hesitate to go with her but she always returns to me. I guess since I am home more and been checking on her she is feeling comfortable with me. Anyways if I leave a room she is right behind me. If I stand up she will stand and watch. She will become very alert if I talk and she will always make eye contact and wag her tail. She seems more restless and will lie in front of the fan. I still think she is around 41-43 days so I was wondering if this is normal to start acting this way so soon? She does seem to be growing and I was wondering if it is normal for her to begin getting uncomfortable this soon? Her belly is soft at times and firm other times. Today she was agressive with the other dogs which took me by surprise. She has always been very tolerant and kind to the others. Her nipples have gone from a light pink to a dusty pink color. Again is this all normal?

it all sounds like nesting.

my only concern is if she is having just one puppy and you can not feel it.
If she delivers free it is fine but if she has complications you will be left with a run to the nearest emergency .

The darker pink is a sign that she is filling up and getting closer.
She may be ahead of what you think.
But how you can know???

I would separate her from the other dogs. She may not tolerate them near her or the pups as delivery approaches and you do not want anyone to get hurt. This would be a good time to groom her as well. I shave the belly, making a big square around the lower six nipples, and the under tail area wider than a normal groom. The rest of the dog gets like a summer cut, and the chin, neck and face gets a shave.

i just wanted to wish you luck and hope that she has a safe delivery

Thanks for all the good wishes. I will definantly need them. I think I saw movement today. Nothing really big but I also had someone else look as well and he saw it also. It was like a little ripple so it could have been gas:eek:. I just can't believe this is happening. I think I am in some kind of denial.. but I am very excited at the same time. I went to the store today and bought a heating pad and a few other things for the whelping kit. I also bought a box that I will adapt to use as a whelping box. I have some re arranging to to this weekend so she will have a quiet and safe place to have these pups. I am thinking my bathroom so I can hear and see her throughout the night if need be. During the day when I am home I will keep her near.
Since I am not sure on the dates when movemnet is detected are we looking at 2-3 weeks more? I also so discharge todat that is thick like vasaline and and fairly clear.... Like egg yoke. She started to get a little more picky about eatting but did finally eat. She is not really big but she looks and acts very uncomfortable. I am thinking I have time to schedule an xray for next week?
Not planning this from the beginning is sooooo overwhelming. I have been doing a lot of reading in books and internet but there is so much to learn in such a short amount of time.

I am crossing my finger for you not to have her go into labor this weekend. I am glad you got ready , you need to be!
Hooorayyy... think in a good way, you are having babies !!!!!!!!!

XOXO

I will try and post belly pictures......

Congrats ! I will keep you both in our prayer , hope all turns out ok !
Grandma lol !!
bark@ulater!!!!!
manina,miley:aimeeyork,max:animal36

Here are some belly pictures of Lacey. Ithink she is between 5 and 6 weeks. What do you think?

You really shouldn't get an x-ray until day 53, so you might want to hold off on that for a little bit. But, yes, she sure looks pregnant to me.

she looks pretty big !!
bark@ulater!!!!!
manina,miley:aimeeyork,max:animal36

Hi,

My yorkie just had a singleton pup last Wednesday & happily she didn't have any problems, just assisted a little in pulling the pup out after the head was presented.. Halle is about 6 1/2 lbs pre pregnancy and the pup was born weighing about 6 1/2 ounces. Granted all dogs are different, but putting your mind at ease that it IS possible to whelp naturally with a single pup; it depends on the build of the female and the size and presentation of the pups during whelp. Halle was bred in mid June; going 63 days from when she had the pup, her breeding date was June 16th, which is one of the days we did indeed breed her.
Looking at the pics you posted, my guess would be that she is carrying more than one. Also, going by the pregnancy timeline charts you can find online, and if you are truly feeling movement, I would also guess that she may be as far as her 7th week. Actually, my chart says that you "may" feel movement in the 7th week and the 8th week states that there will be definite abdominal movement. Maybe you can go here, Canine Pregnancy Calendar and play around with possible breeding dates, read the signs you will see during certain stages of pregnancy, and maybe get a better idea of when she might be due. Going by the June 26th date mentioned in one of the first posts here, she could be due as early as the end of next week. So you may want to schedule the xray next week sometime??? It's so hard when you don't know for sure when it all started.
Good luck to you; I am anxious to follow along & see what happens & when. Wishing you and Lacey the best!

Congrats in your single baby !!!

You gave her great advice.
If she is feeling them moving they can already be seen in a xray...
for me that belly is 7 weeks or older, same as you think.

XOXO