As a breeder I often get asked questions about dog breeding here are some examples.
"My dog keeps licking her nipples, she never normally does this and she's eating a lot more. Why is my dog doing these things, is she pregnant?"
Behaviour like this could mean she is pregnant. Has she been on heat recently or been with an un neutered male?
As you have an unspayed female you need to make a positive decision as to whether you are going to breed or not. If you just wait she make the decision for you and get pregnant.
So you either get her spayed and think no more about it OR you learn all about breeding dogs, get her tested for any genetic defects that her breed carry and preferably find some homes for the puppies before they are born, or at least know where you are going to sell them. You also need to know if there is a market for your breed of dog (and also if people want a crossbred as you obviously do not know who the father is.
"My dog is due today, and she has been vomiting yellow bile, and there has been yellow discharge, I'm just wondering does this mean she is losing her pups or is this just normal for a pregnant bitch? Is my dog in labour?"
As a Registered breeder myself I hear from many people who do not know what they are doing when they are having puppies and unless you can get an experienced breeder to see you dog, my advice to everyone is contact your nearest vet and talk to them on the phone. You will need to have them on standby anyway in case something does go wrong.
Her symptoms may not be anything to worry about as many bitches do vomit during labour however yellow bile shows she has been vomiting for some time. The discharge could be the mucus plug, so the chances are that she is in labour now.
Do you know how to raise the puppies and care for the mother? If not PLEASE find out.
"How do you know if your dog is pregnant?"
It is very difficult for an untrained person to tell if their bitch is pregnant until 5-6 weeks into the pregnancy. Sometimes they will change character and be quieter for the first week or two and some are a bit sick otherwise you need to wait until you can see her nipples getting larger and redder and her stomach will get rounder. By about 5 weeks there will be an indentation along the middle of her stomach starting from her vulva upwards which gets more pronounced as the pregnancy continues. (this is the milk sacs developing).
Otherwise a vet can palpate her abdomen at 28 days from the time she mated. Or she can have a scan or x ray after this time.
Occasionally a dog will have a phantom pregnancy showing all the symptoms but not have puppies.
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