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My labrador bitch is now 2 and a half --she was mated on both of her cycles: the last being 4 months ago. Both times ehs howed all the signs of pregnancy - swollen teats, frequent urination, even a slightly swollen belly. He eating habits changed - and the first time she even had a flase labour! Both times - when her 'due date has gone passed, her teats return to normal as does her belly and her behaviour. What causes this and could she be infertile or is she just too young to have become pregnant on her previous two matings (trying to decide whetehr to try her again at Xmas when her next cycle is due - we live in Tanzania in East Africa and finding suitable males is no easy task!!) Thank you. Kerry
Hi Kerry, There is the possibility that she is not fertile, but I would definately try this Christmas. Dogs can have a false pregnancy that can mimic the symptoms of the real thing. I think it's unusual that she had a false labor. Here's a link to a description of the condition: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/pseudocyesis-false-pregnancy/page1.aspx False pregnancies normally do not cause any problems and do not require any treatment. That link describes a lot of things you can do but I usually recommend letting it run it's course. She is not too young to have puppies, I usually recommend waiting until after 1 & 1/2 years old for breeding. Having a false pregnancy, if that's the only problem she has, does not mean that she can't have puppies, it shouldn't cause any issues at all. For breeding, I ususally recommend starting to bring the male in around 7 to 10 days into the heat cycle, about the time she starts bleeding. Once they start breeding, breed every other day until she stops standing for the male. This gives the best chance of getting a successful breeding. Another issue in a successful pregnancy is feeding a good quality puppy food starting about the 3rd week of pregnancy. Feeding her pretty much free choice (as long as she's not overeating). One last thing. Make sure there's a relatively stress free environment. Nothing extreme, just regular meals, exercise and a good stable envrionment. There are different problems and disesases that are out there that could cause a pregnancy to fail, or a spontaneous abortion that you don't see evidence of. But none that I can think of that are directly associated with a false pregnancy. I would recommend letting your veterinarian look her over and possibly doing some bloodwork or other diagnostics to see if there was an underlying condition or disease that is causing her to not be able to have puppies. If you'd like more information, please reply and I'll help you further! Thanks, Dr. Taylor
Experience: Practicing Veterinarian for 12 years. Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. Behavior Education.
Hi Doc Taylor - thanks very much. Issue is finding a vet who knows their stuff in TZ....and I mean that!! We have 2 local fellows who can do shots and things but when it comes to diagnostics??......and certainly no facility for blood tests. (Do know someone who took their dog to the PEOPLE DOC for an x-ray!!) I need to understand clearly: you recommend bringing the male in 7-10 days INTO the heat cycle....so is that only when she starts bleeding??!!! (and not before?) - also - is it betetr to bring the male TO her or to take her to the male (she was taken TO the males the lasy times and stayed there with them {and killed the male do's owner's kids guinea pig!!!!!!!!) She is a beautiful specimen - big, too....shiny and healthy: hope she isn't just not fertile!! (Her brother has sired 2 litters already)(They come from Nairobi in Kenya and my friend who has her brother and I had to smuggle them in through the Tanzanian border.....was great fun!!) MANY thanks again for answering the question before and those above. Appreciated. regards Kerry
Hey Kerry, I understand your problem, I wasn't sure what kind of facilities might be available. They may have a send off lab they might be able to use for general stuff, human hospitals sometimes run things for vets if they need them. I'm not too worried about those things unless the next go round doesn't produce a pregnancy for you. Then I may consider that either the sire you're using, or her may have an issue. Unless he's a proven sire, then I'd lean toward her. Yikes on the guinea pig! Ok, on the breeding. A dog's cycle is about 21 days long, it starts with swelling of the vulva usually. Then about 7 to 10 days into the cycle they will start bleeding and at some point will stand for the male for a period of 7 to 10 days, then the last part of the heat cycle lasts 7 to 10 days as the latter part of the heat cycle finishes up and she will stop standing for the male during this time. The second phase of the cycle is most likely when she's ovulating and is the best time to breed her. If she's standing for the male, let them breed every other day until she stops standing for him. I don't think it really matters, as long as they're breeding, if she goes there, or he comes to you. I might do 'visits' once a month or so for them to get used to each other and then when the hormones hit, they may be more likely to breed than if they're just getting together for the first time. I would not do it a lot, just once a month or so if possible. This link may help you see the timing I'm suggesting. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2109&aid=3201 Let me know if you need any more information, and good luck!! Thanks, Dr. Taylor