can anyone give me any tips on how i would know if my dog is pregant or not i took her to a lovely breeder in the midlands who gave me a few ideas just wondered if anyone else had any sugggestions thanks sam

Hi Tilly, I bred my 1st litter earlier this year so I know what you're going through. I kept a diary, and wrote of subtle changes, ie, nipples changing, eating habits, different behaviour etc. I still wasn't sure until about week 6-7 when she suddenly got a bit fatter. Looking back, I think the earliest change was the nipples - becoming pinker and more pronounced. She did seem different, but I couldn't tell you why. The diary was great though, it gave me something to compare day by day and also you can pinpoint certain milestones after the puppies are born. Good luck, if she is pregnant, you've got a great deal of joy, fun and sheer hard work to come.
Lorna

thanks dudley thats a really good idea i going to take her to the vets about 3 weeks to have a scanned so i know either way as iam a bit impatient sorry dont know how to spell that one lol

I've never had mine scanned. I've heard too many incidents where there was supposed to be puppies and then none were born, or where they were told that there wasn't any and they had some.

Just like chipping I'm wary.

Good luck. I know what you are going throught I've got one who's hopefully 5 weeks pregnant. She is getting bigger and as the previous message says her nipples changed first.

how soon do the nipples change i only took her last friday. have you got staffies

Hi

You said you took the bitch to a breeder in Midlands
Are you local to Tamworth Staffs? as there is a very nice lady who scans bitches in her home,full of patience and doggy treats :-)
If you would like her number email me back.
I really recommend her,seems to be better than the vets and
isnt restricted to a 15 min time slot.
Carolyn

hi carolyn as i said i live on the isle of wight is it anywere near there thanks for your help sam

Hi Tilly, It might be a good idea for you to get a copy of the 'Book of the Bitch'... it is an excellent book and ithas been my bible when my dog has had puppies. It list all the symptoms and when they are likely to occur, it gives a timetable of 'events' and the different stages puppies are likely to be at throughout pregnancy. At £9.99 it is worth its weight in gold..... go to Amazon.co.uk and order on line, they usually deliver within a couple of days.

Hope this helps you
Lynn
PS If you are in Yorkshire, you can borrow my copy.... but I want it back! :)

hi weims thanks but i live on the isle of wight didnt mind going to the midlands to mate her but yorkshire may be a bit far to get a book but i will go and buy one thanks tilly

Hi again tilly, just read through the diary, and found that Tess was actually sick about 10 days after mating. It was just frothy stuff. She was sick about twice more according to my diary. Also I reported her as being more sleepy than usual. I never had her scanned as so many people said it was unreliable. Good luck, keep us informed.
Lorna

accurate scanning all depends on who scans your bitch and at what time my friend took a bitch to a vets at 7weeks{as she had shown no signs of pregnancy} and was told yes definatly prenant but low and behold she wasn't pregnant even had an xray at 9weeks to check again for dead puppies and she wasn't even pregnant and couldn't have been at ther time of the scan as 7weeks is too late to absorb, I have had a bitch scanned at a vets and was told yes pregnant but no more info than that I have recently used a scanning lady who does it from home at 27days pregnant,it was done tjis early only because she was going on holiday for 2 weeks, she was wonderful told me there was at least 5 but due to being only27days she could still be laying more puppies down, she is now 6weeks pregnant and HUGE I noticed at about 3 weeks with pink hard nipples{ her first litter} my other bitches didn't show till about 5 weeks but be warned I feel there is no solid rule other than a scan due to a bitch having 2 phantom pregnancys after mating which showed every sign{pink nipples stomach swelling even milk} good luck with everything I hate the waiting too I would try and wait till at least 4-5weeks to scan as I am not sure wether a scan would show puppies that early or even if they are in the womb yet

HI EVERYONE JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP :>)

Does a Human pregnancy test work? surley the hormones are not much different. My Bassett who is hopefully 6 weeks pregnant often wees on the floor at night now ,she didnt use to do this, and being Quarry tiles (thank goodness!) I could get a sample to test. Has anyone tried this ? I'm off to Boots tomorrow to give it a try.

Hi tballard, the hormone excreted by a pregnant human is HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin). You could ask a vet if there is an equivalent doggy hormone. Let us know how you get on,
Lorna

Welcome to the forum tballard :-) Leigh

There is now a blood test available for detecting pregnancy I beleive at 28 days, at the time it was new it cost about the same as a scan at my vet so I didn't take it up.

Hi Tilly, any news yet???
Lorna

no sorry no signs of anything iam afraid

When my bitch was in whelp I went to vet Richard Jackson, Carisbrooke Road,
Newport (spring '95)
Do you go to this vets or The group up the industrial estate, Beckingham
& Thomas.
By the way when is she due assuming in whelp?

Pam
ex Isle of Wighter

well my human pregnancy test was negative for my basset. I will have to wait and see in 1 week if any pups arrive but I am gearing up for a dissapointment because I cant see much expansion in her girth although earlier signs looked promising. Cant feel any pups or movement even with my midwifery training, Oh well, maybe she is hiding just one or two?

Hi - are you a midwife too. Ditto me, and I couldn't tell when Tess was pregnant. But I did hear a heartbeat with the aid of my Sonicaid Doppler.
Lorna

hi pam i never been to the carisbroke one but i did go the other one with a cat i had but i now go to chapel street. i cannot praise them enough they were so helpful to me when i was trying to find out about it all he was the one who said to come in at 3 weeks he could quite often tell. she wouldbe 3 weeks this friday so not sure what to do as it seems a few people do not trust scanning

hi tballard hope she is too

Hi there. Like a lot of others I do not agree with scanning, i have heard of too many bitches being scanned, the owners being told there are x amount of puppies, and then 'nothing' Patience is the best thing, just wait and see, it really isnt very long, most bitches if they are in whelp ,swell up after their meal around the five week+stage, and if in whelp,stay like that and just getting lovely and round, just wishing you good luck and just advise you not to mess the mum to be around, just let nature take its course...good luck.Susan W

Lovely and round, you should see my poor Spanish Water Dog. I told the sire's owner off the other day for putting my poor little girl through so much!!! I think that she's got about 30 in there (only joking) and she absolutely massive, but she's still running around.

By the way it's her 8th birthday today and boy is she blooming. Just under 3 weeks to go now agghhhhhhhh!