Hi there, I wondered if anyone could help me please. On sunday I rescued a bitch, it started out as simply helping someone I knew rehome her, I found a friend to have her but she was brought to my home and dropped off and I immediately knew something was wrong.

This bitch was supposed to be 18 month old but appears older by looking at her teeth. She was also in a terrible condition, her fur was matted with months worth of poo and mud, it was so bad that it was matted right to her skin and took over 2 hours of bathing and trimming to get her looking even half presentable. I cut matted chunks of fur from her that were thicker and longer than her tail.
She is a timid little thing and on trimming underneath I noticed her nipples looked bigger so I squeeze a little and a drop of colostrum came out, I have checked for the past 2 days and every nipple seems to have colostrum in.
Anyway it turns out that this bitch had come from some sort of puppy farm as far as im aware although I dont know if shes ever had a litter before.

I am trying to determine if she is pregnant or not. She isnt fat at all, infact she is a bit thin,esp when she lies on her back and shows her underside it seems to sink in a bit. She is extremely quiet and has spend most of her time here sleeping. I presumed with her being a working dog like my huskies that she would be quite active and she seems to have come out of her shell a lot but still isnt active really. Other than that she looks healthy and happy. She doesnt eat very much at all but then im used to 2 hungry huskies so maybe im expecting too much.

I cant feel anything inside her but ive read that I probably wouldnt until she was nearly due. I contacted the lady who asked me to help rehome her and she said that she doesnt know whats going on because she was supposed to be with a lady who was looking after her and shes been in a run outdoors, she said there was a stud dog there (another cocker) that could have got to her when he was been out for a wee but TBH I dont really know what to believe because it seems ive been lied to all along she started in season about 2 month ago maybe less im told.

Is it likely shes pregnant ? would she have colostrum if she had been bred last year maybe that was left over (ive no idea if she ever has had puppies or not). I dont want to get her scanned and it be too early to see anything as im a parent of a disabled child and dont get a lot as it is. Im starting to put money aside just incase she is pregnant.

Thankyou in advance for any help

Take her to the gets for a check over and see if they feel spaying is an option as it would be best for her in the long term even if she is pregnant.

Im not in a financial position to just get her spade right now, I also dont feel that its right to kill potential puppies so I wont be taking her to be spade. Ive rescued her from an awful situation and im happy for her to whelp her puppies ect... if she is pregnant ( I bred miniature jack russells a few years back but I didnt mess with her nipples and didnt know whether she had colostrum beforehand ect...) but I know how to look after a litter.
I also wont be keeping her and she has a wonderful new home already with an older lady whos elderly yorkshire terrier passed on a few years ago and shes now ready to rehome another dog. She will get a lot of love and attention all day every day but she will be staying here to find out if shes pregnant and then potentially have the puppies.

I also have a lot of doggy people friends and have good reliable forever homes lined up for at least 7 puppies incase she is pregnant.

If you are not in a financial position to have her spayed you will are not therefore financially prepared for her to have puppies as standard vet checks and possible issues with the birth or with the health of her and the pups could be far more than having her spayed.

If she has been neglected she will more than likely not have has the proper nutrient to prepare for a litter and so you are potentially putting her life at risk by putting her through whelping and then looking after the pups.

It is in her best interests to get her spayed and then rehoming to enjoy the rest of her life.

Whether or not you want to spay her, you need to take her to the vet for a check. She might be pregnant or she might be having a phantom, in which case medication will make her a little more comfortable. Good luck. :-)

If you're not in a financial postion to afford a litter, why not contact one of the many excellent rescue organisations out there (there are several that specialise in the breed and can provide all the help and support this girl would need) I can PM you contact details if you can state where you are. There's no need for you take on a possibly pregnant bitch if you can't afford it - what if this girl is pregnant and needs a C-section when the time comes, that's hundreds of pounds to fork out, not to mention all the whelping equipment you'll need & the cost of raising a litter to 8 weeks and beyond (I wouldn't count on your 7 permanent homes being a reality when the time comes either, even well-known breeders can struggle to find this many homes in the current climate) At the v least, you should get her vet checked so you know what to expect - nobody on here can tell you whether this poor girl is pregnant or not, she may simply be having a phantom pregnancy - we just can't know.

I didnt say I wasnt in a financial position to afford a litter, I said I wasnt in a financial position right now (within the next few days to a week) to get her spayed. I will start putting away money from Saturday when im paid but she only arrived on Sunday. I will get a loan if I need too, to help her.
I will not however kill any potential puppies. I have put her on puppy food just incase, I have also been feeding boiled eggs and cottage cheese and shes eaten bits and I will treat her as if shes pregnant until I know otherwise.

I just wanted to find out if colostrum could be left over or if its a sign shes pregnant now

>I just wanted to find out if colostrum could be left over or if its a sign shes pregnant now

Colostrum won't be 'left over' - it gets consumed in the first few days of birth and replaced by proper milk. Some bitches produce milk before they whelp, so she could be in the last week or so of pregnancy (but if so I'm sure you'd be able to tell), or as I said before she could be having a phantom, which is perfectly normal and treatable.

Definitely take her to the vet to have pregnancy either confirmed or ruled out; that way you know for certain rather than guessing, and can treat her appropriately.

If she is pregnant she will need daily worming with Panacur 10%, don't give calcium rich foods before whelping as this can mess up her natural way of processing calcium and lead to eclampsia.

I agree with the others you need to know whether or not she is pregnant to make plans, someone will need to be present 24/7 for 10 days pre whelping and at least 3 weeks post whelping, I truly hope she is just having a phantom as the pups wouls be due about 11 weeks from the start of her last season.

Keep us posted.

My bitch, when had phantom pregnancy would have a slim body shape but her nipples would develop and she would produce milk.  No-one is going to be able to tell you for certain but your vet.  I would think that it is probably a phantom as this breed are quite willing to put on the 'pregnancy pounds'!  I certainly hope so for this girls sake and then she can move on with her life.
Scans are not that expensive and will confirm either way.  I think my vets is around £30 for a scan?  And my vet lets me pay things up.  If you explain she is a rescue and your situation, he might find it in his heart to help?
Best of luck for this girl.

I will not however kill any potential puppies.

Have you considered the possibility that if the parents are carriers, the pups could be born with any number of health problems such as turning blind, developing kidney problems etc, anything that normally both parents would be tested for before being bred from but that puppy farmers don't care one bit about? At times there ARE fates worse than death, such as being born only to suffer.

Poor darling dog, surely if (as you suspect), she has come from a puppy farm it would be better for her not to have another litter? :(

Not to mention any number of these potential puppies may be killed once older if no-one wants them and they can't find homes. 

Unfortunately 100 dogs a day are put to sleep in the UK because there are no homes for them and rescues are overflowing.

(((Husky))) good for you taking on this dog in its hour of need and I'm pleased it has a forever home waiting for it too. I'd make the same decisions as you, preparing for a potential litter. I'd say a pregnancy is likely, though I've heard of colustrum in a phantom pregnancy too. Many vets (mine included) if you say you have taken in an animal temporarily out of compassion will see the animal for free for an examination and some basic treatment. My vet is very good at that, I've not used this facility but a friend who pet cares regularly has taken her charges one or two occasions for free treatment. She's not asked for free treatment but the vets just say they won't take payment. Perhaps you could ask the vets if they will do a basic exam for free? If you can't afford it right now I mean. I think a vet check is needed and also some advice re:worming and diet. Compications during the birth are possible too but I know you are prepared for that. Hopefully all will be well and well done again on helping out this dog. Really angry with the previous owner/carer of this poor bitch letting it get into this state.

I agree with the above re vet treatment. I had a dog returned to me who was seen for free by the vet, i guess it depends on your relationship with yours & how money grabbing they are...

Regarding this little bitch, I would say it's just as likely she's having a phantom as being pregnant. If you can find out exactly when her season started, it should be possible to work out when she would be due if pregnant. The vet may be able to scan or xray to confirm a pregnancy although I understand that would incur a cost (there's also a blood test which can be done to confirm). Otherwise, I'd treat her as if she's having a phantom, as both my bitches produce milk when they're having one.

Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed she isn't pregnant, as that would be easier all round, and she'll be on the road to recovery in no time (although spaying would definitely be the best option regardless), would the new owner pay for her spay operation? I doubt especially if the new owner is elderly that she would want to have the stress of having a dog which comes into season regularly with all that entails. Perhaps the spay operation could be a condition of rehoming?

thank goodness she's going to have a better life from now on...!!

>  im a parent of a disabled child and dont get a lot as it is

How could you give a littler 24 hour care for the first few weeks, do you have people that will come in and help?

ive managed to remember my old login, its me huskymummy. Anyway in answer to your question, I dont work and my partner is home with me all day (we arent  scrotes who sit on the dole but I have a child in a wheelchair and a child in a pushchair so we cannot leave the house without 2 adults. So when we are home there is always 2 people about and I have lots of time on my hands to dedicate to raising a litter.

I took her too the vets and he said just wait and see. He had a feel but said it could be too early to tell or they could be hiding up in the ribcage. They dont have scanning equipment there and it would have meant travelling to their other surgery in the next town on the bus which would have been stressful for us all. I would then have to pay another consultation fee as well as £50 to get her scanned. Anyway last night she looked bigger and today I can feel lumps inside her ( dont worry I didnt press down hard I just had a feel of her tummy) so I think she is in pup.

It is possible to use Alizin to abort the litter right up to 6 weeks in whelp, so it may not be too late to deal with this now, as opposed to the stress and huge expense involved with rearing a litter properly, not to mention the worry of finding good homes, and the strain on the bitch.

Please reconsider bringing another unwanted litter into being.  You have no idea if the pups will be have a good chance of being healthy or of good temperament.

I agree with Brainless on this and it the best thing all round especially for the bitch.

Suzzypoo, I am also in agreement with Brainless and others.

There are far too many people breeding dogs who shouldn't, our vets, the RSPCA and many other groups and people concerned are screaming at the top of their voices about how many lines of unhealthy dogs there are today, pups are being born with genetic disorders some life threatening some needing veterinary help all through their lives, long or short.

Those without knowledge who unfortunately are the vast majority of breeders, being BYB's and puppy farmers but also along with some show/working breeders (so all can be guilty) are interfering far too much in choosing dogs and bitches to breed from without doing health tests and line checks.

The vast majority are the BYB's who breed for money or because they think it is cute or every bitch should have a litter in their lives. So wrong and so against nature.

In reality most bitches would never have a litter, ever! Only the alphas who are the dogs which have shown their worth to lead a pack with their brawn, intelligence and health would breed and the lower ranking bitches would help raise and nurse, only if food and territory were plentiful would other bitches be allowed to breed.

If a pack had health issues from eyes, to hips, to many other genetic defects, it would die out or it's territory be taken over, by a stronger, healthier pack.

Responsible breeders take on the role for the domestic dog as nature would have intended by only choosing the best of stock to breed from, for the sake of the breed and the dog itself, people like yourself who are very misguided in bringing unchecked litters into this world are causing major problems for the dog and heartache and much financial pressure for the unsuspecting pups owners, not to mention potential suffering for pups born with no idea of what lines they come from.

Pups all look cute and potentially healthy, it is only when they are grown that problems are found.

Your reasons for this poor bitch having pups are selfish reasons they are absolutely not for the bitches welfare, who would probably not be chosen by nature to ever have pups of her own without dreaded human interference.

Apart from the above reasons........ if this bitch dies during whelping as many complications can happen........ what will your reasoning be for that?    You would be the reason for that completely and utterly.

This bitch deserves a happy, uncomplicated life with the home you have found for her, why on earth you wish to make her go through whelping and raising a litter that may or may not be a good one makes no sense at all to anyone but yourself. It is a shame that she came to you, not a blessing, she could have been with someone who would have just given her the injection and let her live a happy life.

I hope that you will reconsider..........

I have to agree with the others - I can imagine it's a difficult decision to make, but try not to think of it as 'killing puppies', you are saving that bitch from having to raise a litter when she is in such poor shape herself, and you are helping the unwanted puppy problem by not adding to it. Please think again.

she WONT be having any injection. We dont even know how far along she is. What if shes further than 6 weeks ? (Shes had colostrum for nearly 2 weeks that I know of so probably longer) so its likely she is too far along. I think you are way out of order saying that its a shame she has come here. She was living in her own filth, unloved and uncared for and she has come to me. She has love and affection and a happy home, I have good forever homes for at least 11 puppies and im pretty sure she wont have that many. Homes where I have known those people for a long time, however saying that these homes will still be homechecked. 

Ahh hon, i know you are sooo torn, but before you make any decisions please take her to a vet and get her checked. Listen to their honest opinon and options. I have a mum who has developed nircrotic mastitis ( pups are 5 weeks old) and she started as healthy,happy,carefree etc..... A pregnancy really takes everything out of the mother and regardless of how healthy they are at first they end up drained, so if the poor little mite is very under conditioned its very worrying. I'm now left weaning 5 happy healthy puppies, feeding every 4-5 hours, washing and drying ridiculous amounts of bedding,losing sleep at night (i'm like a full time mum,and full time nurse to mum) She's got a massive gaping open wound that needs bathing 4-5 times a day with warm salty water,5 different meds a day, a nice £600 vet bill (so far!) welpi every week for pups £15 tinned puppy food (5-6 cans a day!) i am exhausted and as i could of lost my baby girl, i feel so so guilty! Just make sure your decision is right for her and puppies.... Because if she's ill after or puppies die because of how under conditioned mum is, its heartbreaking! I'm not judging you and i applaud the fact you've taken her on, you've probably shown her more love already than shes ever known. Just please get her checked over hon.

How much money have you been offered for these pups ??? Is that the real reason you intend to carry on with this litter, rather than do what is best for this poor bitch, as you have stated she has already had an unfortunate start in life, why would you want to put her through the stress of having a litter.
If you think raising a litter is going to be easy I suggest you read some of the other threads. With a two children one of which has a disability I would think you already have your hands full, looking after a litter of large breed puppies is very labour intensive.
I notice from previous posts that money is an issue, how are you going to cope if the bitch needs a  C-Section or intensive vet intervention, this could run into many hundreds of pounds, would you be able to cope with this.

Shes been vet checked and shes fine. Her main problems were her matted coat and the fact she was unloved, shes a bit timid when she hears a loud noise or raised voice but thats it. She isnt in physical bad shape

> We dont even know how far along she is. What if shes further than 6 weeks ?

Suzzypoo, you could find this out very easily with a scan - but you didn't want to spend the money or have another bus trip.  If you genuinely think that a bus journey is too stressful for her then you are being very unfair indeed to let her deliver a litter.

There is a lot that can go wrong during delivery and if you don't have transport then a bus trip for a caesarean section will be out of the question, and a vet visit out of your price range...

Guys come on! She's asked for advice and everyone's ripping in to her.

Suzzypoo what did the vet say, is it highly likely she's pregnant?
Lets get one thing straight this woman could of turned her back too, and if she had and she is pregnant what then for her........?!!! alone, pregnant, no one who cares for her etc.......

> Guys come on! She's asked for advice and everyone's ripping in to her.

No, everyone has been polite - we just do not agree with her putting this bitch at further risk or adding to the unplanned dog population.

You're right she could have turned her back BUT she is still turning a blind eye to the risks involved AND cutting corners to save money whilst still being able to profit from this litter...

If the OP doesn't feel up to making these decisions (emotional or financial) then this dog would be better off with someone who will.  I'd urge her to think again for the benefit of this bitch

lady lou

It is clear that this lady has done what she feels is the right thing to do. What people are trying to do is to explain that several puppies with no reputation, experience, contacts and planning to work with, is a lot of risk...ie a lot of potential  for this thing to happen again.
The whole point...not a sentimental stance .... a realistic one!

To add:
I could find 11 'sentimental' homes for puppies tomorrow. Whether they were the right homes, would keep the pup through thick and thin and none would end up in the same dire straights as this poor bitch further down the line..... is highly unlikely!

I havent been offered any money for the pups, and I wont be charging any money for them either. Im happy to fund any cost of raising the litter because im just happy to see her out of the situation she was in.  You dont even know me yet you just judged my character. What sort of person does that make you ?  Ive already said I have found homes. I didnt say that money was an issue, I just said I wasnt willing to travel to another town on the bus and WASTE money. I will cope perfectly fine if she needs vetinary care. I also dont have 2 children I have 4 children and dont tell me I already have my hands full because you know nothing of my situation other than what you read on this forum.
Im not naive or stupid, I realise that raising a litter will be hard work and ive already said that im willing to take that on.

" You're right she could have turned her back BUT she is still turning a blind eye to the risks involved AND cutting corners to save money whilst still being able to profit from this litter..."

I fail to see how im going to be making a profit from this ? im not planning on selling any of her puppies !!

Urge what you like because she wont be going anywhere

Who knows better than the vet...... If the vets has no concerns why is everyone laying in..?! I'm pretty sure if suzzypoo was told by vet that the girl was in a bad state and should have the injection to be safe i'm sure like anyone else she would!

Any dog including HEALTHY ones run all kinds of risks................

I think the decision here is left by vet.

Thankyou lady lou, I did say in my first post she was in a bad state but also stated that I meant she was unloved and not cared for, as in she was not groomed and had been left for her fur to be matted together. Physically everything else is fine and I would not let her continue with her pregnancy if I knew she wasnt physically able to give birth. Shes been to the vets and he was happy for her to justt see how we go. If she got into difficulty during labour my mum would come straight round and take us to the vets. I know she cant be left pushing without producing a pup for more than an hour. Im going to start reccording her temp ect,......

I wish people would realise ive no intention of trying to make any money I just want to see this beautiful little dog and her pups in happy homes

> Who knows better than the vet...... If the vets has no concerns why is everyone laying in..?!

With respect... very few vets have actual experience of breeding dogs (or any other animal come to that). Vets are the GP's, general practitioners, but unlike our own human GP doctors they can't refer to more specialised people in the field, in the same way our NHS doctors do.

If this was a human pregnancy you would be assigned a midwife at the very least, not to mention other support workers.

Unfortunately canine midwives don't exist.... Not officially, but there are many people who have whelped many litters and can act as canine midwives, some of them are on this forum so I would listen to their advice as they have a great deal more experience than any vet.

This is why people breeding dogs for the first time are urged to find a mentor - and a mentor is someone with a lot more experience than the average local vet and has brought many new lives into the world, knowing when something is wrong; able to cope with a bitch that goes into birth hysteria (it does happen); how to recognise uterine inertia; how to carefully reposition badly presented pups with minimal stress to the mother; how to resuscitate those born without breath; when to know it's time for a C-section.

That's canine midwives... Not available on the NHS, and not available by referral from your vet, either.

I'm sorry for assuming you were selling the puppies

> Im not naive or stupid, I realise that raising a litter will be hard work and ive already said that im willing to take that on

The issue is not about whether it's hard work for you - this is not about you - but whether it's wise to put the bitch at risk and to risk delivering puppies of unknown parentage with potential inheritable health problems and unknown temperament traits.

> I just said I wasnt willing to travel to another town on the bus and WASTE money.

I do not think a scan is a waste of money, in fact it could help you and your vet arrive at a good decision about her welfare and that of the puppies

Hugs to suzzypoo! Stand by your guns girl, you'll see many threads here full to the brim of only show dogs should be bred from all others should be banned and all other breeders whould be shot at dawn! Blimey, well done you for taking in this bitch and making sure she has the vet treatment she needs and may need. There is a risk with every litter, show dogs or not, but with vet advice as you have taken and good care, diet and worming you can reduce that risk as you have done. Hopefully all will be fine and the pups will be fine, even if not, you will have given them the best fighting chance. If you want advice and not criticism you might be best to find a different forum as this one is intended for show dogs and their owners believe they are superior to all other owners wrt breeding.

>you'll see many threads here full to the brim of only show dogs should be bred from all others should be banned and all other breeders whould be shot at dawn!

Really? Could you provide links?

>find a different forum as this one is intended for show dogs and their owners believe they are superior to all other owners wrt breeding.

Oh dear. The standard response from someone who's asked for advice and didn't agree with what they were given.

>If you want advice and not criticism you might be best to find a different forum as this one is intended for show dogs and their owners believe they are superior to all other owners wrt breeding.

I don't have show dogs but I love this forum as the experience of the posters is second to none (including my vet).

Suzzypoo, please don't be put off by the advice that has been given as people only have the best of intentions towards this bitch, of course you must do what you think is right but please stay on the forum as when the time comes you may well need experienced advice.  Sure there are other forums but when it comes down to your bitch in possible distress you really don't need replies along the lines of, 'sorry hun, got no idea but good luck'.

Well done for getting this girl out of a PF situation but be aware that these places tend to get rid of breeders because they are not profitable, so she may be a bad mother or have problems giving birth.  Fingers crossed for you.

BenjiW,  Sorry but you've got that wrong! I don't show my dogs but I do prove their worth in the breeding world.  That's all that's needed.  Prove you are not just breeding cos you have a bitch and you see her as a cash machine and we are all OK with anyone on here, even beginners.  But if you don't work or show your dog, what are you giving the gene pool?

>  If you want advice and not criticism you might be best to find a different forum as this one is intended for show dogs and their owners believe they are superior to all other owners wrt breeding.

This is clearly not true - we have a wide range of different types of breeder on this forum and it seems odd that someone who seems to have nothing but criticism for this forum should continue to post on here but it takes all sorts!

Please can we keep this on topic - if you want to give some advice to the OP, then great but just using the thread to attack other members or this forum in general is not constructive or helpful to anyone, least of all the OP. If this thread continues to degenerate into another "us and them" type argument, I'll have to close it.

as this one is intended for show dogs and their owners believe they are superior to all other owners wrt breeding.

Superior!  You think the responsible breeders on here are superior?

What is superior about only wishing to use dogs and bitches which will produce the healthiest of pups possible?

What is superior about wishing to produce pups which will look like the breed it is supposed to be?

What is superior about being able to be the font of knowledge to the new puppy owners?

What is superior about making sure that a breeder has all whelping materials and funds to manage a dam and the litter?

I could go on and on and on............ but we all know or at least should know what the difference is between a good responsible breeder and one led by other things which should not take president over the welfare of the dog?

We always have and always will fight for the dog!

Nothing at all to do with showing or having a superior outlook, it's a responsible outlook towards breeding and a dogs welfare, most of us are quite happy to show our disgust at show breeders who also do not breed responsibly.

The human race is left with what we as breeders produce and quite frankly right now, pups of bad health and temperament are growing more and more.

If you wish to call it superior in wishing to do things properly that is a very misguided approach to breeding.

I know who I would rather have a pup from a good responsible breeder who has done all the tests and is full of knowledge, not this potential litter here, as I wouldn't touch this forthcoming litter with a barge pole, that is not because I feel superior it's because I want and should have quality in a pup whether it is a pet, paid for or given away, and to know the bitch was right to be bred from in the first place.

If this were my bitch that I had rescued, she would be in the vets right now (if she were shown to be in whelp via the scan which I would certainly have had) and she would be being spayed and the whelps removed and be off to her new forever home which she apparently has already.

Even if this were a kosher mating with all health tests, with 4 children to support I would not be thinking of the cost of rearing a litter, or worrying about where to find the funds for c-sections and veterinary intervention etc, (thinking of taking out loans as was said earlier if need be) with sleepless nights and hard work for a bitch that was not mine and I was not even keeping, it is beyond reason that someone would do this which is why many did jump to the conclusion that the pups must be thought of as a way to make money. (When in reality if things go wrong it can cost more to treat than any pups would make.)

Why would anyone do all that to put themselves in debt? (And no it is not being kind as we all have a dilemma when breeding at the risk of this to our bitch) My children come first if the thought of wasting £50 to get a bitch to a scan is even thought of as a waste the funds just cannot be there and there are more important things to be spending money on.

There is nothing 'for' this mating, it is not a superiority complex, just bog standard common sense.

Couldn't have said it better my self Carrington!

> just bog standard common sense.

But BenjiW is right...there are many forum groups where this sort of thing is lapped up!

> But if you don't work or show your dog, what are you giving the gene pool?

All breeding should be 'planned' and approached with care and knowledge.

Not to mention ensuring as far as is possible to breed dogs with sound temperaments and the best chance of being healthy by their parents being health tested for heritable conditions and being of sound temperament.  The poster cannot know any of this about these potential puppies ans may be bringing a load of heartache to pups potential owners (not to mention veterinary expense), and distress to the puppies.

The bitch may be nervous due to lack of socialisation, this behaviour may not be entirely genetic, but at the very least she will pass on this behaviour to the pups while rearing by example.  Having bred 7 generations of my breed I can confirm that behaviour and character traits are very heritable, just like physical traits having seen the same traits in individuals who have never lived together or rarely met.

Suzzypoo/huskymummy says: "Im happy to fund any cost of raising the litter" and earlier in the thread said "I bred miniature jack russells a few years back"

Perhaps it would be useful if some of our more experienced breeders could post a few of your likely expenses.  This is not scaremongering and I do not think you should be proceeding without answers to many more questions than this but, at least you'd have some idea of what this is likely to cost you.  Edited to say: Using the most up to date figures and factoring in the size of this bitch compared to your last breeding experience

(I genuinely can't think of any good reason for these puppies, the bitch doesn't need to deliver them, you don't need to pay for them, and the potential puppy owners really do deserve puppies from known and health tested parents.  I do understand some resistance to aborting the litter but it's kinder for her primarily.  It also means you'd get her settled into her new home much quicker without the trauma of delivering her litter, bonding with you and your family, then having to be rehomed again.)

**If you look at the posts made by both your supporters, and your critics, you'll be able to accurately assess the level of experience you're being offered.

C section medium breed within clinic hours 2010, £550, quoted £1000 if it had been evening and £1500 if after midnight.

Out of hours emergency treament for mastitis at vet hospital £130.87 in 2006.  Last out of hours (9pm) vet visit Aug 2011 (to Put to sleep my old girl), the standard consultaion fee alone was £133.

From memory:

Heat mat = £35
Puppy milk = £25
Nutri drops = £14
2 x sacks of good quality puppy food for weaning circa £100
vetbed around £15 a piece (used around 4 pieces)
Newspaper - Free but took weeks to collect
whelping box - free but homemade out of donated plywood
Panacur worming paste £5 a tube (I needed 7 tubes, but have large breed puppies) = £35
Approx 2 pts fresh goats milk every day = £1.40ish = £9.60 approx a week (used from weaning to going to their new homes)
Bale of chipped cardboard for bedding £5 x 2
Vet checks for puppies with microchip (£22 each puppy - did a deal with the vet as would have been more)

That's just for the puppies (sure more but can't think right now off the top of my head)

The mother needs extra quality food, vet visits if anything is wrong (before and after birth)
Out of hours vet visit well over £100 in this area & that's without any treatment costs.

Yes, I wondered why the user name struck a cord in my head, it was because of this thread in 2007,

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/101597.html

Another litter was produced here too in 2010

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/122358.html

So as helpful as we may feel we are being in adding in the costs of everything to do with whelping as you see it is not needed, this is a well established BYB.

Health tests etc are not anywhere on the horizon so little will be worried about from this bitch or her pups either.