My dog is almost 6 weeks pregnant and today she started to strain herself as if she was having contractions. I am worried she is in labour early. This is her second pregnancy and the first one was normal. She has been eating much less and has been panting heavily for the last few days. Her temperature is normal. Any advice at all.?? Can this be a pre birth contractions. Do I need to worry and maybe take her to the vet?

There is nothing can be done if she is loosing her litter.

If she does abort it would be best to take her in for a check up afterwards,  and possibly a course of antibiotics.

Just about to leave for the vet. You are right, there is not much can be done if she is aborting her babies. Will update once I know more. Poor little thing. I am so angry at myself at the moment

Hope all is well good luck

We took her to the emergency clinic, she is still with the vet. I'll update later. She looked v poorly, I just hope she can pull through. It would be awful experience just before Xmas. My kids are devastated..

It has been confirmed poor little one has got a serious condition Pyometra. Basically it is rupture of the uterine walls caused by infection of uterus. Because she looked bloated and big, we assumed she was pregnant.
Very sad, not sure if she will survive..
My kids offered all their savings to treat her and it's heart breaking..

Very sorry to hear this. Pyometra is horrible, I really hope your girl pulls through. Fingers crossed for her.

Oh poor girl, do hope she's ok and manages to survive.

I was due to have a puppy from a bitch who developed a pyo whilst she was pregnant, although she lost the puppies she did survive much to her owners relief.

I'm terribly sorry, had assumed a pregnancy had been confirmed, otherwise would have mentioned Pyometra as a possibility.

Hope she pulls through.

She is in operating theatre as we speak. By the time they have done all required tests and told me to move her to another clinic, her condition deteriorated. They gave her 50% of survival. I hope she will make it..
Thank you all for kind comments..

oh good god. I'm so sorry. I really hope she pulls through for you all.. xx

Sending positive vibes to you and your girl.  You must be devastated, and waiting for news is so difficult.

Come back and tell us what happens.  All fingers and paws crossed here.  Good Luck.

I have just had a bitch confirmed pregnant develop pyometra. She got huge and nipple development ......No signs of illness at all . Then day 54 I got up and knew something was wrong so took her to vets. She was very poorly. They operated immediately and she lost her pups but 2 month later is back to her old self!!! They also told me 50/50. Hope all is ok with your girl xx

I have known two bitches develop Pyometra in pregnancy but it was diagnosed the usual danger time 3 to 5 weeks after season finished.

Hope you get some good news. Awful.

Just received a call from the vet. She died during the op, but was brought back with the help of shot of adrenaline. She is very poorly indeed and might not survive the night. I am blaming myself...I should have spayed her after first littler and not let her mate again.. The worst Christmas ever.. I feel horrible..

Oh crikey. Sending prayers that she pulls through. xxx

Oh my word how awful. My thoughts are with you and your precious girl

It is bitches that have not been mated or never had puppies that are at most risk following a season.

The mist at rusk are middle aged to elderly bitches that have never been bred from.

Bitches whether mated or not go through the same hormonal cycle,  except the ynmated bitches hormone levels remain elevated longer

So please don't feel guilty,  you sought help as soon as you noticed something amiss.

Oh dear poor girl, hope she pulls through x

Really hoping she pulls through, my girl was eleven months when she got it after her first season. Luckily it was caught in time. Thinking about you.

Sending prayers your way that she pulls through.
Always a worry throughout that something like this could happen.

Thank you everyone for your kind words, unfortunately she has passed away about half an hour ago. We are completely shattered.. I wish it could be a bad dream, but it isn't and my poor baby is gone to a better place now..

I'm so very sorry for you all, such a sad time

Run free little girl

I will be donating all her toys, bedding, left over food and her Xmas presents (including new bowl) to the charity which cared for her. I know they done their best to save her and I am so grateful. I wish your much loved pets well, please look after them. Best wishes..

So very sad to read this, my thoughts to you and your family. RIP little one

So sorry.

So sorry

I'm so very sorry. This couldn't have been for seen so please don't blame yourself. take care x

So sorry to hear this. Run free little one

So sorry.  I will be thinking  about you and your kids over Christmas xxx

Oh no how awful. Try not to blame yourself, you got her straight to the vet as soon as she started acting oddly. I'm so so sorry. :-(

What a rotten thing to happen .... bad enough at any time but just before Christmas -    And with kids around too.   So very sad.

Thankfully, despite having had a low to ground breed for so many years, we never had a pyo.   I have a theory about this (which may be TOTALLY BS) which is being open when in season, all they need to do is to squat in the 'wrong place' allowing infection to get in.    When our girls were in season, they were never taken anywhere off our properties.   And of course, once retired, or not for breeding, were all spayed.

So sorry to hear the news.

Mamabas, I also subscribe to your theory. My girl squats very low.

So terribly sorry to hear your news. Thinking of you xx

So terribly sorry to hear your news. Thinking of you xx

I feel your pain.  I'm so very sorry, there are no words.

What absolutely heartbreaking news, so sorry to read this.

So sorry to hear the news...... run free with all friends at the Bridge xxx

I had not seen your posts and the entire thread until just now.  I am as sorry for you as everyone else is.  What a terrible thing.  Only time will make the pain you feel more bearable.