Hi
Is there any way of knowing your dog is pregnant, and how long is a pregnancy.
Thanks

Are you afraid your bitch has been 'caught' ... if so does it mean that the puppies are cross breds, or unwanted. If this is the case you should consider speying the bitch as soon as possible after the season to have the pups taken away. There are, and I know this from rescue, just too many dogs in the country. An early speying will not harm the bitch in any way and save you the angst of unwanted puppies.

Bitches are pregnant for 9 weeks and begin to show at around 5-6 weeks. Early signs include enlarged teats. Weight gain will be carried underneath dog. If she is pregnant she will need additional food to help her to retain her normal body weight as well as provide for the puppies.

Please, however, consider the first option as unwanted puppies are not desireable however appealing they may sound!

Also if this has only just happened in last 24 hours, the bitch can have an injection to stop her conceiving! This will mean that her season will be prolonged, as in essence it will start her season all over again, and there is an increased chance of a womb infection in the 3 months after the season finishes. You will also have to be even more vigilant than before to ensure she doesn't get mated again!

I would then have her spayed two months after her season, when her body systems shoulsd be back to normal.

If it is longer than this, get her spayed now!

Can a bitch be spayed safely while pregnant? I thought it was only safe to have this done half way between seasons, when there is the least blood flow to the uterus. I think it may be a little harsh to assume this is an unwanted pregnancy folks.

I think she said it was a first season, so I cerainly hope it wasn't planned!

There were two posts, first one as guest!

Bitches can actually be spayed at any time, but vets like to do it best at the quiescent time. I had one of my bitches spayed at the same time as her C section, as it had gone wll, and vet could see no likely problem.

The Uterus would not have enlatged much in the first part of pregnancy, especially at the pre attachment phase, so would be sfe to spay. bitches that are spayed in rescue centres can be at any stage in the reproductive cycle, inclucing early pregnancy when they are done. the vet would only know once he started!

A large number of rescue bitches are spayed and it is discovered that they are pregnant once opened up ... the dog suffers no ill effects after. Obviously it isn't ideal, but then it is far better todo this than have more unwanted dogs around. Much as I love my mongrels I can't see the point if it can be prevented safely!

Vets normally only refuse to spay a bitch once heavily pregnant ... circa 6-7 weeks. Though I had one bitch spayed full term when she was unable to deliver her puppies safely (small collie x mother./rottweiller type father) ... the pups from that incident had to be put to sleep tragically (the mother later spent the rest of her life with me and suffered no ill effects at all).