Hi--been reading these boards forever it seems trying to decide if i want to breed my two shih tzus.
But I came across quite a situation. We live way out in the country--away from other homes etc...
A dog---looks like a westie---started hanging around my house. As i often take strays and find them good homes if their owners aren't found, i took this one in--took her to the vet abnd giot her checked out and was in the process of looking for the owner( she has a micro chip embedded)
Well she appears to be getting FAT--like she's prego--
Since i have NEVER bred dogs nor seen a PREGO dog i didn't know what to think--Called my vet and well he couldn't determine for sure if she is or isn't--so it appears i have to wait it out.
SOoo what i am asking for is advice---We have had her since early april---so i am guessing mid to late march--since she showed NO Signs of heat or pregnancy then.
She is getting FAT---kind of pear shaped ( i have pics kind of LOL) but i can't feel puppies--all i can feel is her pulse and breathing HAHA
Please any advice would be great---was gonna take he in again but my vet is GONE to africa for two weeks and the other vet won't see me til the 30th of may( thinking if she is prego WELL that's gonna be too late)
She has become lazy and varies in her eating--Since i don't know waht her regular food was i jsut put her on h igh quality dog food. Please please help---and i guess this will be a good test if i wnna become a breeder to my lovely shih tzus:)
Thanks
Kim

You say she has a microchip - why have you been unable to trace the owner through that, what other steps have you taken, police, dog warden, etc?

Well it appears that the info on the chip isn't any good--the phone number is disconnected and the address doens't exist on file:(--The police and dog warden are both searching for owners---and the pound is full( and our pound is a put them down pound)
The dog is healthy except for this pregnancy or false pregnancy--and looks well taken care of. We have driven for miles house to house leaving notices on peoples doors and talking to people---
I have fostered dogs before when our pound is full but never done the pregnant dog thing. And i tell ya it's keeping me awake for sure.
Kim

Have you got a dog warden to scan her chip? or contacted your nearest dogs home/police station?

I would treat her as though pregnant for now I can usually feel puppy movement at around day 42, but if it's a small litter this will be more difficult, do her teats look bigger and is her vulva still swollen? If your vet isn't available until the end of the month, I would look for another and quick just in case you need one during delivery should problems arise.

Let us know how you get on

yes chip scanned and NO valid information on it GRRR this bugs me---\The vet i can get in to see on the 30 th of may is available to me for emergencies only--My problem is--she's about 45 minutes away--i do have a breeder friend that has looked at her--and she thinks she is pregnant but maybe hiding them in her ribcage. She's YOUNG i would gather this is her first heat and it makes me furious.
I have a picture of her belly( not a good one mind you) but her last 4 teats are bigger and hanging and her vulva is still protruding.
Kim

I would insist that this vet sees her now - not in 2 and a half weeks time - that's disgraceful. Alternatively find another vet.....

Poor thing - hope all goes well in all possible ways - she must be so confused.

Pam n the boys

I feel so badly for this dog---who we haven't named yet---My two shih tzus love her though--I have been calling other vets for a week now---I did just call my vet again and the secretary said she was talking to him later today and would explainthe hard time i am having finding someone that will see her. He will try to call someone for me--since he's GONE!!!

I feel so badly for this dog--and makes me sooo angry cuz i bet they saw her get this way and didn't want it to happen so they just dumped her( the adress onthe tags is over two hours from where i live)
Kim

Hi I dont know where abouts in the country you are, but, a westie has gone missing recently, you will find the details under missing dogs. Also others have also gone missing, so I would put this message on to as many boards as you can, it will be someones much loved pet. Hope you find out where is has come from. Good luck.

I am in Ohio USA and was just getting ready to go over to this board to put missing dog up---this dog however is a cross breed--the vet thinks it's a westie-beagle mix--But will still post it---I want the owners found if they still want the dog. But seems with all the false information they jsut dropped this dog off in our area:(
Kim

I thought it couldn't be in the UK - a vet would never behave like that here without risking being struck off.

Right and I agree--I have had issues with the veternarians in our area for a long long time. All they seem to care about are cows LOL. Now if i was breeding cows the dang vet would come live with me.
I am sure in other areas of the US they do fine but I live in farm country.
Of course the generalization for USA vs UK can't be made just on MY experiences.
SO i won't get into my opinions here as i don't want to start a war of countries.
Hence the reason I fear breeding my pure breeds here where I live.

Iwill admit I am somewhat limited on what I can do as I can't drive( i am epileptic) so vets farther away from me are great BUT if something happens while i am home alone i can't get there myself.

Kim

Generalized discrimination drives me crazy---as I get treated differently all the time because I am epileptic. SO i am NOT one to generalize. I just give my specifics and go on

Hi Kim

Check out Lostdogs.com and American and Canadian site for lost and found dogs

Good luck with her

Christine

Thank heading there right now--after I walk the dogs.
Kim

hi, if you want to read up on breeding and whelping get "The Book of the Bitch" by Kay White and JIm Evans. Its available on Amazon I believe. Get a cosy place readfy for her to sleep in so she can get used to it, in case she does have puppies. It should be away from other dogs/pets but within earshott. Ideally get some veterinary fleece bedding in a cosy box just big enough so she can stretch right out - with sides of at least 6" high all the way round and some way of heating the room to keep it at approx 80degrees. I dont know what the average day temp will be with you but new born puppies need to be kept very warm. Try not to worry, you can only do your best and most whelpings are straightforward, but do get the suggested book if you can. Do you have any friends/neighbours that have bred puppies before that could support you?

Thanks_
I ordered the book right now. Had read good things about it on the board. Now jsut hoping i get it in time.
I do have a friend who is a breeder and pretty much thinks this dog is prego.
The average daily temp is so upand down this time of year.
My friend lent me her whelping box and i have some fleecy type material that my friend said would be perfect.
The box is out of the main area of the house but i can hear her--SHE HATES THE BOX!!! but since i don't know how she was reaise it's [possible she was caged too much---SHE HATES her cages too--i have a portable heater ready to go if need be.
I just wish i knew when to expect these pups. Tried to take temp she won't stand for it at all.:(
She's just sleeping so much of the time--I thought i felt pups today moving but how do i know they are pups and not gas or her organs moving around HAHAH
Thanks so much for the support. I have alread found three people that are willing to take pups if she has them--and have been posting on boards all across the net all day
Thanks soooo much
kim