Ask Me Help Desk - 3 non-pregnant dogs

This is the first time I might have 3 pregnant dogs at once. They surprised me by having their heats at the same time My vet came on the 17th and the 24th of November to palpate. On the 17th, She thought she felt something small in #1 and #2 Nothing in #3. She said she was not sure and felt better to check on the 24th due to whatever she felt on the 17th... was too small. On the 24th, she said non of the dogs took.. They have all put on weight. #1put on 7.5lbs gradually since she bred The other 2 put on 3.5-5lbs. Do they usually gain this early. As well they have been very affectionate... specially one (more then the others) and she threw up too. #2 hardly eats... unless I mix her food with something yummy. Then she eats it slowly. #1 has really slowed down eating this past week. She nibbles throughout the day. #3 would love more! #1 and #3 have grown 2" around their waist. My mentor really thinks my vet could be wrong. My vet said I could ultrasound... but she said she is so sure... And she is convinced they are not pregnant.. . 90%

Update: My vet stopped back today. I explained to her that each dog has gained weight, they all have temps less then 100.00 (in the 99.0) They all look wide around the hips. She looked today (days 55 and 56 between 3 dogs) At the end of the visit, she again said none of them are pregnant. I am baffled. Vet palpated again. Could pups be hiding up high? They all do not have firm bellies. Large vulvas and teats

**I used different studs for my girls... so my studs is not the problem. Each stud has produced puppies as well each girl has produced puppies. All dogs have been tested and health checked.
**There were 4 ties for each female (every other day from the 21st of October till the 28th)

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It is possible that none of them are pregnant.
Some dogs will show signs of being pregnant, such as weight gain and even developing milk even when they are not.
It seems just the act of mating throws their hormones out and they have a phantom pregnancy.

Of course there is always a chance the vet is wrong, palpating is not exactly accurate.

Have you had ultra sounds done on the 3 b*tches? Although they aren't all that accurate either if the pups are 'hiding' it will give you a better idea than palpating.
Most accurate way to tell is an x-ray, but it is useless until the last 10 days of pregnancy once the bones are stating to calcify.

Bear with me for this next bit as I do not know anything about you personally, I just want to write this out as possibly advice to you or someone else who may read this question (sorry if this sounds like preaching, not my intention).

Mating 3 b*tches at the same time seems... well... crazy unless you are a serious breeder and have homes for a potential 30+ puppies.
I know they all came in season at the same time but that is no reason to mate them all.
B*tches when living in the same house can tend to cycle together over time, much like women can.

I'm not sure what sort of climate you live in but 3 litters = 3 times the expenses when it comes to keeping the pups warm. Heat lamps are expensive to buy and run with just one, the cost of 3 is mind boggling. I'm sure you already know this but until they are 2 weeks old puppies cannot maintain their body temperature so most breeders will use heat lamps installed over the whelping box (similar to what they use for baby chickens). Once you get the height right it keeps it at a nice constant temperature.
Some people use heating pads but I find they can end rather badly and have seen puppies actually being burnt by faulty ones.

Then there is feeding and vaccinations.
The cost of vaccinating 30 puppies alone is around $800, some vets may discount for such a large amount but still, that is a lot of money.
What if all 3 b*tches needed c-sections. Some vets charge in excess of $3,000 for c-sections... do you have a spare $9,000 laying around?

I'm not sure of the age of the dogs either but if they are all around 2 years of age I'm assuming you had to pay for all their health testing at once. I really don't envy you for that, hip and elbow scores plus breed specific genetic faults... ouch.
Just tests for one dog are expensive.

I know there may not be 30 puppies, and from the sounds of it each b*tch is either having none or a small litter but you always have to prepare for "worst case scenario".

My brothers dog had a false pregnancy about five months before she did have the pups. She had milk leaking and was throwing up. Also trying to burrow and her stomach was growing. Remember these things are possible if you want pups this badly then wait till next time.It is 99% chance that she isn't "with pupies".

Quote:

Originally Posted by bla333

my brothers dog had a false pregnancy about five months before she did have the pups. she had milk leaking and was throwing up. also trying to burrow and her stomach was growing. remember these things are possible if you want pups this badly then wait till next time.It is 99% chance that she isnt "with pupies".

There's more to having puppies than wanting them. Wanting them isn't the issue, it's affording them, doing what's right by them, having money put aside for emergencies, buying the proper equipment like a heating lamp, and a whelping box.

Also, where did you get the 99% figure? Can you link the source where you got that information?

I was just guessing. And when I was talking about wanting puppies all I was trying to do was say try again next time the dog was in heat.

We don't guess on the dog forum. Here you have to know what you're talking about, you have to be sure about the advice that you give.