[misaac70]

I've never had a dog before that has been pregnant. How can I tell if my daschund is? Her belly seem fuller that it has ever been and she has a funny odor to her. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[labman]

I have stolen some material I posted on another forum explaining dogs' season or heat cycle. The swelling and odor could the earlier stages of it. On the other hand, if she has already gone through it, she could be pregnant if she had access to a male at the time. This could also be an infection. If she has not gone through her cycle recently, and starts the discharge soon, I would do nothing except be very careful to keep her away from males. Otherwise better let a vet have a look. The smell suggests an infection, and they can be fatal.

Female dogs' reproductive cycles are not biologically the same as humans, but they do discharge bloody mucus thorough what is called their vulva. It should not last more than a few weeks, but they can spot on and off for a month or more. Books give averages. Dogs don't read them. They are most fertile about the second week after the discharge starts. Both the females and males will make unbelievably strenuous and creative attempts to get together and produce a litter of hard to place puppies. If the bleeding doesn't taper off to oozing a little mucus after a week or 2 call the vet.

Life will be easier both for you and her if you have her sterilized, spayed. You will have the same calm dog that you enjoy the rest of the time, no mess, no male dogs hanging around, and most of all, no puppies to be slaughtered at the shelter for lack of homes. Unplanned breeding and even baths or swimming can lead to fatal infections. Both intact males and females have more cancer in later life. Responsible breeding is a tough process, not for the inexperienced. She will make a much nicer pet, and be happier herself if you have her spayed. Most vets will want to wait until her cycle is done.

The pet stores sell special garments to hold sanitary napkins to control the mess. I would buy the cheapest one you could find, and spay her so you don't need it again. Even if you succeed in keeping her away from males, she could develop a false pregnancy. An experience person, including your vet, can feel if there are puppies after about a month.

[janctx]

Is it 3mnths or 2mnths before a dog has pups once they get pg? Mine got caught 3 weeks ago and seems very big. She is a daschund, caught by a daschund