How to tell...

[kastle]

A coworker recently adopted/rescued a 2 year old female black lab from a friend of a friend. This guy has a terminal liver disease due to heavy drinking. She is not spayed and never received any shots. According to him, she had her heat cycle 2 weeks prior to the adoption.

Now, I know nothing about dog pregnancies. This girl thinks the dog may be pregnant. She said her nipples are huge and very pronounced. Her vet appointment is next Wednesday. When females are in heat or after, could their nipples get really big or is it just a pregnancy thing? She's definitely freaking out at the thought that her first dog ever could soon become dog and puppies. Either way, she's keeping Belle. Another twist is that he said the only dog she ever played with was her intact brother.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

She could be pregnant, or she could be having a false pregnancy, which would be interesting

 

[blaue_augen]

Suki's nipples (are they teets on a dog?) are more pronounced right now and she is in heat. But it is my first heat and i dont know how long they take to go back. Also, I thought you couldn't tell if a dog was pregnant until so many weeks pretty far into the pregnancy??? I hope she's not pregnant (for lots of reasons), but what a way to start off with you first dog! Eek!

 

[R Taft]

Katy's are and have always been big and she has never had puppies. Many people ask me is she has had pups or is having them.....The vet will be able to tell if pregnant. hopefully it is just "fat labrador" disease lol which is much easier to deal with then a pregnant dog. Will keep fingers crossed for the co-worker......Nice of her to take the dog anyway.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

I have no advice really, but wanted to say good luck to your friend!

I have seen some dogs that just have more pronounced nipples, especially if they were spayed later in life.

Maggie's are enormous but she's also had several litters (before we had her) and wasn't spayed until about 2 years ago at age 4-5.

 

[Thehallk]

My sister's cockapaoo's nipples almost double in size during her heat. How long ago was the adoption?

 

[kastle]

She just adopted Belle last Saturday. Supposedly, she had her heat cycle 2 weeks prior to that. Given Belle's former owners history, it is really hard to know for sure. When he was asked again when she was last in heat, he couldn't remember. The night before he gave her up, they went and hung out a the bar together. I guess the dog is very well known at the local bars is this guys town.

She'll be going to the vet next week and see for sure. Is the only way to tell done through x-ray?

 

[new_2_newf]

I'm pretty sure they can do an ultrasound and see if there are puppies in there, I don't know that they'd have to xray.

 

[Ell]

Fingers crossed it's not a pregnancy, especially if it's a directly inbred one.

Make sure you keep us updated! Sounds like she's at a good home now though

 

[kastle]

This girl absolutely loves Belle. She'd rather not have to deal with puppies but is prepared for the challenge if that's what's in the cards. She has only had her for a week but you would think the two have been together forever. I'll let you all know how the vet appointment goes on Wednesday.

 

[NewfieMama]

Even if she is pg, I don't think she would necessarily need to have the pups - see what the vet says...?

 

[Tula]

I agree. Kim

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

She could be if she was around her intact brother. It all depends if she started her heat cycle two weeks ago or finished then. The cycle lasts about 3 weeks. The nipple enlargement happens due to hormones, so can happen if the girl is pregnant or not. If it is just 2 weeks, then the vet won't know either. You have to wait about a month to first do the ultrasound. But from what you say, it is a real possibility.

 

[heather pluciennik]

My girl had a false pregnancy once. Scared the blank out of me and my husband.
Hope that's all it is. Poor girl!!

 

[NinaA]

I don't like to promote this, but our first dog was a little rat terrier stray who was pregnant. At 13 pounds she was attempting to carry 9 puppies that must have been fathered by a Labrador. Vet said puppies will all die and so would she if we didn't abort. So, my little girl had an abortion when she was spayed.

 

[kastle]

Bell saw the vet last week for a physical exam. The vet felt something but couldn't really tell if it was a pregnancy or just full bowels. She recommended that she wait a couple weeks and then do an x-ray. Bell actually lost a little weight in between the appointments and her belly has not really gotten any bigger so hopefully those are both goods signs that she is not pregnant.

 

[new_2_newf]

fingers crossed that she just had a big 'ol poo in there.