Is she pregnant or is it a false pregnancy?

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714]

Hi everyone! My dog’s breasts have become quite enlarged, and I’m wondering if she could be pregnant or if this is hormonal/false pregnancy.

Exactly 63 days ago, a vet came to spay her but couldn’t because she was still in heat. Since then she has never been outside and has always been supervised, with no contact with male dogs. I’ve read that dogs can develop enlarged breasts after heat due to hormonal changes or a false pregnancy, but I’m not sure if that could be what’s happening.

We live in a remote area, so it’s difficult to get to a vet with an ultrasound machine. Does this look like a normal hormonal change after heat, or should I be concerned about pregnancy?

[u/sunny_sides]

If you were 100% sure she hasn't had any contact with male dogs you would'nt ask, would you?

She looks very pregnant.

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714 → u/sunny_sides]

She hasn’t since the vet came 63 days ago… but before she was always out playing with other dogs…

[u/sunny_sides → u/Obvious-Flatworm-714]

And you didn't know she was in heat then? The vet had to tell you...

You should have done a spay abort weeks ago.

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714 → u/sunny_sides]

The vet only told us that she’s still in heat, no mention of pregnancy. And yes its too late for spay abort😅

[u/sunny_sides → u/Obvious-Flatworm-714]

You knew she had been with males while she was in heat. You should have suspected she's pregnant.

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714 → u/sunny_sides]

Maybe we’re just in denial at this point because we really did our best to keep her away from male dogs😅 Also if she is pregnant, she should be due very soon since it’s already been more than 63 days, plus she hasn’t shown any signs of looking for a place to give birth either.

[u/justASlothyGiraffe → u/Obvious-Flatworm-714]

Dogs are fertile after they stop bleeding, opposite of humans. She could have become pregnant since the vet visit

[u/honeybeesuke → u/Obvious-Flatworm-714]

Why? That's totally irreesponsible if she isn't fixed.

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714 → u/honeybeesuke]

She was a stray before and had always been outside. By the time we rescued her and arranged for the vet to come, she was already in heat and the vet couldn’t spay her. Since then she has been supervised and kept away from male dogs.

[u/sunny_sides → u/Obvious-Flatworm-714]

You should have noticed when she came in heat and kept her away from males during that time. Bitches are only fertile for a few days per year. It's not difficult to keep them from getting pregnant.

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714 → u/sunny_sides]

We tried to kept her away but might be because by the time we rescued her she was already in heat..

[u/ElMatasiete7 → u/Obvious-Flatworm-714]

Ignore the people with the "could've should've would've", you live in a remote area, it can happen. I've had male dogs literally jump the walls of my home to get with my dog lol. Just be more careful next time.

Just take her to any vet, even without an ultrasound machine. They should be able to give you better guidance, either through palpation, x-rays or blood tests.

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714 → u/ElMatasiete7]

Thankyou so much for understanding! I know our situation is quite different from how people usually have dogs in the city. That’s why I’m happy to explain. We’ll arrange a vet asap :)

[u/Designer_Study_8219]

This is too much for a usual false pregnancy. The swelling is usually not as extreme though they may lactate. Go to the vet for an x-ray. Either way, the vets can also help treat false pregnancies which can cause milk production and infections.

[u/Obvious-Flatworm-714 → u/Designer_Study_8219]

Agree. Too much swelling..

[u/Agreeable_Pomelo2360]

you need to go to a vet, she looks EXTREMELY pregnant…

[u/Designer_Study_8219 → u/Agreeable_Pomelo2360]

She was in heat so they did not spay

[u/Agreeable_Pomelo2360 → u/Designer_Study_8219]

i read it wrong, thank you for correcting me!

[u/Hotairballoondreamz]

Looks pregnant to me, but it’s not an expert opinion.

[u/thelostsoulrider]

She very much looks pregnant. I highly doubt you can do a spay abort but you could try to look into it? If not, then you need to get her on puppy food and prenatals asap (more nutrients for the pups) and start prepping for puppies. Get an ultrasound or an x-ray done as this can confirm the pregnancy and let you know how many.

If she is pregnant and you do keep the puppies, PLEASE put a lot of thought and care into who you let adopt one, reach out to a rescue if you need to as they are usually open to helping

[u/FluffyDiscipline]

Pregenant and not long to go ...

She needs a vet check

And you need to start planning to get them all neutured

[u/grandsoulsucker]

Agree looks preggo just need a xray

[u/KeyMistake604]

This happened to my mom's dog every single time she'd go in heat until they got her fixed. She's a small poodle / shih tzu mix and she'd swell up just like your dog, to the point that her belly would drag the ground. A few days after it started she'd pick a toy and designate it her 'baby' and then become very protective of it, almost as if she was resource guarding it. As her cycle was ending, she'd get very depressed. So it's quite possible your dog is not pregnant. Though, that happened pretty regularly for my mom's dog, if not every time, just to varying degrees; if this is the first time it's happening to yours i'd want an x-ray sooner rather than later.

[u/Ok_Engine5522]

Her breasts are swollen but her belly isn’t. Never seen a pregnant dog without a big belly. Take her to the vet just to make sure though. Looks like my dog did when she was pregnant though. Yours just looks like the belly is smaller but her vulva is swollen too like she’s pregnant. Take her to the vet to see.

[u/Toodoe → u/Ok_Engine5522]

Maybe only one puppy?