7-week pregnant dog: solid belly, no puppies felt. Fast breathing. Phantom?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would start first with confirming that Sparky is actually pregnant. Your vet can take an X-ray. At 59 days the puppies should be visible. Milk can show up in the mammary glands a day or so or up to a week before birth. Another possibility is a false pregnancy. This is a hormonal imbalance that occurs after a dog is in heat. They are not pregnant but the hormonal imbalance convinces the body that they are. The dog can produce milk, nest, carry toys around like puppies and act anxious. It usually lasts the length of a pregnancy which is 60-63 days. I hope this helps!

Unfortunately you can't tell if this is a real pregnancy or a false pregnancy without an ultrasound at this stage. At 22 days, the fetal heart beats can be detected on an ultrasound. At 45 days, the fetal skeletons can be seen on an x-ray. Depending on the size of the mother and the amount of puppies, the fetuses may be palpated in the final weeks of pregnancy. Here are a couple links with additional information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/false-pregnancy-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/pregnancy-diagnosis-caring-for-the-pregnant-dog/ I strongly recommend to have your dog spayed. Otherwise she will have up to two litters of puppies a year. Not only is this a lot of strain on her body, but it contributes to pet over population. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, Malana's breathing can appear different with a belly full of puppies. The breathing shouldn't be labored. And as long as she is eating, drinking and other wise normal it is likely due to her puppies. I hope this helps and have a great day!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Normal pregnancy length in dogs is 60-63 days. If she mated right before adoption then she could be pregnant. Puppy heart beats can be detected on ultrasound at 28 days gestation and we can see their skeletons on X-rays around 50 days. She could be pregnant or she could be suffering from a false pregnancy which occurs after they have a heat cycle from a hormonal imbalance. This imbalance causes the body to think it is pregnant when it actually isn't. The dog can develop mammary glands, produce milk, nest, carry stuffed animals around like babies, act anxious. It resolves with in 2-3 months. I would make an appointment with your Vet to see if you can confirm or deny pregnancy. I wish you the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sadly we can not estimate how far along Snowy is by pictures. Dogs are only pregnant for 60-63 days. By day 28 you can see puppies on ultrasound and by day 50 you can see them on X-ray. I have personally never seen a dog miscarry from stress. If she doesn't give birth by 70 days from when you got your dog neutered you need to bring her to the Vet to confirm pregnancy or whether she is experiencing a false pregnancy. I wish you the best and I'm sorry we can't be exact. Good luck!

Based on your information, the latest possible day for fertilization of eggs with sperm would be July 26 (sperm can hang out up to 5 days to fertilize the eggs). An ultrasound can detect pregnancy after 28 days, and x-rays can be used after 45 days. It seems like it was too early to see any fetal skeletal development on Sept 1. I would recommend another x-ray next week to confirm if a true or false pregnancy. You can't judge if a dog is pregnant based on the size of their belly alone. An enlarged belly can happen with other things, like organ enlargement, cancer, or an infected uterus.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Girttie's belly is huge and she is producing milk she is very likely pregnant. If he belly wasn't big and she was producing milk she could be experiencing a false pregnancy. I would count back to when she was in heat. Dogs are pregnant for about 63 days. They do have a temperature drop most of the time BUT not always. It usually drops below 99 a few hours to 1 day before the start of labor. Dogs can start to product milk up to a week to a few days before labor. It is hard to feel the puppies move. If you want to confirm the number of puppies make a Vet appointment to have an X-ray taken to count the skeletons. Since she is so small it is good to talk to your Vet in case you run in to complications where you may require their help with delivery or a C-section. My guess is that she is due very soon, less than 7 days. I hope this helps!