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My female dog's belly is hard and round. Is she pregnant or sick?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | unspayed | 15 lbs

So Lily Has Been Doing It With My Male Dog but Sometimes Dont Let Him & he Do It Anyways & she Has This Round Hard Thing In Her Stomuch Not sure If Its A Baby Or I dont Know Can i get Advice /help

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 19th, 2018

Pregnancy can definitely cause a firm, distended abdomen. Lily's nipples also appear to be bigger than normal, which can indicate she is pregnant or had a litter in the past.

There are many other causes of a distended abdomen, so it's best to have a vet check her out; especially if she is showing any other signs of illness.

For further information about pregnancy in dogs, I recommend you read the article at the following link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/breeding-for-pet-owners-pregnancy-in-dogs

I hope that helps and all is well with Lily.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on August 7th, 2017
There are many different causes for a dog's belly to get bigger, including pregnancy, false pregnancy, pyometra (life-threatening infection of the uterus), stomach bloat, free fluid in the abdomen, and cancer, among others. I would recommend that you have Sissy examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible for diagnosis. If she is not pregnant and otherwise healthy, your vet can schedule her for a spay surgery.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on February 22nd, 2018
It's possible that Lily could be pregnant, but if she was first mated three and a half weeks ago, it would still be early for her to show signs such as an enlarged belly. If she won't let him mate anymore, then she is out of heat. I would take Lily into the vet. The vet can do a blood test to look for a hormone called relaxin that occurs when a dog is pregnant. If this hormone is found in her blood, then she is pregnant.

I do not recommend mating her again after this. Female dogs should never be bred past the age of seven. This is because after this age, pregnancy is very hard on the dog's body and there is an increased risk of complications from it. If she is currently pregnant, I recommend having her spayed after she weans her litter. Should she not be pregnant, I recommend having her spayed as soon as possible. Good luck, I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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