My dog is pregnant. What vet care does she need in Pittsburgh?

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She should have all her vaccines and be dewormed prior to getting pregnant. Things to think about are if Virguie's breed has any trouble giving birth naturally so you can be financially prepared for a surgical C-section. Record all breeding dates accurately. Discuss measuring Progesterone levels with your Vet to time breeding. Look in to whelping boxes and watch videos on whelping so you can help during birth with removing the placentas from the puppies faces and tying umbilical chords. Purchase a bulb syringe to remove mucous from the puppies noses. Virguie should be fed puppy food while pregnant and while nursing. At day 50 pregnant have your Vet take an X-ray of her bally to estimate the number of puppies to expect. Start measuring Virguie's rectal temperature daily around day 58 pregnant to watch for a temperature drop that indicates the start of labor. Always keep your Vet prepared so they can assist you if you have problems. Be prepared to financially deworm and vaccinate the puppies when they need it and to take care of any unexpected illnesses in the mother and with the puppies. I hope this helps!

Just make an appointment to have Nala seen by a vet and be sure to bring her puppies with you. The puppies cannot be left alone. The vet can do a physical an exam and x-rays to make sure she has delivered all the puppies. If you can, I would have her seen tomorrow.

Genetics of coat color are complicated in dogs so we can’t help much in that department. I do have some comments about the rest though. First, from an ethical perspective, I feel compelled to let you know that about 40% of dogs and puppies in shelters nation-wide are pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Breeding pit bulls is highly discouraged by most veterinarians since we know that a lot of them end up euthanized or in shelters. If you do decide to proceed, here are some medical suggestions: Female dogs should not be bred until at least 2 years of age to slow them to achieve complete maturity. They are more likely to birth without complications if allowed to do so. They should be fed puppy food while pregnant- unrestricted in the last trimester and while nursing. She’ll need an X-ray at about 45-55 days to determine how many pups she is carrying. That way, you know when all of them have arrived! (Or when to worry if they have not all arrived.) Always have an emergency vet in the back of your mind as well as about $3000-5000 saved in case she needs an emergency C-section. Best wishes to you and Linda!

Congrats on Snowy's pregnancy! I don't think it's likely to cause any harm to the pregnancy. As long as she doesn't sustain any serious trauma along the way! Even the stress of a vet visit with a very nervous mama dog will not harm the puppies in a normal pregnancy. Take her for a walk before hand so she is a little more tired than normal and make sure to bring treats along so she can at least have some positive reinforcement. Best of luck!

If the two dogs were tied (locked together), it's very likely that Penny will be pregnant as a result of this. I would recommend taking her to the vet in 4-6 weeks to find out for sure if she is pregnant - if so, you will need to decide if you want to have the puppies or not. If not, you can opt to have her spayed to abort the puppies and prevent her from being able to get pregnant again in the future. If you opt to let her have the puppies, it's normally recommended to feed puppy food during her pregnancy (it's higher in calories). She may also need to be dewormed. Toy breeds are always at a higher risk for needing an emergency c-section than larger dogs, so you should be prepared for this - if she does need a c-section, this can cost $1000-2000 depending on where you live. The puppies will also need to be dewormed and vaccinated before going to new homes at 8 weeks of age.

Feed Rita puppy food to give her extra calories, calcium, and protein. During the last five weeks of her pregnancy, increase her food intake gradually, until she consumes 35-to-50 percent more than usual. Increase her intake slowly and feed her small, frequent meals, as large meals can cause discomfort. Make sure to take her into a vet tomorrow to confirm she is pregnant, and have regular vet visits during the pregnancy. Emergencies happen during pregnancy. While you are at your veterinarian for a prenatal checkup, ask your veterinarian about what to do in the event of an emergency and set up a plan with your family and pet sitter.

Great question and congrats on Sasha's pregnancy! I would have her seen by vet in another 15 days for an x-rays. That will tell you how many puppies she is carrying so when she is whelping, you can count them and it will help you identify if there is a problem much sooner. I would also speak with your vet about complications to look out for during labor, and I would start setting aside some money just in case she needs an emergency c-section. It's best to be prepared financially so you aren't in a terrible situation if she does need one. You can feed her a puppy formulated food, but that needs to be stopped 10-14 days before she is due. At that point, put her back on an adult dog food. Once she has whelped her puppies, put her back on the puppy formulated food. She will need the extra calories, calcium, and protein a puppy food provides to support nursing her puppies. Make sure she is up to date on her flea treatment and deworming treatments. Revolution spot on is safe to give to pregnant dogs. If she is due for vaccines, discuss with your vet if they feel it's safe to give her a killed vaccine. I hope this helps and her pregnancy and whelping goes well!