My dog used to have many puppies. Why are her litters smaller?

You are right that what she is saying is incorrect. The more they mate, the more likely it is she will be pregnant, but mating multiple times will not make more puppies. That simple depends on how many eggs are fertilized when she ovulates. The more they mate doesn't mean less room for puppies to grow.

There are many things that could cause infertility. You would need to get her to a veterinary reproductive specialist to get a diagnosis; they will let you know if it can be corrected. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/infertility-in-female-dogs ) If she cannot conceive you should have her sterilized to prevent further problems like pyometra and mammary (breast) cancer.

I would recommend not breeding her anymore and getting her spayed. It is possible that she is unable to get pregnant again. If you would like to know for sure I would take her to a veterinarian for bloodwork to check her hormone level. However with her getting older it might be time to retire her and stop trying to breed her.

Dogs of her size can have issues with difficult births needing c-sections, eclampsia, puppies with low body fat and low blood sugars as well as other issues like liver shunts. I recommend having a veterinarian confirm that she is pregnant and if so follow the size of the puppies very closely to see if a csection will be needed.

Hello, I’m not sure if there was supposed to be a photograph of the male dog attached to this post or not. If you have a large male who breeds with a small female, there is always a concern that she will not be able to have the puppies and will need a C-section. Any small female dog who is having puppies should have radiographs done after day 45 to see how many babies are expected. If you do not want her to have a litter, I recommend calling the veterinarian and discussing getting her spayed ASAP. Some dogs can have a shot to stop the pregnancy but there can be some serious side effects to that. Getting her spayed will eliminate an accidental pregnancy in the future. Getting her spayed also has other health benefits and is recommended for any dog not intended for breeding. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions!

Hi, thabks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The size difference may or may not be a problem. If her litter is large the puppies will be smaller. If she only has one or two she’d be at more risk for needing a c-section. I would have your Vet take an X-ray at day 50 to confirm pregnancy and to count puppies. Write down the date she was bred. Dogs are pregnant 60-63 days. Starting at day 55 start taking her temperature daily rectally. Stage 1 labor tends to start 24 hrs once the temperature drops below 99 F. But your Vet can help you and go over concerns once we know she is pregnant and size of the litter. I hope this helps and good luck!

No this isn’t entirely correct. She does however have a greater chance of needing a C-section if the puppies end up being bigger than her birth canal. Which is why it’s best to have her examined by your vet and radiographs taken to look at the size of the fetuses. If they are too big to pass, then a simple C-section can be scheduled for the Mama dog. I hope this helps. Best wishes and take care.