How to safely pick up a pregnant dog without hurting her belly?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! X-rays are performed using relatively low doses of radiation. Though frequent exposure can be harmful to embryos/fetuses, one or two x-rays throughout the pregnancy of a dog should not harm the puppies.

I don't recommend it unless it is the only way to break up a confrontation. Holding a dog by the scruff without lifting him can be used as a way of getting his attention if he is doing something inappropriate, but to lift a dog without supporting his body can do harm.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Dogs are pregnant an average of 62 days, so Skye is getting close. It is possible that this is a false pregnancy, but the only way to really tell is with an x-ray or ultrasound exam. At this point of her pregnancy it may be difficult to feel individual puppies, especially due to size of the puppies & if this is a rather large litter. An increased respiratory rate could be a direct result of her pregnancy putting increased pressure on her diaphragm. I think it is well worth an x-ray to know how many puppies are there. Hope this helps. Thank you.

Two possibilities exist here, one she is pregnant or two she is sick. If you are not feeling puppies kicking in her belly and she is puking and acting ill, then she could have a serious condition called Pyometra (spontaneously infected uterus). This will cause swelling of the belly almost overnight and cause the pet to have a fever (> 102.5 degree Fahrenheit rectal temperature), vomit, decreased appetite and lethargy. If this is the case please take Maci to your local vet right away for proper care. I do hope that this helps point you in the right direction towards Maci’s care moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

Yes, there is still time for Coco to get a bigger belly, but keep in mind that just like with human women, female dogs all carry puppies differently and some will get bigger than others. I hope this helps!

If she has a lot of puppies in there it could very wedll be that the belly is being stretched now that they are growing a lot. As long as your dog i eating and drinking properly and otherwise happy, then there is nothing to worry about.

Hi. We don't have access to your previously asked questions. Any time a dog is ill, there is a risk of pregnancy loss. The best way to try to prevent it is to provide good supportive care and help the patient recover as quick as possible. If Cookie is ill, it may be hard to tell when she is going into labor. Ideally, the puppies would have their heartrates monitored several times daily by ultrasound to watch for any signs that they are dropping due to distress. She should also be monitored regularly for temperature drops or contractions.