My pregnant lab is small. Will mixed puppies be stillborn or too tiny?

Because the sire is much bigger than the dam, the puppies will typically be larger and that can cause difficulties with Gracelynn giving birth. I would at least be emotionally and financially prepared in case she does need a c section to give birth. It's better to be prepared for it and not have it happen, than not be prepared and have it happen. The vet can assist as needed with her labor, and you can speak to your vet about any concerns you may have. I hope this helps!

I would strongly suggest to keep her monitored during pregnancy as c-section may be needed to deliver the puppies. Radiographs at 40 days of pregnancy will be very useful to assess the size of the puppies and make sure they can be naturally delivered. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I would be concerned about the size difference and the possibility of her needing a c-section. I would recommend calling and explaining your situation and maybe they will move up her spay procedure in the next week or so. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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!

It is possible. the only way to know for sure is to have her x-rayed by your veterinarian. This would be recommended anyway so you know how many pups to expect. Since she is so close, start monitoring her body temperature. Use a rectal thermometer with sterile lube. Normal temp ranges from 100 F to 102.5 F. In most cases, labor will begin within 24 hours of a drop below 100 F.

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!