UNWANTED PREGNANCY
If you find that your bitch is pregnant or you suspect she is, and it wasn't planned,
you do have options.
1. Care for her appropriately and let her have the pups
2. Have her desexed (if the pregnancy isn't to far advanced)
3. Have her aborted (again if the pregnancy isn't to far advanced)
The first step is to determine when the bitch was on heat and when she was or may
have been mated if possible. Having this information is essential to planning the
best options for your dog. Next step is to confirm that she is indeed pregnant. In
reality, if these dates are unknown, determining how far pregnant your bitch is, is
very difficult. The only options is having a very experienced clinician ultrasound her
and measure the fetuses which can then give some idea as to the fetal age.
Pregnancy less that three weeks is hard to confirm. A blood test which can be done
in the clinic to detect RELAXIN hormone can confirm pregnancy from three weeks
post mating but if a negative test result occurs, it is recommended to repeat the test
a week later to confirm either way.
Ultrasound is commonly used at four weeks to confirm pregnancy. X-ray is used
late in pregnancy to count pups which can then be helpful when planning the
delivery. X-ray can not be used earlier in pregnancy as the fetal bones have not
ossified and will not show.
DESEXING
If you are interested in desexing your bitch, this can be done safely until five weeks
post mating. After this stage, extra care is required to support her during the
procedure. The anaesthetic risk will increase due to the time needed to complete
the surgery and the degree of blood loss due to the much larger volume of
circulating blood in the pregnant uterus. We are extremely reluctant to desex
animals further developed than seven weeks pregnant.
Bitches desexed whilst pregnant can still have mammary development initially and
require considerable aftercare. Strict rest and confinement is essential for 10 days.
The incision/wound must be cared for appropriately, kept clean and dry and your
