Estrus/ False pregnancy.....I'm sooo confused!!!
Submitted by ArchimedesMommy on September 5, 2011 - 3:08pmHello everybully! Sophie will be 6 months old soon, and we've decided to let her have one heat cycle before spaying.....
Okay, so here's where I need help.....I got this info here, and I've read this THREE times, and maybe I'm a total IDIOT---LOL---but I do NOT understand!!! What I'm reading is that a FALSE pregnancy can still mean she will have actual lumps and calcified skeletons in her womb??? What??? That's so weird!
***Please also see my questions posted after this paragraph---THANK YOU!***
(Copied and pasted from this site:)
False pregnancy symptoms are normal in dogs that have an estrus and do not get bred, due to the way in which they cycle. It is not usually necessary to treat for symptoms of false pregnancy but they can be so close to those of a real pregnancy that the two can be very confusing. It is usually possible to feel distinct lumps in the uterus representing individual embryos from about the 28th day of pregnancy to about the 35th day of pregnancy. Before and after that it can be hard to identify a pregnant uterus easily. After 45 days or so when the skeletons begin to calcify it is often possible to feel the distinct hardness of a puppy skull when palpating the abdomen or to identify the puppies on an X-ray, if you wish to take her to the vet's office prior to the home visit, or if your vet has a portable X-ray machine. By now, if your dog is NOT pregnant, your vet will probably be able to tell you that, since she should be pretty far into the pregnancy and at least uterine enlargement should be palpable.
Also, can someone please explain this to me? I read in a bulldog specific book that when theyr'e in heat, they "must be watched 24/ 7"....but the book didn't go into the REASONS.......aside from keeping Sophie away from intact males, keeping her clean and diapered, extra cuddling and lovin' (I read they get moody and upset sometimes), why would she need to be watched 24/7?
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
false pregnanacy
what i gather from your article...if she is pregant you feel the puppies.....a false pregancy shows all the signs but no little puppies are their....as for watching your dog 24/7...a male dog can detect a bitch in heat for miles...they break down fences and will get to your bitch if at all possible....
i would not be overly concerened other than you do have a male at home....are you going to board one or the other for three weeks? while she is in heat?
i a false pregancy some times their boobs swell up and even produce milk....you'll be ok....
thank you, Judy. Meaty is neutered....I need to do a lot more
reading, but from what I've read, since he's neutered, they should be okay together---right? :-) I do know about the males roaming from farrr away, so we'll be VERY careful when we take her outside!!! Thank you for your input.
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
well i would worry becasue
he will hump her when she comes into heat....also neutered male dogs can get an erection and can do the act!!!! so its not so simple as him being neutered.....so you might want to have a plan ready.....
WOW! Thank you, Judy! I did NOT know this, and I have HONESTLY
tried to find out more online and I checked out three books yesterday to learn more.....but the books' info is SO limited. Obviously, the sites I've been going to online are NOT the right sites! I need to do better searches. Of course, that's why I also LOVE this board, to talk to people I trust, and specifically, BULLDOG people! :-) Oh, and by the way, in one of the books I'm reading, the vet says females will even try to BREAK THROUGH GLASS DOORS to get outside while in heat.....geez! I'm starting to think we just need to do the spaying NOW......my hubby is just SOO insistent that she won't grow properly if we do it now. Don't misunderstand---my hubby is a smart, educated guy....but he's STUBBORN! (like a bulldog ---LOL!!!) No matter what I've told him, he's convinced she won't grow properly if we do it now, and he's only insisting because he cares........anyhoooo.....THANK YOU for telling me that, I didn't know a neutered male could still do all of that.....! Ugh!
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
extremes CAN happen
but they are hardley the norm. Just think about if for a moment: dog shows, hunting trials, agility trails, obedience, rally's.
ALL of these events have INTACT dogs gathered together for days at a time. Do you REALLY think that they are all so sex crazed that they can't even function?? They are so out of control by hormones they create unwanted litters?
No.
There have been quite a few studies on the long term HEALTH consequences of altering. Notice this is NOT behavioral in any way, strictly health.
There is a corelation to altering before puberty and excessive bone growth (leg bones mostly). This means the dog is NOT! stunted, but the bones grow too much. This increases the risk of almost always fatal bone cancer. So your husband does have a legitimate reason for concern.
The question though is: CAN you truly keep Sophie safely confined and under your supervision while she is having her heat cycle? Does she get away from you now? Does she escape your yard? Does she bolt out the door when it's opened?
If you can not keep her confined now, then the risk of an unwanted litter IS greater than the increased risk of bone cancer, and the other health risks that go with altering before puberty. I wouldn't worry too much about the extreme stuff you read in books-some of it is just sensationalism.
Cathy and Audrey
their you are....
have not seen a post from you in awhile...and their have been some good ones...are you in any of the danger area??? flooding fire or anything else....
I am not in a danger area!
thanks for asking!
Just stressful life situations....
Cathy and Audrey
ok i was worried not see you...
in our raw disscussions...becasue you have great detailed refrences...take it easy and keep in touch ok....i got worried