Is my little dog even pregnant?

Question

I have a Maltese terrier and she is or at least should be heavily pregnant by now. She was first mated on the 1st January and there were a few more matings that followed over about a week (so the pregnancy could have started after any of those). But she hasn't grown bigger and is not yet producing milk but I can feel what I think is kicking from behind the rib cage. She had a scan done recently which didn't show anything  (though the vet did say that scans are not 100% accurate at showing up pups)- but I can still feel the kicking on the right hand side of her body so surely she is pregnant? But if she is pregnant she must be now starting to be over due? Can any one give me any ideas as I am so confused. Can dogs have puppies or at least a puppy with no sign that the dog is pregnant at all? 
Thanks for your help.

pierced_chick123 · Accepted Answer

Sometimes dogs don't show any signs until a week to a day before they give birth..with my dog i didn't know until 2 days before she gave birth.. her stomach just kind of grew out and she started acting different..she kept trying to sleep on top of me and my b/f..I later found out it was b/c she wanted to use our bed as her whelping area. If you for sure feel pups then it should be any day.. the average pregnancy is 63 days... if it goes over that then you need to see a vet and have them do a C-section. Did the vet not feel her stomach while you were there? an x-ray usually doesn't show anything until about 55 days into the pregnancy b/c thats about when they bones start to show. Maybe go back and have another one done.

I luv Pets · Answer

Maltese have very small litters usually. Its not uncommon to have only one pup or 2. In this case you are not going to see a large stomach, you are not going to see a huge nipple increase, and if it IS a smaller litter they often can go to 70 days of pregnancy. In this case the pups are usually VERY LARGE!!! This is a big concern for her to pass them yet. 
As to knowing for sure. The ONLY WAY YOU WILL KNOW is to go to the vet and get an ULTRASOUND. So make ANOTHER appointment and go get one. If you are a good, concerned owner who wants ONLY the best for your dog and puppies you would have put some money aside for this kind of treatment. So if I am correct and those pups are in there and huge, start saving some money for the C-section she may need to get them out.

If the scan didnt show anything and you are this far along, shes not pregnant. I would think what you are feeling is the Gut Movements. Your dog is a noisy digester and you are feeling gut movments or a muscle tick possibly. Its still possible she has ONE puppy in there but not likely. Shes a small dog and that puppy would have been enormous now, and big enough to pick up on the scan. I would be safe in saying she is not pregnant.

Wild Ginger · Answer

Maybe you should consult with a second vet.  Apparently, you don't know anything about breeding and I don't know why you do that for.  After a second vet confirms whether she's pregnant or not, please have your female spay.  There are plenty of ignorant bybs out there already.

animal_artwork · Answer

Take her to the vet and have an x-ray done.

A single puppy often does not produce enough hormones to induce labor.

DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs · Answer

We can't tell these things over the internet.

Please consult with your vet.

If you need to ask this question here, you don't know anywhere near enough to be breeding.

Please go do some serious research on responsible breeding.
http://learntobreed.com/
http://woodhavenlabs.com/breeding.html
http://dogplay.com/Breeding/index.html

pixy_stix · Answer

If you've been to the vet, then they should have told you whether or not she's pregnant.  Spay your dog!

Anonymous · Answer

I think she is not because the vet knows best.

Tom G · Answer

maybe the male dog is infertile and you can feel her heart beating?

Emma :) · Answer

the kicking might be her heart

Is my little dog even pregnant?

9 Answers