Possibly Pregnant?

spiritdogs

I'm a little offended that you would not think it was helpful to refer a medical question to a vet who could answer ALL your questions about nipples, canine pregnancy, whether or not you can spay if she is, in fact, pregnant.

it would have been easier than a spay just after a heat cycle (which can lead to infection

I was going by the above sentence and I suck at making multiple quotes, it seems), which insinuates that the spay itself would cause infection when done during a heat cycle

Dogs most certainly can get pyometra. A few weeks after a heat cycle ends is the most common time to develop it.

No vet wants to do a spay during a heat cycle, but many will if it is an urgent situation.

calliecritturs

Grab01, not to split hairs but yeah, it *does* because if the dog wound up with pyometra at the end of the heat cycle (so she isn't really pregnant just starting a false pregnancy and/or pyo -- which *can* happen for sure) then yeah, the heat cycle opens them up to pyometra which is sure as heck infection. 

A friend of mine had a yorkie that came thru her heat cycle (very very carefully monitored - they knew she was *not* pregnant) but was giving little "false pregnancy" symptoms and just generally was "off" -- and I convinced them to take her *right away* to the vet just in case ... and yep ... it was pyometra right off the bat from her first heat.

They almost lost her -- it's not super common, but it can sure happen.  But when those tissues are hot, moist and swollen, it's only too easy for disaster to strike.  I wasn't so much talking about the surgery itself -- just the generally increased risk of pyo and "things that can go wrong".

Any spay or any surgery can lead to infection ... I wasn't being any more complicated than that -- but after the heat cycle the dog's immune system is naturally low -- it's a stressful time, and then adding the stress of surgery on that = possibility of infection.

Am going to try to head something  off at the pass here -- let's go easy on this lady ok?  I've been in contact with her and there is some pretty difficult extenuatng circumstances she really can't discuss.  She's responsible - that's super clear to me.  But her back is pretty well against the wall.  It's not a case of "gee, I didn't plan for this" -- it's a *very* difficult situation and she was looking for information.

Gina's info was on target -- the watchword here is "support" -- there are times when life just plain sucks big time.  so ... prayers and good thots would be appreciated I think. 

Will stick my nose back in my own business again.  ...

Middie, this is one area of dogs I know nothing about but just wanted to wish you good luck with all of this and whatever else you've got going on right now. 

Lori

Maybe I'm wrong but aren't the bodies leukocytes always lower during heat cycles or pregnancies?  If so then they would definitely be more open to infections during and just after and especially DURING surgeries.

Middie, you got my support.  I know exactly what it's like to be broke and not be able to afford the proper care for a dog if something happened.  This doesn't mean I wouldn't do everything possible for my dogs though.  I'm sure you think the same way and want what's best for the dog.  I don't know your circumstances and am not going to sit here and speculate...that wouldn't be fair to you.

Sending you some "not pregnant" vibes for your pup.  Let us know how things go.

Good Luck

 Thanks, guys.

I'll let everyone know how it goes Thursday.

Gina is absolutely on target with her observations.  And often, even an experienced breeder doesn't quite catch the first signs of pregnancy.

The ideal time to spay is when the uterus has had a chance to return to it's normal size and shape following heat or pregnancy.  A blood engorged uterus is spongier than normal and their ARE some increased risks, but, there are also increased risks from letting a pup this young whelp.  Six of one, half dozen of the other.  Yes, the best thing to do is to spay NOW, or as soon as humanly possible.

Not knowing your situation, I can only hope that this will be helpful given your Dad's lack of attention.

Might I remind everyone, that we don't know the situation.  Dad could have dementia or worse and just not be able to be responsible.  We don't know, so we shouldn't judge.