We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

My husband %26amp; I had to make a late errand run and found a dog in the parking lot. We asked the store owners about her %26amp; they said a guy came %26amp; droped her off %26amp; left her there. We immediately picked her up and took her home. We have 2 dogs - an Xtra large one and a small one. We need a med dog and she gets along great with them. We thought she was a black lab pup at first. When we got home %26amp; looked, she has thick hair around her chest %26amp; neck. She also has kinda small paws. We don't think she is a puppy. She is about 20 lbs and has terrier ears. Also, we didnt think she was that skinny until we got down next to her and started petting her - it litterally looks like she has a bowling ball in her tummy. We think she is pregnant %26amp; unhealthy. You can see %26amp; feel her ribs. How much is it to fully take care of a preg. dog %26amp; birth? where is a good place to take her if we cant care for her? We dont know how our male would do with her having pups. We just want to do whats best for her.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

Taking her to the vet is definitely the best thing to do with her. Depending on where you live, vets may be obliged to send a stray to the pound rather than allowing it to go home with someone who finds it. If this occurs, and you think that you do want to keep her, make sure that you make the vet aware of that and follow it up with the pound (and keep following it up!)

In the meantime, I would keep her away from your other dogs. If her owner was irresponsible enough to dump her, then I very much doubt he did anything much in the way of looking after her. At the very best, she's almost certainly got worms and fleas. I would also, as I think someone else said, take her elsewhere on a lead to go to the toilet, rather than letting her go somewhere where your own dogs have access to.

There are dozens of reasons why her belly could be swollen. It could be pregnancy, but I'd be more worried (insofar as I can say without seeing her) about disease at this stage, especially if she is also very thin. It could be anything from worms (particularly if she is young), to other gastrointestinal tract disease, to cancer. It could also be free fluid in her abdomen- this could occur from low protein if she is starving, a liver problem, a heart problem, cancer, etc. Again, without seeing her, it's impossible to say.

If she is pregnant and you do end up keeping her, make sure that you've got close guidance from your vet, and collect as much good information as you possibly can. It might even be worth seeing if the vet has any experienced breeders among their clients- they won't be able to give you contact details without permission, but may be willing to contact them on your behalf. If she's pregnant, you need to educate yourself as much as possible about what to look for and when you need to get the vet involved.

She's also going to need a lot of good nutritional support, especially when the pups are born and she is feeding them. While everything may be fine, when you are thinking in terms of costs, I would look at worst case scenario just so that you know what you could be letting yourselves in for- thousands of dollars. She may need a caesarian section, she may die or not be able to feed the pups (in which case you would need to hand rear them), all need regular worming, all the pups need a vaccination before being rehomed, etc. Some vets may do all this at a reduced price because of you taking on a stray, but some won't. Apart from financial costs, there is also the time that needs to be put into raising puppies (lots of mess for starters!) even when mum does look after them as she should.

Good on you for taking this girl in and wanting to do the best by her. A lot of people would just keep walking. I hope everything turns out for the best.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

That's really good news! All the best in finding a new home for her. Report It

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

What you could do, is contact a local no-kill rescue to help you with any potential puppies. You could ''foster'' them until they're old enough to be adopted out, and they'll help with the basic fees (such as vaccinations for the puppies %26amp; deworming). Just an idea.

I wouldn't worry about all that until you get a vet's advice on whether she's just full of worms, or if she's actually pregnant.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

Definately take her to the vet. Some vets will be nice and give you a discount for assisting animals that are not your own. There is no good place to take her if you can not take her in. Try contacting a local Humane Society, sometimes they have people who take in animals as foster pets until homes are found. Too many pounds are overcrowded and not always a healthy place for pups.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

It's good that you are taking her to the vet, you should notify the local pound aswell.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

yes first, take it to the vet.

and at the office ask them where there are places that can take the dog like an animal hospital or something.

be sure to give it plenty of water. and give it some food.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

Well - I really think you have answered your own question! Take her to the vet. Remember - animals stomachs can swell if they have eaten weird things, if they are starving - or if they are pregnant. Why don't you wait and see what's up. There's no reason to have the pups if she isn't close to birth - they can be terminated.

Something tells me there's more going on with this dog given your first statement - how many people drop off a pregnant dog in a parking lot?!

I really would keep her segregated from your other dogs until you can have her evaluated. Have a frank discussion with the vet about what your options are and then make the decision!

Good luck

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

Could be that she is pregnant, Could be that she is full of worms.. Did you give any thought of the risk of disease when you brought this dog into your home??? She should have been quarantined away from your dogs for a good 10 days to ensure she isn't carrying disease..

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

Take her to a vet immediately before allowing ANY contact between her and your pets. She might have worms, or have some other kind of illness. Don't even let them go potty around eachother.. If she is pregnant, she might get aggressive towards your other dogs if she feels threatened in anyway... if you do take her in, please watch her carefully around your dogs for the first several weeks, you can't be too careful. Good luck, and you did a good deed in taking her in.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

you need to contact your local ASPCA. She needs to be examined by a vet immediately to confirm wether or not shes pregnant and how her general health is. They can help decide whats best for the dog. In the mean time have a large box set up that'll be away from your other dogs and have some towles and blankets handy just in case she is about to deliver pups.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

That poor dog has an angel watching out for her to bring you to her. If you like her and are able to have her, I'm sure she will never forget that you took her in and gave her a good home.

I've not had a problem with males and puppies. It's the girls who are are a problem with new pups in my experience. The boys seem to ignore the whole deal.

The vet will have resources for you if she is having pups.

Take care and sleep well knowing you have done a very good thing.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

ok she was dumped but you have no way of knowing if it was her owner who dumped her or an angry neighbour who picked up a dog and dumped it..

as such you MUST report finding the dog to the local SPCA, shelter or whoever deals with strays in your area (your vet will know) - failure to do so can have you charged with Theft.

now keep her away from your dogs - you dont know her health..

in the morning the vet can check her for a microchip.. and tell you where to take her..

a pregnant dog will require PUPPY food and a private room (whelping box etc) and NO contact from other dogs until the pups have had first vaccination (age 6-7 weeks) as such its a very long commitment.. hopefully the shelter will have a name of her owner or a foster home who can care for her...

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

Give her enough food and water. She needs to be healthy when she'll be giving birth. And go to a vet tomorrow ASAP! But if you want to keep her. Make her stay healthy.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

If she is pregnant you are going to have a lot of fun with the puppies. What is best for her is just to show her a lot of love.

We just found a dog on the road...could be pregnant. What now??

One thing you have to worry about is if she is pregnant by a large dog. If she is she will be in big trouble. That may be why she was dumped. The vet will need to take xrays or ultrasound depending on how far along she may be. If she needs a c-section, and it happens in the middle of the night, you could be looking at 1,000-2,000 just for the c-section and related costs. You have to ask yourself if you are able to accept the repsosibility of all of that. You could call the ASPCA and explain the situation to them. Maybe they will let you foster her until the pups are born and ready for new homes. They maybe you could adopt her or one of the pups. As far as the male dog goes, it is best to keep all other adult dogs away from the pups for the first 3 weeks or so and then introducethem little by little. Good luck. Hope everything goes okay.