Advise on my Chihuahua's pregnancy

[Momof2+Chis]

I have a question, well several questions about my chihuahuas. I have a mail chi that will be 2 May 26th, 2006. He was my birthday present almost 2 years ago, but as chis do, he attached to my husband instead of with me. He loves me, but he is a man's doggie. So this year for V-day my husband and kids got me a female chi. In June 2005, we took Sir Poppy to have him nuetered because Lady Phoebe was coming into her first heat and we did not want to breed them, we just want our pups for companions. Well, here inlies the big story, she came into heat again in November. He knotted with her on the 12th. I took her to the vet on Friday, and since it was only 21 days he could only see one sack. Has anyone ever heard of this before?? Lady Phoebe will be a year old Jan. 10, and from what the vet is saying she will be due around Jan. 14th. Sir Poppy is the only male dog she has been with. Her teets have milk, her vulva is swollen... and he seen one sack...help

[adoring_paws]

Hym i dont know the answer to this question..umm Dax we need you!!

[micki]

What did your vet say about this?

[weezyNollie]

When was the dog neutered? And how soon after did they engage? It can take up to 30 days for the sperm to die.

[Moo]

It's possible that since he was neutered late, they can still tie and nothing can happen. But I would definitely talk to the vet, it could be very dangerous for a dog of that age to follow through with a pregnancy.

[BabyElephant]

It is my understanding that they can't confirm a pregnancy until at least 28 days so how the vet was saying he can see one sack I don't really know. As Moo said it is possible for neutered dogs to tie but there won't be a resulting pregnancy (unless the tie was a few weeks after the neuter).

Is there any reason that you're not getting your female spayed? Ask your vet if you can spay her now and terminate the pregnancy (if indeed she is pregnant). You need to talk about the pros and cons of doing this now though.

As for the vulva being swollen - my dog is swollen for a few weeks after she has gone out of heat and the milk does not mean she is pregnant, she could be having a phantom. Either way I'd treat her as pregnant until you know otherwise.

[Momof2+Chis]

The vet is treating her as if she is pregnant, and he is worried that the vet that Sir Poppy seen did something called a tuck?? I am not sure what that is though.

[Momof2+Chis]

BabyElephant,

I had her scheduled to be spayed when she started having enlarged nipples. So the appointment went from spaying to a complete check-up. She was 21 days when he saw one sack. It is completely possible that she is having a phantom pregnancy.

I believe that dogs will, as some humans have, show all signs and symptoms of pregnancy when they are not. Am I correct on this? Since they locked, she may very well think that she is pregnant.

[Momof2+Chis]

Moo,

I know, and I worried sick about her. She is my baby. Phoebe seems to be doing good though. I am just patiently waiting for her next ultra-sound on 12/23. If she is not pregnant then the vet will spay her, if she is then he will closely monitor her.

We got our babies to be companions and this is really tearing me apart, not to mention what she is going through. I know some people think I am silly, but Phoebe and Poppy are treated like our kids.

[whimzikal]

I personally believe it's a phantom. It is very early for her to have milk. When ultrasound is performed at 21 days it is early and not reliable. Phantom s can be VERY real. Unfortunatly you'll have to play the not so fun waiting game
Just treat her like a Queen like she s pregnant. If she is pregnant it is VERY possible there is more than one, again 21 days is early for an ultrasound. I can tell by your post you love your babies and want to do what's best.
I wish there were a sure fire way to determine canine pregnancy but it's a wait and see game --- and drives us all batty Good luck, keep us posted!!