Belly pics - so what do you think?

[Ginas_babys]

As most of you know, I will not be seeing my vet until Monday the 16th, because he is away on Vacation and doesnt get back until the day before that.I also havent seen my mentor in a couple of weeks, and although I have seen and been in contact with pregnant yorkies (thanks to my mentor) for some reason, I still feel like I have no idea what to think when it comes to my own yorkie.
I will exaplain the dates and symptoms.Bella came into heat in July and we were told (after my vet took swabs) to get her together with the stud on the 27th.We were told to let them tie every day until Bella no longer accepted him - this is common practice here (Spain).
They tied every day from the 27th of July until the 1st of August, which is when my vet confirmed that she was no longer fertile.

Since then, we have all noticed changes.Bella is now happier laying on the floor than she is on the couch or bed, and she has a clear discharge that dries and crusts around her vulva (which I wipe away with warm water and cotton wool).She is slower and her personality has changed too, she walks around with her tail between her legs instead of holding it up etc.
She is now all over my husband and doesnt want anything to do with me, and she completely avoids my kids too (which I would understand if she is indeed pregnant).When she lays down, she no longer lays in a fetal position, she lays stretched right out or face down with her belly facing downwards.
I notice how much heavier she is, and she´s "thicker", but I still can´t look at her at this point and just say "yup, she´s deffinately pregnant"..which is anoying to me, because I would like to know what´s going on one way or the other so that I can act acordingly.Example: Bella HATES being bathed, brushed and walked and bothered, it stresses her out, and I don´t want to be exposing her to anything stressful if she is expecting.
I know it´s just another week until I see the vet, but not knowing makes me feel so out of control and I am very OCD about that.
I have taken a few pictures, could you please take a look at tell me what you think? Thankyou so much

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps7d3fa394.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...psfc7cda45.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps5eb41d60.jpg

[Cherie6446]

I certainly don't know about much about pg pups but just looking at the nipples tells me she is pregnant. My Zoey's nipples are flat and look like freckles. Has your baby been pg before?

[Ginas_babys]

Originally Posted by Cherie6446

I certainly don't know about much about pg pups but just looking at the nipples tells me she is pregnant. My Zoey's nipples are flat and look like freckles. Has your baby been pg before?

No, this is her first (and final) pregnancy.We decided to breed her just the once and then get her spayed.

[misskate]

Are there no other vets in the area? You should be giving her supplements at this stage and an xray might be in order to see how the puppies are progressing. They should be born around the end of the month so I would want medical advice at this point. Keep us informed

[Ginas_babys]

Originally Posted by misskate

Are there no other vets in the area? You should be giving her supplements at this stage and an xray might be in order to see how the puppies are progressing. They should be born around the end of the month so I would want medical advice at this point. Keep us informed

Yes, there is another vet in the village, but when I phoned and asked if he could confirm the pregnancy, he said that a dog pregnacy is only 2 months long, that we´re half way through (if it took) and I at this point, I can just wait and see if she is or not.I can certainly go in in an emergency, but I don´t like this other vet very much.I have had Bella on suppliments since she went into heat (this was recomended) so that´s no problem As for the xray, my vet is back on the 15th and I will be seeing him on the 16th.It´s just another week

So, does it look like she´s expecting? As I said, I am OCD and I cannot stand not knowing lol.

[Yorkiemom1]

I get my females ultrasound done at 30 days so I can verify babies present. I just like knowing, and most of my litters are sold on waiting lists, so I like to knw how many babies are going to be in the litter. Then I get an xray on day 56-58....usually day 58....at which time I measure babies heads to see if they are going to pass thru moms pelvic ring....also, I like to be sure how many placentas I need to be expecting to be delivered along with puppies. I do NOT do well with vets that tell me I "dont need to know something....just wait and see" attutude....These are MY ladies, they are MY responsiblity, and if I want an ultrasound/xray done, dont tell me I dont need to do that "because the pregnancy is half over" and I can just wait and see!!!. Personally, I am doing something each week that my ladies are pregnant....I WANT to know if she is pregnant....at 30 days, if he can read an ultrasound, that is what you can have done now....if he knows how to read one....if he is knowledgable, he SHOULD be able to palpate any puppies....

[misskate]

Originally Posted by Ginas_babys

Yes, there is another vet in the village, but when I phoned and asked if he could confirm the pregnancy, he said that a dog pregnacy is only 2 months long, that we´re half way through (if it took) and I at this point, I can just wait and see if she is or not.I can certainly go in in an emergency, but I don´t like this other vet very much.I have had Bella on suppliments since she went into heat (this was recomended) so that´s no problem As for the xray, my vet is back on the 15th and I will be seeing him on the 16th.It´s just another week

So, does it look like she´s expecting? As I said, I am OCD and I cannot stand not knowing lol.

Is it too early to feel if they are moving? I remember seeing little pushes and shovings around about now. I agree with the above. Smart alex vets aren't for me.

[luckylady]

If she was bred everyday that you mentioned, then I would definitely go with the idea that she is indeed pregnant. I understand your desire to know as I was (and still am) much the same with each & every one of my girls' pregnancies. In the beginning the "need to know" got to me and I was into the vet at the 28-30 day mark for ultrasounds to confirm; now, though the wait to know for absolute sure still drives me crazy, I feel experienced enough with my girl(s) & pretty much know when they are. In any case, if they have been bred, I treat them as if they are pregnant until I know otherwise.
Looking at your photos and from what you've described I'd guess that your female will be having pups end of this month or beginning of next. Have her xrayed around her 58th day to get a number & estimate of puppy size and treat her as if she is pregnant whether you know for sure or not. Her belly will not really begin to blossom until the last couple of weeks and that is also about the time that you will notice the first puppy movement.
Good luck & keep us all posted of her development.

[nanahas3]

Praying for your little girl. She looks so tiny in these pictures.

[Ginas_babys]

Originally Posted by nanahas3

Praying for your little girl. She looks so tiny in these pictures.

She´s not as small as she looks She weighs in (now) at over 6lbs
This is her tonight laying next to me on the couch (my feet in the picture):
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...psa7c5cc53.jpg

[dawn27]

If she and the stud ties every day for 5 days straight, her teats are raised and her vulva is still swollen than she is more than likely pregnant. Looks like you need to get prepared for a litter of puppies to arrive soon. Thankfully you have a mentor and have some experience. Most first time breeders do not and they end up franticly searching the web for any help they can find. I'm sure that your mentor could have told you the same thing we have said. Have you asked them ?

[Ginas_babys]

Originally Posted by dawn27

If she and the stud ties every day for 5 days straight, her teats are raised and her vulva is still swollen than she is more than likely pregnant. Looks like you need to get prepared for a litter of puppies to arrive soon. Thankfully you have a mentor and have some experience. Most first time breeders do not and they end up franticly searching the web for any help they can find. I'm sure that your mentor could have told you the same thing we have said. Have you asked them ?

I will be seeing her (my mentor) on Friday, her grandaughter goes to school with my daughter, and school starts here on Friday, so we´ll see each other then and I can ask her to pop back home with me to take a look
I havent seen her in a couple of weeks, so if there is a difference, she´ll be the best one to notice it right now I also get to see my vet on Monday, so I know it´s not long to wait, but ugh lol.
I´m just VERY impatient and I do not like not knowing for sure.I like planning ahead and being active, and not knowing means I am just waiting around with my arms crossed which I do not like.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Ginas_babys

I will be seeing her (my mentor) on Friday, her grandaughter goes to school with my daughter, and school starts here on Friday, so we´ll see each other then and I can ask her to pop back home with me to take a look
I havent seen her in a couple of weeks, so if there is a difference, she´ll be the best one to notice it right now I also get to see my vet on Monday, so I know it´s not long to wait, but ugh lol.
I´m just VERY impatient and I do not like not knowing for sure.I like planning ahead and being active, and not knowing means I am just waiting around with my arms crossed which I do not like.

I agree!! I dont think "impatient" is the right word tho....I think perhaps "organized" or "predictable" fits better....I also like to know exactly what I have happening....as an ICU nurse, I am acclimated to assessing and controlling situations from "the inside out" so to speak, via continous monitoring of all systems.....knowing for certain that babies are indeed present, simply adds a measure of safety to my knowledge about that specific pregnancy! Also, working with people that have been on my waiting lists for periods of time, allows me to communicate with them too about what we can potentially expect! Your mentor can palpate those babies if they are present, and you can follow that up with your xray to determine puppy/pelvic ring ratios. Be sure to let us know how this turns out!

[Ginas_babys]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I agree!! I dont think "impatient" is the right word tho....I think perhaps "organized" or "predictable" fits better

YES! Those are the words I was looking for, thankyou
I just feel that I could be doing alot more if I knew for sure what is going on, which is why this waiting game makes me nervous, because I feel like such alot of precious time is being wasted all the time I am just sitting here wondering.
There is so much to prepare for, I want to get some last minute reading done, I need to talk to my mentor and go over some things with her, I need to prepare the whelping box/nook etc etc etc.
I just wish that our vets were a little less "let nature do its thing" in these cases, because I am a planner, so that laid back mentality in this case just makes me crazy.

I will most deffinately let you know what happens

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by Ginas_babys

I will be seeing her (my mentor) on Friday, her grandaughter goes to school with my daughter, and school starts here on Friday, so we´ll see each other then and I can ask her to pop back home with me to take a look
I havent seen her in a couple of weeks, so if there is a difference, she´ll be the best one to notice it right now I also get to see my vet on Monday, so I know it´s not long to wait, but ugh lol.
I´m just VERY impatient and I do not like not knowing for sure.I like planning ahead and being active, and not knowing means I am just waiting around with my arms crossed which I do not like.

Yes I know exactly how you feel, it is the not knowing that is the hardest part for me. Once I know my gal is pregnant I go into surrogate mommy mode.

Well the waiting will be over soon. Best wishes for a smooth whelp and healthy pups.