Ask The Doc: False Pregnancy?

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Perhaps you can answer a question for me. I had my female chocolate lab around a male lab about mid November when she was in heat. It didn't appear that the male "got" her because she wasn't too sure on what to do, it was her first time being bred.

Now, six weeks later, her stomach is getting big, she's starting to product milk and an x-ray of her belly shows a uterus about the right size for a six week pregnancy. The vet did a blood count and urinalisis to rule out any infection. Now, he wants me to bring her back in two weeks to see if she is really pregnant or not, he thinks she may be having a false pregnancy.

Are there any ways to tell if the dog is having a false pregnancy or not? Or do I simply have to wait another two weeks and take her in again to be x-rayed? The vet couldn't feel any puppies, but my lab is a VERY big girl. She weighs 100 pounds, she always has been a VERY big dog. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Dr DeMichael: The average gestation period for the Labrador Retriever is approximately 60 days. Assuming your dog was bred 6 weeks ago, that puts her around 42 days or so pregnant (if indeed she conceived). Radiographs at 42 days should reveal the presence or absence of fetuses by virtue of their skeletal structure being recognizable at 42 days of age. Of course, this is assuming that the radiographs are of good enough quality for an adequate analysis.

At 42 days, it may be hard to determine by "feel" or palpation as we call it, because of the size of the uterus and especially if your dog is hard to palpate which some can be.

You won't get a more definitive answer than with a radiograph, unless you have an abdominal ultrasound done.

Hope this helps you.