Risks of pregnancy during a first season

Hi there, unfortunately accidents do happen. I had the same thing happen to me this summer – I thought my girl had already had her first season before the holidays, so I left her at my gran's with her male dog and then came the nasty surprise... she’d been caught. The vet couldn't confirm the pregnancy because it was too early for a scan and we didn't have an exact date, but given her age and the fact they were two different breeds, we didn't take any risks. Two little jabs 24 hours apart and that was that; no puppies now. Just a heads up though, accidents happen but ending a pregnancy in dogs does carry risks: there's the risk it won't be effective, and especially the risk of a uterine infection which can lead to emergency surgery... you need to keep a close eye on her for three weeks to make sure she hasn't developed an infection.

Hi there, I’d definitely recommend asking your vet for some advice and a check-up. In the meantime, keep them separated indoors and use a long lead when you're outside while she’s in season.

If none of your dogs are neutered, you really were bound to run into this kind of trouble. The main danger would be the size difference between the dogs. It’s also worth remembering that a female can have a litter sired by several different males.

Hi, Generally, it's advised to wait until the third season before breeding, to give the ***** enough time to finish growing and mature (at 11 months old, she's still a "teenager", so to speak). Unfortunately, the first season is often quite discreet and can go unnoticed by owners, but the male dogs certainly won't miss it! Mating too early can lead to a complicated pregnancy (especially physically, as she won't have finished growing), but above all, it makes whelping much riskier (puppies can get stuck, maternal instincts might not develop properly, etc.). If you feel your dog is too young, you can book an appointment with your vet. They can confirm the pregnancy and discuss a termination with you (if you wish to end the pregnancy), or advise you on how to support your dog through the pregnancy and whelping. To answer your other question, yes, a ***** can have a litter sired by two different males. Her season only ends at the finish of the cycle, regardless of whether fertilisation has taken place. Finally, neutering is still the best way to avoid the risk of an unwanted pregnancy; both male and female dogs can be neutered from around 6 months of age. Best wishes, Eloïse

Well, what do you think the risk is when the boy bits meet the girl bits? If a teenager has unprotected sex on the day she’s ovulating, what do you reckon is going to happen? Do you think it would be wise to let a 12 or 13-year-old girl go through with a pregnancy? Because your dog is basically just a 12 or 13-year-old teenager who’s almost certainly just been knocked up...