Last week we established that a dog’s pregnancy lasts, on average, for 64 days. The gestation period for a cat is approximately 59 days (52 – 69). But how can we tell for sure that our pet is pregnant. Well, it is not so simple. For one thing many dogs and cats (and other mammals as well) exhibit an unnatural condition called “False Pregnancy.”
Q: What is False Pregnancy?
A: This condition obviously will complicate matters. The bitch or the cat shows many of the signs (physical and behavioural) of a genuine pregnancy, viz:
• Unexplained weight gain.
• The entire animal looks plumper (increase in body fat – just as in the case in a real pregnancy).
• The breasts become larger.
• The breasts may even produce a milk-like fluid.
• The animal secludes itself (finding and building a “nest” site).
• The animal exhibits “Morning Sickness” (we dealt last week with this occurrence).
• The animal has abdominal cramps, as if she were going into labour.
• The animal attitude changes. She becomes much more affectionate – even to the point of cuddling a toy teddy bear or a dolly.
I should mention that I always advise owners of female dogs and cats, which exhibit a false pregnancy, to have these animals spayed (removal of the reproductive organs – ovaries and uterus), because the PSEUDO PREGNANCY is caused by a hormonal imbalance which could trigger off something more serious and life threatening in the future. Moreover, it has been found that animals showing false pregnancy, even only on one occasion, once are more likely to have this condition recur after the next heat (oestrus). “False Pregnancy” occurs about 6-9 weeks after the animal had exhibited signs of oestrus (heat). The false pregnancy condition can be treated, but only by a veterinarian. Hormone treatment may be necessary but is tedious and with questionable long-term effect. My considered advice remains: Spay her.
Q: What are methods to determine pregnancy?
A: Firstly, let us understand that the cat’s/dog’s uterus (womb) is different from that of a human. The uterus of dogs and cats is shaped like the letter “Y”. The “Arms” of the “Y” are called “horns” and the bottom part is called the “body”. It is in the horns that the kittens/puppies will develop and grow until the day of birthing (parturition).
The best physical method to determine pregnancy is by palpation.
You do not have to be a veterinarian to “feel” the foetuses in the womb. Talk to your pet soothingly, so as to relax her. You may wish to put her on her side. Then just place one hand below the abdomen and press upwards. With the palm of the other hand pressing gently on the other (top) side you should be able to feel lumps one month after she had been mated and is pregnant.
I must tell you though, that later in the pregnancy (during the second month ), the uterus (womb) becomes filled with fluid, and therefore it might be difficult for the caregiver to ascertain the pregnancy by feeling the puppies which are floating in the fluid (each pup is enclosed in its own fluid). Also, if a large breed dog (e.g., Rottweiler, German Shepherd) contracts her abdominal muscles, your feeling of the foetuses might pose a problem. In cats, palpation is much easier
Other signs of pregnancy :
• Abdomen becomes distended.
• Nipples and breasts become larger (and darker coloured).
• Just before giving birth, one can express a milky fluid from the breasts.
• Animal put on a lot of weight.
• She usually eats mor except for those (3-4) days when she may have “Morning Sickness”.
• During the last days of the pregnancy, she might be restless trying to locate an amenable site to build her “nest”.
Of course, we could X-ray the animal the animal, or have an ultra-sound performed. Discuss such interventions with your veterinarian.
Q: Can laboratory tests be carried out to determine pregnancy?
A: The blood and urine tests used to determine human pregnancy are not applicable to dogs and cats. They rely on the changes in the level of the hormone, progesterone. There is a blood test which measures the level of the hormone, Relaxin, that is produced by the placenta in pregnant bitches. It appears to be fairly accurate when the animal is around 30 days pregnant. It can also help to rule out a pseudo pregnancy, since there is no placental development. I have not been able to ascertain if this laboratory test is available in Guyana.
