Dog Pregnancy Symptoms in Bichon Frises

If you think you are seeing dog pregnancy symptoms in your Bichon Frise, the first thing you need to do is to confirm it as early as possible.

Dogs are different from people. Signs of pregnancy in dogs are not that easy to detect, so you will need to look closely.

Fortunately, there are procedures to help you find out if your dog is pregnant including a dog pregnancy test and ultrasound.

Pregnant dogs need proper care and nutrition, just like humans do, so it is best that you give these to her, right from the start of the pregnancy.

Early Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

Get a Canine Pregnancy Test Kit here.

Here are some dog pregnancy symptoms that you may see in your Bichon bitch:

Behavioral Changes

Bichon Frises are normally fun and friendly dogs. If one day, you suddenly notice a certain aloofness and irritability in her mood, then it’s time to get her tested.

Pregnant dogs experience mood swings just like any pregnant woman. You can handle this by adjusting to her moods and helping your dog adjust.

Body Changes

• Decreased Appetite – At the early stage of the pregnancy, your dog will lose her appetite and may even refuse to eat. This is normal so don’t panic. She’ll eventually regain her appetite as the pregnancy progresses. This dog pregnancy symptom is quite similar to morning sickness with or without the vomiting part.
• Engorged Nipples – Early signs of dog pregnancy include swollen nipples. The swelling will continue all throughout the pregnancy in preparation of feeding the new pups when they finally arrive.
• Sudden decrease in activity – Loss of energy to do things is one of the symptoms of dog pregnancy that you will probably observe if your dog is normally active. This sudden feeling of exhaustion is caused by certain hormonal changes in your dog’s body.
• Weight gain and larger abdomen – If the activities of your dog have not changed, yet you notice that she is gaining weight, then there is a possibility that your dog is pregnant. Observing your Bichon Frise’s stomach will also help you determine if she is pregnant.

What to Do if Your Bitch is Expecting

The first thing you need to do is to visit your veterinarian. You’ll want to get your dog onto a good dog pregnancy supplement and make sure her diet is appropriate for a pregnant female.

Your vet will probably perform some tests including a Canine Pregnancy Test Kit (which you can do at home), to determine if your dog is indeed pregnant. The vet’s test involves getting a blood sample from your dog to determine the presence of relaxin, a hormone that only a pregnant dog will be able to produce.

A belly palpation will also be performed by your vet. During this procedure, your vet feels the stomach of your dog for significant changes and puppy movements.

You may also have your dog undergo an ultrasound. An ultrasound is one of the surest ways to find out if your dog is pregnant. If you are a Bichon Frise breeder, you may want to have your own portable ultrasound equipment.

If you observe dog pregnancy symptoms in your Bichon and confirm that she is pregnant, you will need to make sure that she eats a healthy diet.

Give your dog a fair amount of exercise and and make sure that you are understanding of her mood swings. Being pregnant is not easy, after all.

Unsure of the Puppies’ Father?

Sometimes a dog can become pregnant unexpectedly.  How does that happen?  We won’t get into that…

However, there is a way to check DNA if you are uncertain about who the father is.  It’s a great way to make sure that your puppies are purebred.  And the service has actually been used to prove a dog’s ancestry in court.

All you have to do is swab inside your dog’s cheek.  The DNA service is available here.