Stunned by a sudden increase of dogs in her house, a pet parent quickly realized she must have missed signs leading up to the moment over the last few months. TikTok user @agilityambs shared in a June 5 video that her dog had been “out of sorts” for the last two months. She later figured out why: her Border Collie was pregnant. The dog seemed just as perplexed as the owner. The mama dog looked at the camera with her head cocked to the side, her eyes appearing filled with confusion as her puppies snuggled up next to her. She appeared surprised to have to now look after these tiny fur babies. The caption reads: “What’s your return policy?” There is no turning back at this point for the new mama. But by the looks of it, the puppies are in great paws. The owner placed the dog and her puppies in a secluded box with blankets, where she could take care of the litter. While the text on the video mentioned how the dog felt unusual for the last two months and “now you realise why,” it’s unclear whether the owner was completely unaware of the pregnancy. Newsweek reached out to @agilityambs via TikTok for comment. The TikTok video has reached 289,500 views, 50,200 likes, and 123 comments as of Wednesday. “She is looking at you like, ‘How could you let this happen,'” one viewer said. “She is rethinking her life up to this point,” another person commented. A third said: “Omg. She’s going, ‘Err what are these things what do I do with them. Can we go for a hike instead?'”
Signs Your Dog Is Pregnant
It is pretty clear now why this dog was acting differently and while it might sound unlikely for someone to miss the signs, it can happen, especially in the early stages. A dog’s pregnancy typically lasts about nine weeks but can vary between 56 to 72 days. The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) says early signs of pregnancy in dogs include slightly larger or pinker nipples and a swollen vulva. As a dog’s pregnancy progresses, additional signs such as weight gain and a firm, round tummy will become more obvious. A dog’s hunger will also likely increase with lower energy levels. If unsure, a vet visit will help determine whether or not your dog is pregnant with an ultrasound or a blood test. Veterinarians might also be able to feel the puppies through the dog’s abdomen between three and five weeks into the pregnancy. Owners preparing a female dog for the arrival of puppies should give her high-quality foods to ensure she gets all the right nutrients. This will also help reduce her chance of pregnancy problems like toxemia and hypocalcemia/eclampsia, PDSA said. Just as it is for any other dog, pregnant dogs need to exercise. However, as she gets closer to whelping (giving birth), let her decide how much energy she can exert. Allow her to rest. You will also want to get her dewormed more frequently to avoid giving worms to her puppies. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.
