Is She Or Isn't She?

It seems everybody who knows about Vega is asking--pregnant?  It was two weeks ago today that we bred her for the third time, so it's still a little early to know for sure. Finding out the answer isn't as simple as going to Walgreen's and buying an early pregnancy test for $15. The price is right, but the human test doesn't work on dogs because the hormones are different, so the results wouldn't be accurate, obviously.

Of course, there are ways to get the answer. A vet can do a blood test, but it usually needs to be performed--and paid for--more than once. An x-ray is a sure way to tell but it's necessary to wait 3 1/2 weeks from the mating for the results to be accurate.

So, I'm just going to rely on Mother Nature to let me know if Vega is with pups. I've read that one of the early signs a dog is pregnant is a decreased appetite. I haven't noticed that. In fact, if you read last night's blog you know Vega was apparently so hungry she ate a starfish. Another sign could be an increased appetite. She's always ready to eat, so who knows. Maybe the starfish is the dog version of pickles.

It's said some dogs become less energetic or more affectionate when pregnant. Vega doesn't seem as anxious to race around the yard with Reacher lately. And this evening she hopped the gate and is on the floor in the living room where he can't get to her. But the guy can be so relentlessly annoying maybe she's just plain tired of his behavior. She is needy. But she's always followed me around. And she may just want me to save her from you-know-who.

I've also read about changes in the nipples as soon as two weeks after the breeding. But to tell you the truth I didn't examine Vega's beforehand so I couldn't say if they look different now or not.

A more accurate sign is rapid weight gain. That should begin in a few more weeks if there is good news.

So, is she or isn't she? As my father would advise: "Wait and see, time will tell."