In this article on our site we address a sensitive topic: how to interrupt a dog's pregnancy Allowing the arrival of new litters into the world It has connotations that transcend the field of veterinary medicine, because in our societies the truth is that the number of dogs is much higher than the number of homes willing to take them in. This allows a surplus that ends up filling the protectors, in the best of cases. In this article we will reflect on this topic and explain if a dog's pregnancy can be terminated and how.
Unwanted pregnancy in bitches: the importance of prevention
El unwanted pregnancy in our dog represents a very delicate situation in which we must assess the pros and cons of both continuing with gestation or to interrupt it. Therefore, to avoid getting to how to interrupt our dog's pregnancy, we must take preventive measures so that this does not happen. And the star measure, definitive and safe, is the ovarihysterectomy, a surgical procedure in which the uterus and ovaries are removed. In addition, performing this operation early, before the first heat or just after, almost completely prevents our bitch from suffering from breast cancer. Canine pyometra (uterine infection that can be fatal) and other diseases derived from the removed organs are also avoided.
If you choose not to sterilize, you must keep the bitch fully controlled during the estrus or receptive period of heat, which is when the female wants to mate. If at that time a male escapes from her or gains access to her, pregnancy will be very likely. There are hormones for veterinary use on the market that inhibit heat but they also have contraindications and considerable side effects, such as pyometra or breast cancer, so their use is not recommended for prolonged periods. For more information on preventing unwanted pregnancy in female dogs, we recommend consulting the following article: "I don't want my female dog to have puppies - How to avoid it".
Can I terminate my dog's pregnancy?
If our dog becomes pregnant, the first thing we have to assess is whether to continue or not with the pregnancy. If we decide to continue it, we must take into account aspects such as the following:
- The age of the bitch, if she is too young or older the risks increase
- If she has any illness
- Possible complications if the size of the male is much larger than that of the female or in breeds that are usually delivered by cesarean section.
- The costs involved in veterinary care, feed, possible complications in childbirth, caesarean section or breastfeeding, in addition to deworming the puppies, their vaccines, etc.
- The search for a home for the little ones, bearing in mind that we can find homes for them but we don't know what will happen if each one, in turn, reproduces.
If we choose not to continue the pregnancy, in the next section we will see how to interrupt a dog's pregnancy, that is, yes you can make a bitch abort but it should always be the vet who assesses whether it should or not.
Ways to terminate a dog's pregnancy
The drugs, specifically hormones that must always be prescribed by the veterinarian, can be used to terminate the pregnancy approximately up to 45 days after birth. gestation. Sometimes they have side effects. If the pregnancy is early, the fetuses are absorbed, but if it is already advanced, the bitch will have to expel them, which will be equivalent to childbirth with all the risks that can occur in this process, such as obstructions and even cesarean section.
How to interrupt a dog's pregnancy goes through hers too SterilizationTheoretically it could be done at any time but it usually depends on the vet, since moral aspects also come into play. What is certain is that the more advanced the pregnancy, the more risky it is to intervene due to the accumulation of blood in the area, the growth of the uterus, etc. And it would be necessary to assess whether there is any factor in the bitch that advises against intervention.
How long can a dog's pregnancy be terminated?
As we have seen in the previous section, determining how long a dog's pregnancy can be terminated will depend on multiple factors, being the main ones are the type of treatment and the general condition of the bitch. In this way, you always have to go to the vet to explain the situation, assess it and decide what is best for the animal. The specialist will be able to guide us and tell us the ideal time to abort the dog or, if not, help us to continue with the pregnancy.
However, if the bitch's pregnancy is interrupted, it is better to do it before 45 days after mating to minimize as much as possible collateral damage, being the most advisable to do it during the first days once estrus is over.
Can you abort a dog at home?
Never. We do not advise under any circumstances to abort a dog at home without the supervision of a veterinarian. The consequences can be fatal for the animal if we choose inappropriate methods or if we use them incorrectly. For this reason, if we find ourselves in the situation of wanting to interrupt a dog's pregnancy, it will be essential to visit a specialist so that he or she can tell us how to do it and when after evaluating the animal. Administering drugs or remedies on our own to make a dog abort without the prescription of a professional can even end her life due to poisoning, hemorrhage or complications during childbirth since, let's not forget, if the pregnancy is very advanced, the bitch will have to give birth to her dead puppies. In addition, milk production must be managed if its secretion has already started.
Ethics and psychological aspects of terminating a dog's pregnancy
Wondering how to terminate a dog's pregnancy is not just a veterinary question, as there are moral implications. The current canine overpopulation demands birth control. Each puppy that is born can take away the home of a dog that is waiting for a family in the kennel, often at the risk of sacrifice. But, once the dog is pregnant, causing an abortion can be a moral dilemma and we must also take into account the emotional part that the dog is going to experience As mammalian, her body turns to gestate, prepares for childbirth, to give milk, etc. Dogs have the instinct to take care of their pups and, if they lose them, they will live a duel and it is normal for them to be depressed, sad and to look for their puppies. In very advanced pregnancies there may be secretion of milk that must be monitored so that a mastitis does not occurCheck out the "Mastitis in Dogs" article to learn how to identify the symptoms.
