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My female dog's belly is hard and round. Is she pregnant or sick?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | unspayed | 15 lbs

So Lily Has Been Doing It With My Male Dog but Sometimes Dont Let Him & he Do It Anyways & she Has This Round Hard Thing In Her Stomuch Not sure If Its A Baby Or I dont Know Can i get Advice /help

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 19th, 2018

Pregnancy can definitely cause a firm, distended abdomen. Lily's nipples also appear to be bigger than normal, which can indicate she is pregnant or had a litter in the past. There are many other causes of a distended abdomen, so it's best to have a vet check her out; especially if she is showing any other signs of illness. For further information about pregnancy in dogs, I recommend you read the article at the following link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/breeding-for-pet-owners-pregnancy-in-dogs I hope that helps and all is well with Lily.

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    Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on August 7th, 2017

    There are many different causes for a dog's belly to get bigger, including pregnancy, false pregnancy, pyometra (life-threatening infection of the uterus), stomach bloat, free fluid in the abdomen, and cancer, among others. I would recommend that you have Sissy examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible for diagnosis. If she is not pregnant and otherwise healthy, your vet can schedule her for a spay surgery.

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