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Is my dog pregnant? Her belly is hard and she now loves belly rubs.

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

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

So i Wanted To Ask Another Question to Be Sure Do She Look Pregnant Or Is It Just Me & Her Belly Is Hard All Over She Also Loves Belly Rub Before She Didnt Really Like Them & Would Run Away Now She Loves Them She Is 9 Years Of Age & The Male Is 1 Years Of Age & They Been On It For 4 Days Now But she Dont Let Him Any More ThereFirst Time Mating Was 3 1/2 Weeks Ago

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 22nd, 2018

It's possible that Lily could be pregnant, but if she was first mated three and a half weeks ago, it would still be early for her to show signs such as an enlarged belly. If she won't let him mate anymore, then she is out of heat. I would take Lily into the vet. The vet can do a blood test to look for a hormone called relaxin that occurs when a dog is pregnant. If this hormone is found in her blood, then she is pregnant. I do not recommend mating her again after this. Female dogs should never be bred past the age of seven. This is because after this age, pregnancy is very hard on the dog's body and there is an increased risk of complications from it. If she is currently pregnant, I recommend having her spayed after she weans her litter. Should she not be pregnant, I recommend having her spayed as soon as possible. Good luck, I hope this helps!

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