Most vets recommend spaying pups between 5 and 7 months old, the Pet Informed website asserts. If yours goes into heat before shes spayed, keep her indoors and away from male dogs who arent neutered, to prevent mating; have her spayed after shes no longer in heat. Common myths that dogs should experience a heat cycle or give birth to puppies before being spayed are completely false, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and essentially all pet authorities. Pregnancy early in life can lead to permanent illness due to the stress of birth and can cause unwanted temperament changes in the mother, VeterinaryPartner.com warns.
Because shes so young, your potential puppy mothers immune system isnt fully developed, meaning that shes more susceptible to infection and disease than an adult dog would be. Bacteria including Brucella canis, Escherichia coli, streptococcus, salmonella and Campylobacter can all infect your pups reproductive tract, the PetWave website warns. These bacteria can cause abortions, miscarriages, stillbirths and even death of infected puppies born alive. In addition, the canine herpesvirus can infect pregnant young dogs, leading to birth defects, miscarriages and stillbirths, as well. If your little pup isnt fully vaccinated when she becomes pregnant, shes also open to additional conditions that can sicken both her and her unborn pups.
Although it may seem surprising, a puppy can become pregnant before she reaches adulthood around 1 year of age. Unfortunately, puppies under a year are still babies themselves, making them marginal mother dogs. If your puppy becomes pregnant as a juvenile, shes apt to have more complications during her pregnancy than an adult dog.
A dog can die when she gives birth; the chances of this happening are increased with non-adult canine mothers, warns VeterinaryPartner.com. Because shes not fully grown, a young pups pelvic canal may not be big enough for her puppies to fit through without endangering her life and those of her babies. This means that your pooch may need a Cesarean section, according to the Long Beach Animal Hospital. This surgical procedure can increase the chance of complications for a mother dog after birth, due to infection. A young mother dog is also more likely to abandon her pups than an adult, failing to care for them after birth, which lowers their survival chances.
According to SpayFIRST, depending on your puppys breed, she could go into heat as early as 5 months old. If your little one mates during this time, even once, she could wind up pregnant. With a canine pregnancy lasting only 63 days, this means the pooch will give birth to a litter of pups when shes only 7 months old. At this age, shes only one-half to three-quarters the size she will be as an adult, according to the Doberman Pinscher Club of America. Because of her small size, she may not have the room in her uterus to allow her pups to develop properly, leading to a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage of the fetuses.
At What Age Can Dogs Start To Have Puppies?
If the fact that dogs can have puppies throughout their lives caught you off guard, you’ll be even more surprised to learn that most dogs reach sexual maturity while they are still puppies. You read that right: Your cute, fluffy puppy can have puppies of its own!
Once they reach sexual maturity, male dogs can mate at any time, even every day! Females, on the other hand, can mate only when they are in heat, which usually happens twice a year.
However, some dogs can go into heat up to four times a year, while others will be ready to mate once a year, depending on their size and breed.
Here’s the earliest age a dog can have puppies, starting with male dogs again.
At what age do dogs stop going into heat?
When do seasons start and finish? Seasons usually start at around six months of age but can be as late as one year to eighteen months.
What age can a dog get pregnant?
Puppies are literally the cutest thing on the planet. The toebeans! The puppy breath! The high-pitched yips! Theres a whole lot to love — but pet parents who welcome a litter of precious pups into the world will certainly have their paws full when it comes to caring for Mom and her fur-babies.
At what age can dogs have puppies? Well, that depends on their size and breed. Your dog can get pregnant during the very first heat, or estrus cycle. Though most dogs experience estrus around 6 months of age, some small breeds can go into heat at four months old, so it wont be long before your little princess is able to have pups of her own! (Breeding during the first heat isnt recommended, though, since the pup is also still growing.) Larger breeds may not go into heat for the first time until theyre 12 to 18 months old. Generally speaking, the larger the dog, the longer it will take to reach sexual maturity. However, every dog is different, and it may take a couple of years before the cycle regulates.
Female dogs can continue to get pregnant and give birth throughout their lives. For dogs 7 years and older, the time between cycles may increase, and health problems may make pregnancy more dangerous. Keep reading to discover the history and science of pregnancy in dogs as well as some tips and tricks for breeding responsibly.