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When female dogs go into season, they will usually attract a lot of attention from male dogs. If you do not want your female dog to become pregnant, careful supervision is needed to prevent unwanted mating.
But despite the best intentions and efforts, accidents can happen.
How likely is it my dog will become pregnant after accidental mating?
Female dogs will only be receptive to a male on the days of their heat when they are fertile. If your female dog has accidentally been mated, there is a good chance that she will become pregnant. If a potential pregnancy is unadvised or unwanted, there are treatment options that you should consider.
When discussing treatment options, it is useful to know exactly when the accidental mating occurred, as advice may differ depending on how advanced the pregnancy is. Dog pregnancies are relatively short, 63 days on average, so don’t delay talking to your vet.
What are the treatment options for accidental mating?
The drug aglepristone (available under the brand name Alizin) blocks the action of progesterone, the hormone that helps to establish and nourish a pregnancy. The treatment course for aglepristone involves two injections given 24 hours apart. The injections can be given any time between day 10 and day 45 after the accidental mating. Sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for several days, therefore it’s important the drug isn’t given too soon after the accidental mating to ensure that no viable sperm remain.
Following injection, resorption or abortion usually occurs within approximately seven days.
If you do not plan to ever breed your dog, spaying a dog even after accidental mating is possible. As with most preventative spay procedures, spaying a pregnant dog involves the removal of both ovaries and the uterus (ovariohysterectomy). In the case of a pregnant dog, any developing embryos are removed with the uterus. Vets normally time a spay procedure two to three months after a season to lower the risk of complications. But even if your dog is already pregnant, spaying is still an option and may outweigh the risks of pregnancy and birth.
If your dog has been accidentally mated, the best place to start is by reaching out to your daytime veterinary practice to discuss the medical and surgical options above. They will be able to help you to determine the best treatment course to make sure your dog stays happy and healthy.
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