Puppy absorption in dogs is a bit of an under-studied topic. Often, the pregnancy cannot even be confirmed before some or all of the fetuses are reabsorbed. Some of the time, the dog owner may not even know that their dog was pregnant at all!
With that said, breeders often contend with this mysterious occurrence regularly. While obviously sick dogs do reabsorb their pregnancies, completely healthy dogs may do as well.
Sometimes, the cause is quite obvious. Other times? Not so much.
There are some steps that breeders and pet owners can take to avoid puppy absorption. However, there is not a fool-proof way to completely prevent it.
If you’re lost on everything we’ve mentioned so far, read on. We’ll discuss everything you need to know, including potential causes and complications.
What Is Canine Fetal Resorption?
Just as the name suggests, puppy absorption – also called canine fetal resorption – happens when the mother dog reabsorbs the dead embryo (up to day 35) or fetus (after 35 days of pregnancy). The puppy has already stopped developing at this point and is considered deceased.
The puppy’s body begins to decompose within the womb. The enzymes completely or incompletely dissolve the body and the compounds are then reabsorbed into the mother’s bloodstream, or remain in the uterus and can be expelled unnoticeably.
This process is similar to embryo loss, which occurs very early in pregnancy, before day 15 to 17. Puppy absorption can occur any time, usually in the first half of pregnancy, before day 45. After that, the deceased puppy may be passed stillborn either before or on the due date, or may get mummified in the uterus.
Canine fetal resorption often occurs fairly early in pregnancy and goes unnoticed. In many cases, the cause is completely out of anyone’s hands. The affected fetuses often have some sort of genetic or conformational abnormality that causes them to stop developing.
Usually, only one or two puppies in a litter are absorbed. Therefore, the dog usually stays pregnant. The fetus literally disappears from the uterus and is reabsorbed into the dog’s body. It is not the same as a miscarriage, where the fetus is expelled.
While this process may seem a bit unsettling, it is not that uncommon. Reabsorbing the fetus allows the mother and other puppies to continue with a healthy pregnancy in many cases.
In fact, up to 43% of dogs may experience fetal resorption.
What Causes Fetal Resorption in Dogs?
There are likely countless reasons for puppy reabsorption. Because it happens so early in pregnancy, owners often don’t know that it happened. There are usually no outward signs, and the female typically continues on with a healthy pregnancy.
Usually, causes fall into two main categories: infectious agents and non-infectious agents.
When It Isn’t Really Fetal Resorption
There are several occurrences that are often mistaken as fetal resorption – but aren’t actually linked.
For instance, false pregnancies are sometimes misdiagnosed as puppy reabsorptions. The dog will often experience pregnancy signs, including milk production and weight gain. However, there are no actual fetuses present. At some point, the female will simply stop having signs or may require treatment from her vet.
When this occurs, many dog owners assume that the female has reabsorbed the fetuses, though this may not be the case.
It is also possible for early ultrasounds to be wrong if performed by non-trained individuals or non-vets. They could indicate a fetus where there isn’t one. When the female later gives birth to a smaller number of puppies, it is assumed that she reabsorbed one or two, but ultrasound is not able to estimate the total number of puppies anyway.
As you might imagine, it can be nearly impossible to set these things apart. How do you know whether it was an inaccurate ultrasound reading or puppy reabsorption? You don’t. It’s impossible to tell after the fact.
False pregnancies and puppy reabsorptions are also nearly impossible to tell apart after they have occurred. While the dog is still pregnant, your vet can use an ultrasound to determine whether the pregnancy is real or false.
However, after the pregnancy signs have dissipated, there is no way to know if the pregnancy was false or the fetus reabsorbed unless the dog hasn’t been mated at all.
Final Thoughts
Fetal resorption is often completely unnoticed by breeders and dog owners alike. Unless the fetus is reabsorbed somewhat late and the dog undergoes an early ultrasound, this process is usually undetectable.
There are many different causes – most of which are completely out of your hands. Many puppies are reabsorbed because they are not genetically sound. They may not have fully developed organ systems.
Eventually, they will stop developing, and the body will reabsorb them. In many cases, this happens very early, before you even know the dog is pregnant.
Other times, illnesses and infections can cause pregnancy loss. Many underlying conditions are associated with decreased puppy survival rates. Viruses can directly affect fetuses, and infections can compromise the mother’s ability to carry a healthy pregnancy.
No matter the cause, puppy reabsorption is often nothing to be worried about, unless the mother dog is showing any signs of illness or having a vaginal discharge. Unless it was caused by an infectious, chronic, or underlying condition that your vet can establish with performing certain tests, it is often just part of the breeding process. Most importantly, speak to your vet about herpesvirus prevention and vaccination, and about Brucella, as these infections can be serious for the dog’s health and Brucella is a reportable disease.
Featured Image Credit: Nina Buday, Shutterstock
