Shih Tzu at age 4

My Shih Tzu was bred on the 16th of Feb.  Since then she has had many changes in her skin and is itching all the time.  I have read almost every website to try to see what it could be related to.  She has a negative Ultrasound the 3/7, which could have been early for her to have one.  I have done all the diet changes.  I dont know if this could be related to a pregnacy or a medical issue.  I know I shouldnt ride it out too long.  She is also not gaining pounds but is bulking out.

[Kande]

Hi, I know you said you have done all the diet changes, but things change because of the pregnancy. She may need more omega-3 oil. So you might need to feed her salmon, or you can buy the oil and put it on her food. Another thing that may help is a spoonful of yogurt, (she may need the enzymes), buy organic yogurt. A lamb and rice food will also help. You can also try an anti-itch shampoo, Septiderm-V is good. Follow that with "Happy Jack" balm. If these thing don't work quickly, get her to a vet. Don't wait long. I raise Shih- Tzus and this isn't something I have seen before. It isn't uncommon for a female to "blow" her coat after giving birth, but itching is not good either before or after pregnancy.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

my shih tzu has bad skin allergys (allergies) and has since he was a puppy he takes shots once a month for them, hes my baby and hes 16 years old, had him since he was 5 weeks old. he has allergies to everything grass/carpet/trees/hisself. i feed him lamb and rice but nothing really helps but the shots which has made him gain lots weight , he is at 42 pds because of the shots. i hope yours get better.

[Kande]

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I had an English Bulldog that was the same way. I only had him 9 yrs. because of the steriods. It is so sad, but there is nothing you can do in some cases :(

[Ghilly]

It could be due to all the hormonal changes that they undergo due to the pregnancy.  It could possibly be a false pregnancy.  Sometimes a false pregnancy will produce the "bulking up" effect, and they will also exhibit most other signs of being pregnant, but there are no puppies.  If this is the case, the hormones are all out of whack because the body only THINKS that there are puppies in there.  Normally, right before the puppies are ready to be born, she will lose the hair on her belly around her nipples.  This is nature's way of making the nipples more accessible to the puppies.  This will happen in a false pregnancy as well.

I would have another ultrasound done ASAP to make sure that there are really puppies in there.  Any fetuses would have been about the size of a garden pea at the time you had the first ultrasound done.  At this point, however, they should be easily visible if they're in there.  If she was bred on February 16th, then she should be due around April 21 (February being a short month throws it off), but I wouldn't wait until the puppies are supposed to be arriving to see if there are really puppies.  If this is a false pregnancy, I would consider having her spayed, since you can't breed her on every heat cycle, and some females go through this every time they cycle if they aren't bred successfully, and it's very rough on their bodies for them to do this on a frequent basis.

Ghilly