Pregnancy in a Chihuahua

At what age to knit

A male dog is allowed for breeding for the first time when he is one year old. The girl should be at least one and a half years old by this time.

With this approach, the female will have six to seven litters throughout her life if annual whelping is planned. Earlier mating for a bitch is undesirable, as the risk of intrauterine developmental disorders increases. Premature or complicated labor may occur.

Late mating (after three years) is dangerous for a girl, since the elasticity of the genitals is lost.

Individuals allowed to mate must be healthy, treated for parasites, and vaccinated. Dog owners must agree on the place of mating, study the documents and pedigrees of both individuals in advance.

Stages of pregnancy by day

The duration of gestation for Chihuahuas is 56-72 days. It is not possible to immediately notice the dog’s new position. During normal course, the behavior remains virtually unchanged. Obvious signs appear later.

The average duration of pregnancy and its main stages are shown in the table.

In a Chihuahua, pregnancy lasts 72 days; during this period, constant monitoring of her condition is recommended in order to provide the necessary assistance in a timely manner.

Preparing for pregnancy

Pregnancy for a Chihuahua is a crucial period in the life of an animal, especially if it is the first. At this stage, the dog’s body undergoes major changes that affect not only its physical condition and behavior. Giving birth to a Chihuahua is not only incredibly stressful, but often a danger to the lives of mother and babies. Therefore, it is so important to be “fully armed” during this difficult period for your pet.

On average, a dog's pregnancy lasts from fifty-seven to sixty-six days. The duration of bearing babies depends on how many puppies “settled” in the mother’s tummy. The dog bears three to four fruits for about sixty days. The more puppies, the shorter the duration of pregnancy. If a Chihuahua has only one baby, then such a pregnancy can last all sixty-six days.

As for what age a dog can become a mother, the most suitable age for the first pregnancy is from one and a half to three years. After eight years of life, Chihuahua dogs are not recommended to become pregnant. There is one more condition for a favorable birth - the weight of the animal. Veterinarians do not recommend breeding dogs weighing less than two kilograms. The period of pregnancy and childbirth in a low-weight Chihuahua is fraught with danger for mother and babies.

Special food

From the fourth week after mating, they begin to increase the daily ration by 2% every 7 days.

If the dog is accustomed to commercial food, then when the gestation period reaches one month, it is transferred to specialized varieties aimed at females bearing offspring. They completely provide the body with the necessary elements.

With a natural menu, increase the amount of kefir, cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, since the development of fruits requires more calcium, proteins, and various vitamins.

Carrots and buckwheat porridge are also useful for the female. Egg yolk is given weekly. They practice four meals a day. At the same time, make sure that the dog does not overeat.

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Anna Abramenko

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Approximately 14 days before giving birth, the percentage of foods with a high concentration of calcium and protein in the diet is reduced.

7 days before the expected birth, rice or buckwheat porridge is boiled in water. Add a little butter. They give a mixture of crushed walnuts with grated raisins and dried apricots, and apple pieces. Recommended vegetables include zucchini, pumpkin, and boiled cauliflower. They make balls of rolled oats with cottage cheese.

When drawing up a weekly menu at all stages of pregnancy, you should consult with an experienced veterinarian. He will recommend vitamin and mineral supplements.

Childbirth

At home

At home, preparations for childbirth begin several days before. It is important to prepare not only a “home” for the expectant mother, but also a box with a soft bottom for newborn puppies. You should also put a heating pad there to keep the puppies from freezing.

Remember that at this moment your presence is very important for the dog.

In the clinic

A good solution would be to entrust your pet to specialists. At the veterinary clinic, the dog will be thoroughly examined, provided with proper care, and will respond immediately if the woman in labor begins to have any problems.

How do they give birth?

The birth process does not begin suddenly. It is preceded by obvious signs:

• the dog may begin to rummage in the bedding;
• become anxious;
• start breathing heavily.

Sometimes dogs before giving birth look like patients. Don't be afraid of this condition.

Chihuahuas often give birth late at night or early in the morning. If you know your dog's due date is approaching, make it a habit to check on your dog regularly.

How to adopt puppies?

As soon as your dog's water breaks, you need to prepare to give birth. If everything goes well, the first baby will appear in about 20 minutes. If the dog copes with childbirth on its own, then let it do everything on its own.

The only thing left for you is to carefully tear the amniotic sac near the puppy’s head and cut the umbilical cord at a distance of two centimeters from the baby’s belly. The newborn can be briefly attached to the mother's nipple.

The break between attempts ranges from 15 minutes to two hours. If more time has passed, contact your veterinarian.

How many babies are born?

Most often there are two puppies in a litter, but in general their number can be 1-5.

Care

First, wash your dog thoroughly, give him warm milk and leave him alone. After giving birth, your Chihuahua needs to rest.

Nutrition for nursing

After giving birth, the dog’s body is greatly weakened, and the owner takes responsibility for the dog’s well-being.

In the first week after giving birth, meat should be excluded from the dog’s diet. Instead, increase the amount of fermented milk products, vegetables, and replace meat with boiled fish. There is no need to give your dog bones or tendons.

How to give food?

It is difficult for a dog weakened by childbirth to eat on his own. All food in the first days after birth should be semi-liquid to make it easier for the dog to eat and digest it. You can add vitamins and bone meal to your diet to replenish the body’s internal environment.

Preparing the site

If a small Chihuahua is supposed to give birth in natural home conditions, then it is important to choose a suitable corner where strangers will not appear and unnecessary noise is eliminated.

It is advisable for the mother in labor to allocate a shady separate room.

The box in which the birth is planned can be purchased at a pet store. If necessary, it is easy to make it yourself.

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The birthing house should be cramped so that the dog has the opportunity to rest his paws on the walls during the whelping process. Therefore, the material selected is dense, durable, and well polished.

Install the box away from heating appliances so as to prevent drafts. The passage to it is left free. About half a month before giving birth, the female is moved into it, giving the opportunity to adapt and get used to this place. Two weeks before the permit, fresh oilcloth is laid in the box, and a soft diaper is spread on it.

It is advisable to make two houses so that it is possible to relocate newborns. The front wall is made removable. This device makes cleaning and caring for puppies easier. Place a mattress and a heating pad.

Preparing for childbirth

To take care of the dog’s well-being and get healthy offspring, the owner must choose a place in the apartment, prepare items according to the list and agree with the veterinarian about the possibility of visiting. The latter is especially important if this happens for the first time in an animal. It is recommended to give birth to a Chihuahua at home in an isolated room with curtained windows, where there is no noise or strangers.

Buy it at a pet store or build a birthing box. It should be the right size for your pet, have a removable side and be made of easy-to-clean material. Install the structure away from drafts and heating appliances. 2 weeks before the expected date of birth, bring the animal into an equipped room - this will help to get used to the place. One day before the start of the process, the bottom of the maternity box is covered with oilcloth, on which old bedding is placed (after the puppies appear, it is thrown away). From the 57th day of pregnancy, Chihuahuas must have their temperature measured twice a day. You should remove meat, fish and salt from your diet, and keep a bowl of clean water next to the box.

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How to properly prepare and deliver a dog's baby

Before giving birth, the owner needs to put on comfortable old clothes, trim his nails and treat his hands with a disinfectant solution. During the process you will need syringes, a heating pad, a thermometer, pipettes, tweezers, scissors, cotton wool, medical alcohol, 5% glucose in ampoules, 10% synthomycin ointment, Traumeel, silk threads (for ligating the umbilical cord), scales, gauze napkins. Also prepare boxes for puppies and multi-colored threads to mark newborns, and a tray for sterile instruments. The woman in labor is washed, rinsing the genitals with warm water and soap, and treating them (including the vagina) with a solution of potassium permanganate. This drug is used in a ratio of 1:1000 (or furatsilin at a rate of 1:500).

Related article: How to properly keep and care for a Chihuahua

What you will need during childbirth

In order to correctly carry out all the manipulations to relieve the burden of a Chihuahua, prepare equipment, necessary items, and medications in advance, such as:

• electric heater;
• room thermometer;
• thermometer;
• oilcloth;
• towels;
• diapers;
• tweezers;
• basin for contaminated items;
• disinfected scissors;
• sterile gauze wipes and cotton wool;
• syringes;
• silk threads treated with a disinfecting solution for tying the umbilical cord;
• medical alcohol;
• scales.

To record the onset of labor, as well as the time of birth of the puppies, you will need pens, a notebook, and a watch.

Signs of approach

To understand whether a Chihuahua’s due date is approaching or not, pay attention to the dog’s behavior.

1. She begins to worry and fuss. If a secluded box has not been prepared for her in advance, she will look for such a place on her own. In the shelter prepared for whelping, the bitch rummages among the laid diapers, making a comfortable nest for herself.

1. Some pregnant dogs begin to thrash around in their final stages. They experience rapid heartbeat, trembling, heavy breathing, and whitish discharge. Droplets of colostrum flow from the swollen nipples. The stomach drops noticeably.

1. The temperature before childbirth drops to 37 degrees and below. This indicator indicates that there is no more than a day left before the puppies appear.

The birth process

Noticing that the dog's sides are moving, straining and lowering, you can detect the onset of contractions. The fetus begins to move into the birth canal.

The female lies on her side. For convenience, she often rests her paws against the walls of the box. This situation eases her suffering. When the bladder ruptures and amniotic fluid flows out, the birth process itself begins.

Contractions intensify significantly and their duration increases. On average, this entire period takes five hours.

The Chihuahua gives birth to puppies, each of which is contained in an individual membrane. It usually bursts on its own when moving through the birth canal. If necessary, the dog itself chews the shell, freeing the kitten.

She bites the umbilical cord and then licks the baby. This massaging movement stimulates blood circulation and breathing. The afterbirth immediately comes out, which the female eats.

Each puppy is born after a break lasting from 1 to 60 minutes. If two hours have passed, we can state the end of the process.

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Anna Abramenko

An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.

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The owner's help is required if the fetus is in an abnormal position. If the puppy moves forward with its tail, you need to gently pull it by the skin of the back and neck. It is dangerous to touch the limbs, as you can damage the joints.

The fetal membrane of the born kitten is immediately cut. Using gauze wipes, remove mucus from the mouth and nose. Wrap in a soft diaper and gently massage the body from the abdomen to the ribs. The next movement is performed along the spine.

The umbilical cord is pinched with your fingers at a distance of twenty millimeters from the baby’s belly and tied in two places with prepared silk thread. The rest is cut off with scissors. The cut is treated with an antiseptic drug. Place the puppy on the nipples. This further stimulates subsequent labor.

After all the babies have been processed, the newborns are placed in a prepared box on a mattress with a heating pad.

The dog's blood-stained fur is washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Apply dry towels to quickly remove moisture.

How does childbirth go?

Strong contractions indicate dilatation of the cervix. If the outcome is favorable, after 10–20 minutes, by contracting the muscles of the uterus (pushing), the fetus moves into the birth canal and is later brought out. In complicated births, the process lasts up to 6 hours.

Your pet lies on its side, resting its paws on one wall and its back on the other. If there are strong attempts, the amniotic sac with the baby appears quickly. The bladder ruptures on its own or the woman in labor ruptures it. The owner is prohibited from piercing the bubble! If the first puppy does not appear after 3 hours, call the vet immediately, since 20–30 minutes is considered the norm. Childbirth of a Chihuahua takes place correctly when the puppies appear with an interval of 2 minutes - 1 hour.

The puppy is usually born with its back up and head first. If there are good attempts, the dog will come out on its own. By licking the newborn, the bitch gives him a massage and helps start the breathing process. Next comes the afterbirth, which the woman in labor usually eats, as it contains the hormones necessary for lactation. Chihuahuas should not eat more than 1 placenta to prevent protein intoxication.

Related article: How to brush your Chihuahua's teeth at home

When do you need a veterinarian?

An attentive and experienced dog breeder will always be able to notice emerging problems that require the help of a specialist.

The following facts should alert you:

• bloody or black discharge appeared before childbirth;
• after five hours of intense pushing, the puppies had not yet appeared;
• the kitten is stuck in the birth canal;
• the interval between the birth of babies exceeds two hours;
• The dog lost consciousness from severe pain.

You should arrange a possible call with the veterinarian in advance.

Features of care during the postpartum period

All emerging puppies are weighed, recording the data in a notebook. To distinguish them, a thread of a certain color is immediately tied, about which a corresponding mark is made.

Mommy is treated to warm tea flavored with milk. In dry weather, after 2 hours the washed and dried dog is taken for a walk for a few minutes, where it can go to the toilet.

During this time, one of the remaining family members cleans the room. The birth box is removed. The female, who has returned to the second house with fresh bedding, is given puppies. Make sure they are all sucking milk.

The temperature in the room is maintained at least 25˚C. The bedding is replaced daily. They try to exclude unnecessary people in the room and maintain silence. After a month, older puppies no longer need a house. It can be taken apart. Additional heaters are also removed, establishing normal room conditions.

The bloody discharge in the bitch after giving birth stops within a week. If this does not happen, or the liquid acquires a greenish color or an unpleasant odor, you need to call a veterinarian.

For puppies, the first three days are considered important. A slight weight loss is due to physiology. This is a natural phenomenon, but the owner must constantly monitor that each baby takes the breast and does not remain hungry. An increase in their mass is recorded daily.

It is recommended to monitor emptying daily and check the condition of the nipples, which will avoid burnout and hardening of the glands. If a weakened female is not able to feed her offspring, then, on the advice of a veterinarian, they purchase special bitch milk.

For the first week, the mother is fed four times a day with food that was prepared immediately before birth. Several times a day they drink tea with milk, adding a little honey. Then they begin to introduce lean meat, pouring boiling water over it, and boiled fish.

Expert opinion

Anna Abramenko

An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.

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The menu includes cottage cheese, to which calcium gluconate (¼ tablet) is added once a day. Every other day, calcium glycerophosphate is added to the food in the same volume. Consult a veterinarian first.

When the puppies are three weeks old, tea is removed from the dog’s menu. After another 7 days, they switch to two feedings a day. In the morning they give cereal and fermented milk varieties, in the evening meat (every 4 days - fish) with vegetables.

If ready-made food is used, then after giving birth they switch to the varieties recommended for nursing dogs.

Pregnancy is a serious period for a dog. An attentive owner will organize suitable conditions for her and prepare the necessary equipment. If necessary, take measures to facilitate childbirth.

How to care for a dog during the postpartum period?

After you finish delivering the baby, give the dog a break and gain strength, while you take care of the puppies. Weigh each of them and record the data obtained. Prepare a warm and clean bedding for the puppies to feed on. Place the dog on the bed. Place the puppies close to the mother's breast so that they can all suckle.

The room in which the puppies and their mother are located should be warm. Change the bedding to a new one every day. After a month, you can remove the house that was intended for puppies. Over three days, the puppies will lose a little weight, but this is within normal limits. The main thing is to control their feeding and make sure that all the babies are full.

After giving birth, pour warm tea with milk for the new mother. It needs to be washed and dried. After two hours, you can take her out for a 5-minute walk if the weather is dry outside. A walk is needed so that the dog can go to the toilet. Monitor breast emptying and nipple condition. The mammary glands should not be hard. If the dog is not able to feed the puppies, then buy special milk.

In the first week after giving birth, the Chihuahua should eat the same as before the birth of the babies. Warm tea diluted with milk and honey is added to food. After a week, they gradually give them lean meat and boiled fish.

note

! After giving birth, the bitch starts bleeding. The duration of this process should not be more than a week. If the discharge does not stop, changes color or smell, then you need to contact a veterinarian.

Video

It is possible to visually track all stages of preparation and delivery of a Chihuahua after watching the presented video materials. They will allow novice dog breeders not to get confused at the most crucial moment and help their pet produce healthy, viable offspring.