The mating was successful and the happy owner and the fertilized bitch went home. It would seem that the most difficult thing is behind us, but in reality everything is only ahead.
The day of conception is marked on the calendar as the starting point from which the Chihuahua's pregnancy began. From this day, the dog’s body begins to prepare for motherhood, intrauterine gestation of the litter and the subsequent development of the fetal embryo, which is collectively called pregnancy. The final stage of the process is the birth of the puppies.
A responsible breeder is obliged to closely monitor the Chihuahua's pregnancy and control all stages of its course. He is required to exercise maximum caution when in contact with an animal, radically review the diet, have the dog examined by a veterinarian, and create favorable conditions for childbirth. Remember that the normal course of pregnancy and childbirth in a potbellied Chihuahua bitch occurs when two conditions are met:
- The potential mother weighs at least 1.8 kg;
- The dog's age does not exceed 6 years. The ideal age of a bitch for the reproduction of healthy offspring: from 1.5 to 4 years, unless there are other veterinary contraindications.
Ignoring the conditions can lead to spontaneous interruption of intrauterine development of puppies (miscarriages), stillbirth, postpartum complications and even death of the pregnant Chihuahua.
How can you tell if your Chihuahua is pregnant?
Of course, human pregnancy tests are not suitable for dogs. Therefore, at first you need to focus on the behavior of the female Chihuahua. She begins to behave differently if she becomes pregnant.
Among the first symptoms of pregnancy sneezes appear:
- Decreased or diminished activity. Typically, restless Chihuahuas become sharply calm, while phlegmatic ones, on the contrary, begin to fuss.
- Drowsiness appears.
- The mammary glands swell.
- Appetite decreases, and occasionally the dog vomits.
During the fourth and fifth weeks of gestation, Chihuahuas exhibit several other signs of pregnancy:
- The belly grows and, accordingly, the dog’s weight. The veterinarian determines the number of puppies by palpating the tummy.
- The mammary glands swell even more.
- An insatiable appetite appears. Toxicosis ends.
During the seventh and eighth weeks, the bitch begins to develop:
- Mucous, viscous, transparent discharge from the loop.
- Colostrum is the “precursor” of breast milk.
- The dog begins to prepare the place for future births.
Care
During the period of bearing offspring, the bitch requires special care and changes in the daily schedule. The owner must provide proper living conditions so that the dog can safely bear healthy puppies.
To do this you need:
- Avoid overheating and hypothermia.
- Do not vaccinate and avoid chemical treatments against insects.
- Reduce the duration of walks, but increase their frequency.
- Protect the animal from stress.
- After day 20, the number of feedings increases, while the portion size decreases.
- Protein products should predominate in the diet.
- Be sure to use vitamin supplements. It is possible to refuse them only when feeding dry food for pregnant women.
- Limit physical activity.
- Spend more time with the dog.
Diagnosis of pregnancy
Pregnancy in a Chihuahua is more accurately determined in a veterinary clinic. There are two ways to do this.
Carrying out the test
A veterinarian conducts a hormonal analysis of a pregnant Chihuahua and carries out special testing. This test is done no earlier than 21 days after the dogs are mated.
Ultrasound
This method can confirm pregnancy if at least 20 days have passed. A more detailed ultrasound examination can be performed after 30 days.
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.
Pregnancy calendar by days and weeks
The course of Chihuahua pregnancy can be seen in the table, describing the daily behavior of the puppy female.
| Term | Signs of pregnancy and behavioral characteristics of a Chihuahua |
| 1 week | Some females produce a mucous discharge in the first week, either clear or light pink. |
| 2 weeks | During this period, the symptoms are the same as in the first week. The skin around the mammary glands begins to thicken. |
| 3 weeks | The mammary glands become enlarged, and a decrease in appetite is common. During this period, the size of small embryos is less than one centimeter. Other symptoms include toxicosis, a change in the Chihuahua’s usual gait, and the beginning of a growing tummy. |
| 4 weeks | In the fourth week, it is already possible to feel the small embryos with your hands. Puppies develop eyes and spine. Their head gradually takes on the familiar “dog” shape. Symptoms characteristic of the previously described periods persist. In some Chihuahuas, toxicosis begins only in the fourth week. The fur around the nipples and on the tummy becomes sparse. |
| 5 weeks | The Chihuahua's body weight increases, and the female develops an insatiable appetite. She sleeps more often. Now it becomes very difficult to feel the puppies in the mother’s womb with your hands. Developing babies are no longer so vulnerable to developmental defects and other defects. They develop paws, grow antennae and claws. |
| 6 weeks | The Chihuahua's belly is still growing, the papillae are darkening. The female begins to relieve herself more often. |
| 7 weeks | The expectant mother becomes irritable and more and more hair falls out on her belly. |
| 8 weeks | If the litter is large, a pregnant Chihuahua gives birth already in the eighth week of pregnancy. Before giving birth, her body temperature will drop to 37 degrees. But more often than not, the Chihuahua still bears its offspring within a week. If you place your palm on her belly, you can feel the puppies moving. Among the obvious symptoms are: colostrum discharge, restless behavior of the dog. She begins to prepare the place for the imminent birth. |
| 9 weeks | This is the last stage of bearing offspring. A pregnant chihuahua is about to go into labor. Before birth, the pet's body temperature will drop to 37 degrees. Chihua continues to worry and build a house. Females often refuse to eat. The nipples still produce colostrum. |
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 long does a Chihuahua's pregnancy last on average?
The length of the gestation period in Chihuahuas often depends on the number of puppies being carried. So, if one or two babies are born, the female will carry them longer - at least 63 days. If three or four puppies are born, the pregnancy rarely lasts longer than 60 days. Thus, on average, a Chihuahua carries puppies for two months.
How is pregnancy progressing?
Two conditions must be met for a female sneeze to become pregnant successfully:
- a female Chihuahua weighs at least 1.8 kilograms;
- The girl's age is no older than six years. The best period for giving birth to puppies is from one and a half to four years.
In addition, the course of pregnancy also depends on the correct care of the female Chihuahua. It is important to review her diet, promptly examine her, arrange a quiet place for childbirth, etc.
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.
Important points for the last deadlines
An approaching birth always makes itself felt. A pregnant Chihuahua changes 2-3 days before: it begins to constantly fuss, rummage through things and rags, and builds a small nest. Usually in the last stages the Chihuahua eats much less than before.
To help the dog, you need to build a “maternity house” yourself. A large cardboard box with an opening top will do. You need to put several layers of diapers there.
In the last week before giving birth, you need to measure your Chihuahua's temperature. This is done twice a day. One day before giving birth, the mark on the thermometer drops to 37 degrees (sometimes even lower - to 36.6). This is the most striking sign of the onset of labor in a Chihuahua.
Caring for a pregnant dog
You need to carefully care for your puppy Chihuahua. Here are some nuances of caring for a pregnant dog depending on the period:
- The first two weeks. Active physical activity, including long walks, should be avoided.
- Third week. It is necessary to exclude all noisy and crowded events from the life of a pregnant dog. Provide her with constant peace and comfort. You should not give medications to your Chihuahua without consulting your veterinarian. There is no need to force her to eat if she doesn't want to. Decreased appetite is a normal symptom. Periodically, you need to take the female for examination to make sure that the pregnancy is progressing correctly.
- Fourth week. The appetite of a pregnant Chihuahua increases sharply. It is necessary to increase the frequency of feeding to three times a day. The serving size is also increased.
- From the fifth to the seventh week. The frequency of feeding is increased to five times a day. It is recommended to switch your pregnant Chihuahua to dry puppy food.
- After the seventh week. It is necessary to expand the dog’s resting place, ensure the sneeze is warm and free of drafts.
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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Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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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.
False pregnancy in a Chihuahua
Rarely, there is such a thing as a false pregnancy. This is a condition in which a female Chihuahua exhibits literally all the symptoms characteristic of pregnancy, but does not give birth. The duration of a false pregnancy is from two to four weeks. Its appearance indicates that one of the following abnormalities is developing in the sneeze’s body:
- Mental disorders.
- Gynecological infections.
- Inflammation of the mammary glands.
- Neoplasms of a benign or malignant nature.
Therefore, the pathology requires contacting a veterinarian and a thorough examination of the “pregnant” Chihuahua.
Bitch giving birth
As soon as the time has come to give birth, you can notice changes in the behavior of the pregnant dog:
- she will begin to actively look for a secluded place;
- the chihuahua begins to worry and scratch the floor;
- the temperature decreases. As soon as the mark drops to 37 degrees, this is a sure sign that the Chihuahua will begin labor during the day;
- breathing quickens, trembling appears in the body. This occurs due to regular contractions;
- As soon as strong contractions begin, the dog’s water breaks.
Within half an hour or a little later, the first Chihuahua puppy is born.
When does the first heat start?
Every dog owner encounters mating of a pet.
A natural physiological process in the body of a Chihuahua is estrus.
The first time this process occurs in a dog is between 6 and 9 months of age. There are cases of delayed action, you should not worry about it. Attention! The owner may miss the first heat, since the first discharge is minimal and unnoticeable. During the period of heat, the dog carefully licks itself.
Questions and answers
How do you know if your Chihuahua is pregnant?
At first, you need to focus on the behavior of the female Chihuahua. Among the noticeable symptoms that she became pregnant are decreased activity, drowsiness, and swelling of the mammary glands. A pregnant Chihuahua's appetite decreases, and occasionally the dog vomits.
How long does a Chihuahua's pregnancy last on average?
The average duration of pregnancy for Chihuahuas is two months. The exact length of time pregnant dogs walk depends on the number of puppies being carried. If 1-2 babies are born, it will be at least 63 days. If 3-4 puppies are born, on the contrary, no more than 60 days.
Nutrition
The owner should pay special attention to the diet and its changes during the period of gestation. He must know what the beast needs.
The food should contain:
- A large number of protein products: meat, cottage cheese, fish, eggs.
- Required amount of vitamins. Therefore, the use of vitamin supplements is necessary.
- If the dog is accustomed to dry food, it is transferred to a special line for pregnant women.
In addition, the food system is changing. From day 20, the amount of food consumed should be increased. However, the bitch no longer eats the usual portion at a time, so it is necessary to increase the number of feedings to 4. Clean water must be available at all times.
Proper balanced nutrition is the key to the health of the mother and future offspring.
