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Chihuahua Pregnancy: Ultimate Guide For A Safe And Healthy Pregnancy.

More than likely, if you have a Chihuahua, you’ve already thought about how to keep your pet healthy. That being said, there is more to this than meets the eye. Knowing how to tell if your Chihuahua is pregnant and what to do to take care of them can help keep them and the puppies healthy during the pregnancy.

There is a lot to know about Chihuahua pregnancy. Today, we will go over it all so that you can make sure the mother and kids have everything they need during this special time.

Chihuahua Pregnancy Facts

1. Chihuahuas can become pregnant even when mating appears to be unsuccessful

Timing is critical in these situations, and owners who believe they have avoided any action during mating may be incorrect. Chihuahuas can become pregnant even if it appears that the two dogs separate early during the mating process.

2. A Chihuahua may become pregnant by two separate canines

We refer to this as a multi-sired litter. It occurs as a result of the fact that female Chihuahuas might have numerous eggs ready to hatch for several days.

A female Chihuahua, for instance, can still be mounted by a different male on day three if she is mounted by him on day one and one egg is fertilized.

3. Chihuahua females have the potential for pregnancy during their first heat cycle

Once a female Chihuahua goes through her first heat cycle, which usually happens during puberty, she can become pregnant.

Chihuahuas can mature as early as four to seven months of age. In general, female Chihuahuas are amenable to mating with males during the five-to-three-week-long estrus phase.

The female Chihuahua can conceive within a particular window, typically within days 10 to 15 of the commencement of discharge, during which she releases her eggs.

A Chihuahua can become pregnant during the first heat cycle, even with limited discharge, however, it is advised that breeders wait until the second heat cycle to breed Chihuahuas.

4. A Chihuahua can have a baby with a bigger dog

A bigger breed can easily get a pregnant chihuahua because they are not picky about which breed they mate with.

There have been many reports of Chihuahua litters from bigger dogs, which could cause some problems during birth because of the size difference.

5. As a general rule, Chihuahuas have between one and three puppies

Most of the time, a Chihuahua litter has one to three puppies, but sometimes there are five or six.

Signs That Your Chihuahua Is Pregnant

It’s important to keep an eye out for pregnancy symptoms if you suspect an unintentional or planned mating with your Chihuahua. This will allow you to give your pet the care they need and ensure their continued health.

Unexpected connections can make this a nerve-racking period for owners. For example, your female Chihuahua might come into contact with a male dog if she managed to escape when in season.

It’s a scenario that frequently makes owners of Chihuahuas anxious. If your Chihuahua is pregnant, you may find yourself waiting impatiently to find out, with every minute seeming to take forever.

Though it can be expensive, think about obtaining an x-ray for your Chihuahua to find out whether she is pregnant and how many puppies she will have. It’s prudent to hold onto that cash for the day when you’ll need to count the puppies. In these situations, ultrasounds are rarely employed.

The first indications that your Chihuahua is expecting are as follows:

  • She’ll act tired, lethargic, and lacking her normal energy.
  •  Your Chihuahua may get uncomfortable stomach symptoms, which are comparable to morning sickness in humans. This could result in occasional vomiting and a loss of appetite.
  • The stomach of your Chihuahua will grow quickly—much quicker than that of a human and quicker than that of most other breeds.
  • Her tummy will firm up and tone up.
  • Her nipples will get very big, exposing her previously concealed teats.
  • She will exhibit signs of “nesting” and give herself extra cleaning.

Ultrasound

With a Chihuahua ultrasound scan, you may quickly find out if your intended mating or artificial insemination was successful. Although waiting at least 25 days will yield more accurate results, veterinarians advise taking this pregnancy test as soon as 21 days following the surgery.

Although Chihuahua ultrasounds are a painless and non-invasive procedure, shy Chihuahuas may find them frightening. A tiny portion of your Chihuahua’s belly will need to be shaved by the veterinarian, which could be stressful for them because of the noise. An ultrasound for a Chihuahua can cost as much as $500. Before making a decision, you might want to look at other options given the cost.

Dog having ultrasound scan in vet office

 Blood Test

You can choose to undergo a blood test if you tried breeding your Chihuahua more than five weeks ago. This test is more affordable than an ultrasound and detects pregnant hormones.

You must wait at least five weeks following mating before performing this test. If not, even a Chihuahua in the first trimester of pregnancy could produce a falsely negative test result.

Pregnancy Timeline Of Your Chihuahua

This breed of dog can get pregnant at six months, but they shouldn’t give birth until they are eighteen months old. A Chihuahua’s pregnancy usually lasts between 58 and 68 days, and she has between one and six pups. Usually, these pups weigh only three to six ounces, which is very little.

Chihuahua moms take care of their kids for eight weeks before they can go on their own. The dogs can be adopted when they are ready to start their own lives. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll become moms! Let’s take a look at what happens when a Chihuahua is pregnant.

Week1

Hormonal changes start to happen in the first week, but they are not visible to the naked eye. It is best to keep your Chihuahua on its regular diet and exercise schedule during this time.

Week2

The egg that has been fertilized will move to the Chihuahua’s uterus in the second week. This could change your Chihuahua’s hormones, which could make them moody or make them love you more. Now, there aren’t any big changes that need to be made to the care.

Week3

Chihuahua babies grow very quickly in the third week of pregnancy. This will make your Chihuahua hungry, and you will notice that it eats a lot more than normal.

There aren’t any big changes in your Chihuahua’s body right now, but you might notice some breast tissue growth as she gets ready to become a mom. It is suggested that you give your Chihuahua bigger meals to meet her growing hunger.

Week4

Verify your Chihuahua’s pregnancy with a veterinarian at the four-week mark. Additionally, your Chihuahua may start to feel the puppies moving in her abdomen, which will indicate a discernible change in her appearance—her body will enlarge and her stomach will feel firmer. Because the puppies inside of her require more nourishment, she will also experience increased fatigue and hunger.

Week5

Puppies of a Chihuahua start growing organs, toes, and nails in the fifth week of their pregnancy. Physical indicators that your Chihuahua is pregnant will become apparent during this period, such as a rounder stomach and obvious breast tissue.

Your Chihuahua’s appetite may decline as the puppies grow. It’s crucial to feed her smaller meals throughout the day and think about using a specific formula for pregnant dogs to make sure she gets the nutrition she needs.

Week6

Nothing much changes in a Chihuahua’s pregnancy during the sixth week. Her tummy will continue to swell and become more rounded, though.

The puppies’ eyes and coloration are growing. The mother Chihuahua may become more queasy as her puppies become bigger. It’s not a major issue, but this might cause her to throw up more frequently. It’s critical to monitor her appetite and, if needed, feed her smaller, more frequent meals.

Week7

Your Chihuahua’s pregnancy is virtually over by week seven. This is the pups’ whole development. The mother Chihuahua’s breasts will mature fully and might even start to yield milk.

Your Chihuahua will now start looking for a spot to give birth. Establishing a whelping box and allowing your dog to explore it is crucial. This will reduce your Chihuahua’s nervousness and help her get comfortable in the birthing area.

Week8

The puppies in the stomach of your Chihuahua are mature by week eight. Your Chihuahua will be spending more time in the whelping box during this period, getting ready to give birth.

Her belly may start to move a lot, which would mean the puppies are about ready to be born. During this phase, it’s critical to keep a close eye on your Chihuahua since she may begin to go into labor.

Week9

It’s the last week of the Chihuahua’s gestation cycle. You must be by your Chihuahua’s side because she could give birth at any time. 24 hours before labor begins, her temperature normally climbs to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep a watch on it. You can predict when labor will start by taking her temperature.

It’s common to detect changes in your Chihuahua as the birth date approaches, such as less activity or increased anxiety. Telling your veterinarian about any particularly strange behavior is crucial, though, if you observe it.

There are three phases to the giving birth process, which can take six to eighteen hours to complete. Puppies usually arrive between 10 and 30 minutes apart. It is advisable to get in touch with a veterinarian if an hour passes and there are no additional arrivals.

A Chihuahua Going into Labor

Are you unsure whether your Chihuahua is ready to give birth? Watch her body temperature. A dip in temperature indicates the impending arrival of labor. A rectal thermometer yields accurate findings.

After making sure your Chihuahua is at ease in a quiet place and lubricating the thermometer, leave it in for three minutes. Dogs often have body temperatures between 102.5 and 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 and 39.17 degrees Celsius).

Your Chihuahua will give birth to her puppies in less than a day if her temperature falls below 100 F (37.77 C). During this phase of labor, she can throw up and weep. Even though it can be upsetting to witness your Chihuahua in pain, it’s important to maintain your composure and give her words of consolation to get through it.

The Delivery

The following is the procedure for giving birth to Chihuahua puppies if a Cesarean is not performed:

  • The amniotic sac of each dog is delivered separately.
  • The Chihuahua’s instinct takes her to lick the puppy’s sac; on rare occasions, she might even eat it.
  • This kind of conduct occurs naturally in the natural world.

After birth, the sac must be removed as soon as possible to protect the health of the Chihuahua puppy. The procedure is as follows: pull the sac off and over the head after gently tearing it close to the chest. It is crucial to exercise particular caution when managing this process. The sac could be more translucent or dark purple. The arrival of each puppy can occur one after the other or spaced out by up to two hours.

A Chihuahua’s mother dog will instinctively lick her newborn to clean it, and she may even chew off and eat the umbilical cord. In addition to cleaning the dog, this licking encourages breathing in it.

You can help with this process by carefully sucking fluids out of the puppy’s mouth and nose using an infant suction bulb. Furthermore, the infant can be quickly wrapped in a fresh, gentle cloth to allow for the removal of fluids without interfering with the mother’s natural licking habit.

Similar to what happens in people, the placenta is spontaneously ejected after childbirth. It is usually released following the last puppy. Chihuahua mothers frequently eat the placenta since it is a strong impulse that shouldn’t be suppressed. If the mother does not cut the umbilical cord herself, you can cut it approximately 1 inch from the stomach with sterile scissors and, in case of bleeding, tie it off with sterile thread.

Little chihuahua pregnant and abdominal pain baby with just born puppy

Indications That Your Pregnant Chihuahua Needs To Visit The Vet

If you see any of these warning indicators in your pregnant Chihuahua, be sure to take swift action. You must take your Chihuahua to the veterinarian right away if:

  • The gestational age has exceeded 70 days.
  • She has been throwing up and/or weeping for the entire day after her fever decreased. But the puppies are still nowhere to be seen.
  • There hasn’t been a single puppy born yet, although it has been more than two hours since the last one. We are aware that there will undoubtedly be more, though.
  • She is obviously in a lot of pain.

Last Word

The chihuahua eventually gives birth to a gorgeous litter of puppies after nine arduous weeks! Taking good care of your Chihuahua and giving her love and encouragement will make her feel less nervous and safer during her pregnancy. The next step in owning a dog is taking care of a litter of young puppies!

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