PetChiDog Pregnant Chihuahuas

Chihuahua Information Center

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Pregnant Chihuahuas

What Happens When a Chihuahua is Pregnant

Many owners of female Chihuahuas will panic when their Chihuahua is pregnant because they have heard many rumors.

It is a fact that a pregnancy for a Chihuahua can be risky. It is also a fact that a higher number of Chihuahus must give birth via cesarean section.

This does not mean that your Chihuahua is going to die or that the outcome is going to be terrible! Many human females give birth via cesarean; in fact some opt for it!

While it is true there are some risks to a Chihuahua pregnancy, there are ways to keep your Chihuahua as safe and comfortable as possilbe. This can be a happy event, not a worrisome one!

Can a Chihuahua Get Pregnant the First Time She Breeds?

The answer is yes. If you do not want your Chihuahua to have puppies, it is very important to have her spayed. Spaying also greatly reduces the risks ovarian and mammary cancer. It is recommended to do this before the first heat. If your Chihuahua has not been spayed and a male dog was able to attach to her, she can get impregnated that first time! You may wish to read our Breeding section for more information.

Signs to Look For

Before you worry about what happens to a pregnant Chihuahua, lets first make sure your little Chi is expecting! There may be varying circumstances in which you do not know if your Chihuahua is pregnant. Perhaps she got out of the house while in heat, and a male dog found her! This is the scenario in which most Chihuahua owners will panic. Now, you may be sitting, bitting your nails and feeling as if each minute lasts an hour; while you wait to know if your Chihuahua is pregnant. You could have an ultra sound done, however it is usually expensive and you may want to reserve that money for when it is time to see how many pups she will be having.

Here are the first signs that your Chihuahua is carrying pups:

She will act lethargic, tired and not as energetic as usual
Her stomach will enlarge very quickly, this happens much faster than with a human and faster than most other dog breeds
Her stomach will be hard
Her nipples will grow very large, again, this happens fast
She will clean herself more thoroughly than usual and appear to be "nesting"

Getting Ready

You must have a trusted and reliable veterinarian supervise the entire pregnancy. A pregnant Chihuahua will need extra help in staying healthy through this time. Your dog will most likely need to be at the vet clinic or hospital when it is time to give birth unless you are an experienced breeder (in which case you would not need to be reading this!). A good vet will perform an ultra sound so that you know how many puppies will be born.

From time of conception to date of giving birth, your Chihuahua will be pregnant for 9 weeks. This, of course, is not a lot of time. At the first signs of pregnancy with your dog, you must bring her to the vet. Everyone who comes into contact with your Chihuahua must be extremely gentle with her. She should be given a warm, soft and comfortable area to rest; if you do not already have this for her. She will spend much time wanting to be in a quiet room, resting up for the big day. She will be eating a lot more than normal, never deny her extra food. Do be sure that you still follow the guidelines of providing healthy food.

Your veterinarian will let you know if she will need a cesarean section. He may not be sure and may need to wait until she is in heavy labor to then determine if she does. A vet who will supervise will most likely ask you to bring your Chihuahua into the clinic once she enters labor.

Entering Labor

You will know that your Chihuahua is going to have puppies within 24 hours by knowing when her internal temperature drops below normal. Have your Chihuahua in an area where she feels safe and comfortable. Use a rectal or oral thermometer but use it rectally. You should lubricate it will and insert it about a half inch. Leave it for three minutes. Your dog’s normal temperature should be between 101 and 102.5 Fahrenheit (38.3 to 39.17 Celsius) . When your Chihuahua's temperature drops below 100F (37.77 C), she should deliver the Chihuahua pups in less than twenty-four hours. She may also vomit and cry during this stage of labor. While it is difficult to hear and watch your Chihuahua crying, you must remain strong for her. She will need your gentle, kind words of encouragement. While crying is normal, do keep a close eye on the following signs of danger:

Warning Signs

It is recommended to have your dog give birth at a clinic, however if you decide to have your Chihuahua give birth at home, do please watch out for these warning signs. You will want to bring her to the vet ASAP if:

She has been pregnant for more than 70 days
It has been 24 hours since her temperature dropped and she is vomiting and/or crying but no babies have come out
1 puppy came out, but it has been more than 2 hours without any more coming out (and you know she has more)
She appears to be in an incredible amount of pain

Giving Birth

If she will not be having a Cesarean the birth should take place as follows: The puppies will begin to emerge once her water has broken or the amniotic sac is pushed out. If the sac is pushed out, do not be surprised if the mother Chihuahua eats it. This is nature's way.

The puppies may come out one right after the other or there may be a time span of up to 2 hours.

As each puppy is born, the mother Chihuahua will lick the pup clean and also chew away at and possibly eat the umbilical cord. Again, this is a natural instinct.

Just as with humans, the placenta will need to be pushed out after the birthing. When the final puppy comes out, the placenta will soon follow. As you may have guessed, the mother Chihuahua may eat this as well. Whether the mother eats the sac, the cord or the placenta, do not stop her as it is a very strong inbred instinct for her to do so.

If a Cesarean is performed, your Chihuahua may experience fur loss as a result of the anesthetics. This is a normal reaction and in time, the fur will grow back.

Remember, if it was a rare occurrence for a Chihuahua to give birth and have healthy puppies, this breed would not be around! Archaeologists estimate that the Chi has been with us at least since 600 AD. Therefore, with today's medical technology, your canine companion should make it through just fine.