Do you have a chihuahua dog and want to breed it? Do you know how many puppies this breed can have? To answer these questions, let’s talk about the characteristics of the Chihuahua breed and the average number of puppies that this breed can have.
How many puppies do chihuahuas have?
Chihuahua dogs can have different numbers of puppies, the average is between 2 to 3 puppies per litter. There are reports of chihuahua dogs giving birth to 6 puppies, but this is a rare occurrence. Due to the size of the animals, females tend to give birth to fewer pups.
This variation in the number of puppies may be related to genetic and environmental characteristics such as nutrition, stress and diseases. The quality of the male’s sperm can also influence. Therefore, laboratory tests must be performed on animals before they are reproduced.
When to breed a chihuahua
The female Chihuahua should only be bred from the second heat. Because in the first heat, the animals are still very young, and they need the action of sex hormones for the complete maturation and dogs development.
Male dogs should not be bred for less than one year. As much as the dogs start producing sperm before one year, because they are very young, they can end up hurting themselves and not being able to mount the female.
Pre-pregnancy care for females’ dogs
Breeding dogs should always be accompanied by a veterinarian. Only healthy and adult dogs should be bred, so blood tests and tests for sexually transmitted diseases in dogs should be done.
Healthy female dogs must be vaccinated before mating and a deworming protocol must be carried out to avoid contamination of puppies intrauterine or after birth.
Some female dogs can become very aggressive with males when the correct time for breeding dogs is not respected. Many times, animals can end up injured.
Also, it is not advised to leave the male and female together during the entire time of estrus. Because dogs can spend hours trying to copulate, thus stressing each other. In addition to having the possibility of getting hurt from trying so hard to copulate.
Some animals should receive vitamin supplements before and in the first days of pregnancy to avoid malformation problems in dogs. Female dogs must be at the ideal weight for the species, it is not desirable for obese or very thin females to breed. The diet of the pregnant dog can also change, so that the animal does not lose so much weight at the end of pregnancy.
It is also important to have a reserve of money for the veterinarian to carry out exams and pre-delivery follow-up, as well as money to cover the costs of medical emergencies.
Pregnancy for females dogs
Gestation in female dogs can last from 58 to 63 days and can be extended up to 72 days or reduced to 57 days. During pregnancy, it is important for the female dog to undergo a periodic gestational follow-up, where the veterinarian will observe any changes in the animal’s health through examinations.
How to know how many puppies the female is carrying?
It is advised to perform an ultrasound on day 30 of gestation for gestational diagnosis and from day 55 of gestation to observe if the puppies are well. X-rays can also be performed after 50 days to count the puppies, which can help at the time of birth to define whether the birth is over or not.
Ultrasound can also be used to count the number of puppies. However, this practice is not indicated because the puppies move in the mother’s belly, thus being able to count puppies for more or less, thus being a less accurate method of counting puppies.
Parturition care for the Chihuahua breed
Chihuahua dogs are small dogs with physical characteristics such as a head that is very round and small. It is a dog with a compact body, short and muscular limbs, its tail is moderately long, carried high, arched or in a semicircle.
Due to the physical conformation of these animals and the reduced number of puppies, gestational follow-up with a veterinarian is advised due to the high incidence of hydrocephalus, which can lead to dystocia, resulting in the mother and the puppy’s death. It is also the single fetus syndrome that can also affect these animals, leading to dystocia.
Conclusion
Chihuahua dogs can have varying numbers of puppies, but on average these small dogs can have 2 to 3 puppies per litter. This breed must be accompanied by a veterinarian throughout the reproductive process so that the tutor is informed about the gestation phase and care to be taken with the dogs. Before parturition, imaging tests can be performed to confirm the number and health status of neonates. The parturition must be accompanied by a veterinarian due to the high chances of problems that can result in dystocia, being necessary to perform a cesarean.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How many puppies do chihuahuas have?
Is it possible to manipulate a female dog’s estrus with drugs, as in cows?
Yes, it is possible, but it is not so used because many female dogs also do not respond to hormonal protocols, so few animals go into heat. Therefore, it is recommended to let the animal come into heat naturally and the tutor will be accompanied until the exact moment of reproduction.
How long does pregnancy last in female dogs?
On average, the duration of pregnancy in female dogs is 63 days, ranging from 58 to 68 days from the day of mating. Veterinarians can dose hormones that will give a more accurate date for parturition. In addition, there are imaging tests that can indicate approximate parturition dates in female dogs.
Can female dogs have more than one heat per year?
Yes, some dog’s breeds can come into heat every 4 months. However, care should be taken as constant repetitions of heat can be a sign of endocrine diseases, so a veterinarian should be consulted to avoid health problems in dogs.
Reference
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Confederation, 2015 Official Breed Standard: chihuahua. Available at: https://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_187.pdf, accessed January 22, 2022.
de Souza Teixeira, E. (2001). Princípios básicos para a criação de cães. NBL Editora.
Picture from pixabay.com
