The birth of a Chihuahua, this tiny dog, causes a lot of anxiety in the owner. After all, the health of the pet and future puppies will depend on proper care and preparation for this moment. Therefore, it is worth exploring information on this issue in advance. How to take birth with a Chihuahua and what is needed for this, you will learn by reading the article.
Prepare a place for childbirth and teach a dog to it
The first thing to do is to think about where your pet will give birth. The room should not be too much noise and strangers. It would be better if you allocate a separate room for the dog. She will have a hard time, and unnecessary irritants will only distract. It is better to curtain the windows in the room so that direct sunlight does not penetrate. Therefore, tight curtains must be taken care of in advance.
We figured out the room, now it's time to think about the box in which the Chihuahua will be born. You can buy it at a pet store or build it yourself. Design and shape may be arbitrary. The main thing is that he was not cramped, and the dog was able to rest its paws against the wall during childbirth. Boxing is best made from material that can be washed. And such a need is likely to arise. The front wall of the delivery box is recommended to be removable. So it will be more convenient to clean and care for the puppies.
Keep the box away from drafts and heaters. The path to it should be free, so that you can have time to help the pet in time. After all, you can not accurately predict when the birth will begin. But you can’t delay in such a thing.
Boxing can be put in the room about fifteen days before the expected birth. Then it is necessary to accustom the dog to a new place. Introduce her to boxing, persistently, but gently make her spend time there. If necessary, use a clicker or favorite treat to have your Chihuahua at home in a prepared place. If you don’t accustom the dog to boxing, she simply will find a corner for herself. And it will be inconvenient for you and for her.
A couple of days before the birth, put a clean oilcloth and diaper in the box. You can take already old or a little shabby. After all, they will have to be thrown out when all the puppies appear.
We make a puppy house
The maternity box is ready, now it's time to think about where the newborns and their mother will later live. In general, you will need to make two houses. The first will be used immediately after birth. You can make it from an open box with low sides. Be sure to put a mattress and a heating pad in it. Moreover, the room in which the box will be located should be warmed up to almost thirty degrees. You should take care of this before you give birth to a Chihuahua.
As soon as all puppies appear and all manipulations with them are carried out, mother and newborns need to be relocated to another house. You can also make a house out of the box, but with rather high sides. It is necessary to make a door so that mom would be comfortable going out. It is recommended to cut it ten centimeters from the bottom. If the passage is made very low, puppies simply crawl out of the house ahead of time. At the bottom of the box, put a mattress and a diaper, which will need to be changed as it becomes dirty.
Mom with the kids in the new house will live for about two weeks. All this period in the room should be quiet and calm, so that the Chihuahuas feel protected. After fourteen days, the dogs no longer need a house and usually leave it. Then the temperature in the room can be reduced to twenty degrees. Remember that decorative dogs are fragile, do not tolerate both cold and heat.
Also, before you take birth in a Chihuahua at home, you need to collect the necessary equipment and medicines in advance.
We prepare the inventory for childbirth
During the adoption of childbirth, you can not do without inventory and medicines. They will help you do everything right. Below is a list of required items.
- thermometer;
- warmer;
- potassium permanganate (or furatsilin);
- Newspapers
- absorbent diapers ;
- towels;
- sharp scissors;
- tweezers;
- medical alcohol;
- cotton wool;
- sterile silk threads (for bandaging the umbilical cord);
- pipettes
- Libra;
- box for newborns.
You may have to stimulate labor. To do this, you need to purchase syringes, "Mastometrine" or "Oxytocin". But on this issue it is better to consult a veterinarian. A clock, pen and notebook are also useful to fix the beginning of the process and the time of appearance of each puppy.
Put everything you need for the Chihuahua in one place, not far from boxing. Otherwise, at the crucial moment, you will nervously search for the necessary equipment and do not help the dog in time.
We follow the signs of the approach of childbirth
The approaching birth can be recognized by several physiological signs.
For three to four weeks, the tummy greatly increases in size. Transparent discharge appears, and the genitals swell. Over a week and a half, the mammary glands begin to enlarge. In individual dogs, milk is secreted from the nipples.
A few days before giving birth, the chihuahua appears colostrum, and the tummy is very low. During the day, body temperature drops to 37 degrees.
When there is less than a day, some dogs refuse to eat or, conversely, eat with great appetite. You can observe excessive affection with the owner or the desire to hide from everyone in a secluded corner.
Usually the approaching birth in a chihuahua dog is determined by the nervous state. Trembling, rapid breathing and palpitations appear. The pet begins to rush about, digging the floor with its paws. It may also seem that the dog seems to interfere with the tummy.
Of course, you need to be ready for childbirth even at the earliest signs, and not delay with preparations until the very last symptoms.
We are expecting childbirth and preparing for them
Take your dog’s body temperature twice a day. Keep a cup of clean water next to the delivery box that needs to be changed periodically. It is recommended to exclude meat, fish and salt from the diet.
As soon as you notice a thick discharge of a whitish or grayish tint, begin to measure temperature more often. She can fall sharply at any moment. And this, as is already known, is a harbinger of impending fights.
To have a Chihuahua give birth at home successfully, prepare her for this. Wash the dog and its genitals with tepid water with the addition of a small amount of soap. After treat with a light solution of potassium permanganate. You need to take one part per liter of water. Potassium permanganate can be replaced with furatsilinom. But then it needs to be parted with five liters of water.
Do not forget to prepare yourself for the birth. Trim your nails and sanitize your hands. Clothing is better to choose comfortable, but not dangling.
Fix the contractions
The body prepares for childbirth by contracting the muscles of the uterus, i.e. contractions. As a result, the neck opens gradually. This process is painful, so it can be determined by behavior. The dog becomes restless, breathing heavily and often, rummaging in the nest.
It is also very important to take into account the physiological signs - the gradual lowering of the tummy down. If your Chihuahua is pregnant and giving birth first, then not everything is so obvious. Lowering the abdomen can be barely noticeable, so be extremely careful. During fights, you can see how the dog’s sides are straining, and the characteristic fossa on them. Usually it lasts from an hour to a day.
As soon as you notice the dog’s contractions, begin to record the time. After barely noticeable attempts begin. Gradually, they intensify, and the interval between them is about forty minutes. The process can take up to five hours after the first attempts. If puppies do not begin to appear after this period, then immediately contact your veterinarian. Perhaps your pet does not cope with natural birth. In this case, the specialist will be forced to have a cesarean section. Of course, you should not carry out such an operation yourself at home.
Birth process
Owners of dogs often ask themselves: when does a Chihuahua start, what do you need to know to get it right? And this is a competent approach to business. In order not to harm the pet, you need to understand how everything happens naturally, without human intervention.
When intense contractions begin, the fetus moves into the birth canal. At this time, the dog rests on its side and, if possible, rests its paws and back against the walls of the box. In this position, the Chihuahua will be easier to bear all the hardships. It is more convenient for some dogs to do this in a standing position. The birth itself begins when the amniotic fluid leaves. The bubble usually breaks itself, or the dog makes it. Water flows out to wash the birth canal and facilitate the further exit of the fruit. It is absolutely impossible to pierce the bubble yourself.
Contractions are already going longer and getting stronger. The dog gathers its strength so that the puppies are born. At this moment, it is better to be near the pet, so that, if necessary, help and facilitate the birth of a Chihuahua. How long can the pain last until the first puppy appears? Usually this process takes no more than five hours.
The appearance of puppies
Each kitten is located in the fetal membrane. It bursts when it passes through the birth canal. If this does not happen, the mother herself gnaws the protective film and releases the puppy. Then the chihuahua with his teeth bites the umbilical cord and licks the baby that appeared, thus doing him a massage. Such actions help stimulate breathing and blood circulation.
After the appearance of the first puppy, the placenta also leaves (placenta, fetal membrane and umbilical cord). Their chihuahua usually eats, because it contains a lot of nutrients. They are necessary to gain additional strength and continue childbirth. Also, trace minerals have a good effect on milk production.
The birth of the next puppy does not occur immediately, but after a short interval. The time interval can vary from one to sixty minutes. We can assume that the birth of a Chihuahua ended if more than two hours have passed.
Decorative dogs are able to bear a small number of fruits, and the owner should know about it. Of great importance is the number of pregnancies and the weight of the chihuahua before giving birth. By the way, normally this indicator should be at least two kilograms. Depending on this, your pet can bring you from one to six puppies.
We provide assistance
Sometimes the dog can not cope with the birth of a cuddle. Especially if this is the first pregnancy. In such cases, competent owner assistance will not hurt. Therefore, you need to know how to give birth to a Chihuahua at home.
The fetal bladder comes out first, which usually bursts itself. Then a puppy appears in the shell. As a rule, he goes head first and does not need help from a person. If a kitten is born tail-first, then most likely he will not be able to cope. Then very carefully pull the puppy's legs without touching his chest. Gradually move to the skin on the back, and then to the back of the head. Thus, you must stretch the baby out completely.
After that, immediately tear the fetal membrane in which the puppy was located. If this is not done in time, the newborn will simply suffocate. Quickly remove mucus from the mouth and nose. You can clean with sterile gauze wipes. Wipe the puppy with a cloth. Now massage the body to stimulate vital activity.
If the puppy is weak and does not breathe, thoroughly clean its mucus from its mouth and nose. Lower it upside down and do massage, moving from the tummy to the ribs, then along the spine. After that, shake a little like a thermometer.
Now is the time to cut the umbilical cord. Hold it over the newborn so that the liquid drains back. Step back from the tummy a couple of centimeters, pinch with your fingers and bandage silk thread in two places. Now the rest can be cut with sterile scissors. Do this carefully and do not pull the umbilical cord. Treat the cut site with an antiseptic.
After these manipulations, attach the baby to the nipple to stimulate the following genera of Chihuahua puppies. Do the same with other babies. After that, transfer the newborns into a box with a heating pad while cleaning in the box and tidy mom.
When to call a veterinarian
The ideal course of labor was described above. But they do not always go smoothly, and you may need the help of a veterinarian. Call him immediately if you feel something is amiss or notice the following symptoms:
- Attempts have been going on for more than five hours, and puppies are not born.
- The baby is stuck and does not go out of the birth canal.
- The interval between the appearance of puppies is more than two hours.
- Before the first-born, a Chihuahua mom has black, dark green, or bloody discharge.
- The dog loses consciousness during childbirth from pain.
It is better to arrange with a veterinarian in advance just in case. You never predict when you need the help of a specialist.
Looking after a Chihuahua after giving birth
When all the puppies appear, they can be weighed. Write down these indicators and features of each in a separate notebook. There you can note the thread of what color is assigned to one or another newborn.
Take care of a chihuahua mom. Immediately after giving birth, invite her to drink water, and even better - tea with milk. After warm water, wash the genitals, body and wipe dry with a towel.
If the weather is warm, then after a while the pet can be taken for a walk so that she goes to the toilet. But do not stay on the street for too long. The dog has spent a lot of energy and is still weak, and long hikes will only hurt.
While the new mother walks, let someone from the household restore order in boxing and around him. It will be nice to ventilate the room in which the Chihuahua was born.
After that, mom and puppies can be moved to their house, where they will live for two weeks. Kids are happy to cling to the nipple. Make sure that all puppies eat and lie as close to their mother as possible.
Chihuahuas often give birth between late evening and early morning. Therefore, be on the lookout at any time to help your pet in time.