How do I know if my Chihuahua is pregnant?

Hi,

First of all, if you won’t take your dog to the vet, you shouldn’t be letting her have babies. There are just so many unwanted puppies in the US because of people not spaying there dogs. Did you know that every year over a million dogs are euthanized because there are just too many of them?

However, if you did not have your dog spayed and are looking forward to her having puppies, there are a several things that you will want to look out for. You should speak to your vet about what signs to look for.

-Symptoms that point toward her pregnancy, but do not definitely indicate it.

• Many dogs experience morning sickness, sleep more, and eventually, eat, drink, and urinate more often.
• Near the end of her pregnancy, a dog will often have pinker, swollen nipples as her body prepares to feed the puppies.
• A typical dog pregnancy lasts from 58-63 days, and if she is expecting several pups, she will definitely “show” near the end.

During the labor:

• Signs of labor includes digging (to prepare a “nest” for the pups), panting, pacing, and other restless behavior. Often the dog will find a nice, safe place to give birth (mine actually chose under the bed while I was at a meeting). -Please do try to be prepared for the pups;

they need to be kept warm, especially during the first two weeks. Often a heating pad (set on low)under a waterproof mat works the best. Mom will need plenty of food and water, and she most likely will not welcome visitors to the nursery for the first few days.