Prenatal Chihuahua Care

Chihuahuas require specialized care from the moment they conceive until well after they give birth to their puppies. This is mostly due to the tendency for Chihuahuas to be picky eaters, making them susceptible to hypoglycemia and causing vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as physical characteristics that make delivery itself difficult.

  1. Pre-Conception

    • Female Chihuahuas should be in good body condition before conception. This means that the dog is neither too fat nor too thin. The female should also be current on all vaccinations, wormings and be clear of any health conditions that may affect her ability to carry her litter to term.

    Feeding

    • After conception, female Chihuahuas should be fed a high quality, balanced dog food. Pregnant females will require more food and water than normal, so make sure that food and water is available at all times during pregnancy. If the dog is showing signs of not eating well, take her to see a veterinarian immediately to determine if there is a physical cause. If not, tempt her with nonstandard fare such as canned food or lean chicken. Your veterinarian may prescribe prenatal vitamins to add to your dog's food.

    Exercise

    • Make sure the female gets plenty of exercise. This will help her build the stamina required to deliver her pups as well as prevent her from gaining an excessive amount of weight.

    Veterinary Care

    • Provide plenty of regular veterinary visits throughout the pregnancy to ensure that everything is progressing normally. The earlier a veterinarian detects an issue, the more quickly it can be corrected, reducing the chances of harm to the puppies.

    Birth

    • Chihuahuas should deliver their puppies in a veterinary setting due to the high incidence of caesarian births. This is because the Chihuahua's head is much larger than the rest of its body, making delivery of the pups difficult. Many Chihuahua's experience dystocia, or having a pup get stuck in the canal, threatening its life, the lives of the litter and the mother as well.