What Do I Need to Know When My Chihuahua Goes Into Labor?

Chihuahua pregnancies typically have more risk involved than pregnancies of other dog breeds, and many fear their pet may need a Cesarean section at delivery time. But with extra attentive care and patience, Chihuahuas can deliver their puppies safely and vaginally either at home or in a veterinarian's office.

  1. Gestation Period

    • Typical dog pregnancies are around 63 days, or nine weeks, long. But smaller breeds often deliver earlier if their puppies become too large for their womb, and Chihuahuas are no exception. If your Chihuahua's gestation period goes longer than 70 days, take her to a vet immediately to try to avoid possible complications.

    Preparing for Labor

    • If her pregnancy was healthy and you opt for her to deliver at home rather than a vet's office, begin preparing her labor area a few days before the day the Chihuahua might give birth. She will need to be isolated from other pets and often from other people, so a quiet room in the house is best. Keep her away from places where she might catch an infection.

    Labor Signs

    • A Chihuahua's temperature is a tell-tale sign that labor is imminent. Start taking her temperature every four hours when you think labor will occur within the next few days. Her temperature will drop one degree below normal (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit) when labor is imminent within 24 hours. If it has been more than 24 hours since the temperature drop and she still has not delivered, take her to a vet immediately.

    Delivery

    • Your Chihuahua's instinct will take over and she will know how to birth the puppies herself for the most part. She will break the membrane herself, chew the umbilical cord to sever it and then lick the puppy clean before moving on to the next delivery. A puppy is normally born every 30 minutes, but there can often be an hour between. The birth should go smooth, but if more than two hours pass between puppies and the mother seems to be in a lot of pain while pushing to no avail, call your vet immediately for help.