How Many Puppies Can A Chihuahua Have In A Single Litter

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A Chihuahua is so tiny that one does not help but wonder if an adult female can give birth to more than one puppy. Weighing less than six pounds, the Chihuahua is the smallest toy dog globally, but it is a delight to have around. In this article, we will be answering the question, how many puppies can a Chihuahua have, and the challenges that come with the breeds pregnancy.

Breeding a Pregnant Chihuahua and Its Challenges

Because of its small size, breeding the dog comes with several challenges, especially during pregnancy. It even becomes more challenging if you know nothing about breeding a tiny pregnant dog. One of the things you need to bear in mind is that it is not cheap. In most cases, the Chihuahua’s small size makes it hard to give birth naturally, which calls for a C-section.

Besides the C-section, the toy dog will also need other necessary medical treatments for a safe birth. Of-course you can try to prevent your Chihuahua from becoming pregnant by keeping a watchful eye on her when she is around other dogs, especially when she is on heat. However, as easy as that might sound, it is not easy to tell when a Chihuahua is on heat because no other breed comes even close to cleaning itself the way the toy dog does.

The only signs that might indicate that the tiny dog is in heat include mood change, bloody discharge, licking of her genitals, frequent urination, and swollen genitals and nipples. If you are not lucky to keep the Chihuahua from other dogs when she is on heat, how do you tell when she is pregnant?

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Symptoms and Signs of a Pregnant Chihuahua

It is easy to recognize pregnancy in larger dog breeds, but it is hard to tell with the Chihuahua unless you are very keen. If you have any suspicions that the pooch could be pregnant, you should check out for the signs and symptoms to be certain. You should also be there for the tiny dog throughout the pregnancy period because it is too delicate to handle it independently.

The average gestation period is 63 days, and it can go into labor either 2 or 3 days earlier than the due date, 2, or 3 days later than the due date. A Chihuahua displays almost similar symptoms as a woman when pregnant. The symptoms to look out for are:-

• Light vomiting
• Reduced appetite
• Lethargy
• An upset stomach that is very similar to morning sickness
• Fast enlargement of the stomach-the pregnancy starts to show between the 15th and 30th day after conception.
• Recessed teats appear with the enlargement of nipples.
• She spends more time cleaning herself than she did before
• Puppies visible through x-ray by the 45th day
• She goes into labor between the 60th and 65th day after conception.

Things to Note

Chihuahuas have occasional false pregnancies because of chemical imbalances in their bodies. The false pregnancy still triggers the body into thinking that she is pregnant, and all the symptoms might show but only for a month or so. It is very vital to check with the vet if you are unsure.

How Many Puppies Can A Chihuahua Have?

A Chihuahua can have a maximum of four puppies per birth. However, most of the tiny dogs’ average number of puppies is from one to three. Three and four are still many puppies for the tiny dog. A Chihuahua can give birth several times in a lifetime, but with each pregnancy, you can expect several complications.

The breed reaches its sexual maturity at six months, but most of them start giving birth when they are one year and above. In one year, the Chihuahua has two estrus periods, which means they can deliver two litters in a single year.

Chihuahua Pregnancy-Interesting Facts

• A Chihuahua can get pregnant by two different dogs-multi-sired litters.
• A much larger dog can impregnate a Chihuahua. If this happens, the pregnancy becomes much more complicated, especially if the puppy’s size gets too large for the small dog’s womb.
• A Chihuahua can conceive during her first heat cycle.

Wrapping It Up

Chihuahuas are lovely tiny dogs, but they are also hard work because they require a lot of attention, especially when pregnant. The puppies, too, once they come, are also hard work. It would help if you kept an eye on the females to prevent large dogs from mating with them because then you will have many problems to deal with. One to three puppies is the average number of puppies a Chihuahua can give you. Four is too many but not impossible.

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by Jane Brody via Pets Tutorial