Chihuahua Dog

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Firehouse Chihuahua's Dog Pregnancy Calculator
*First Day The Dame Mated With The Stud (mm/dd/yyyy):
This Gestation Calculator Predicts Canine Whelping Between
And .
*It's important that you enter the first day your dog was mated.
Normal gestation is 59-64 days. It is not uncommon for a dog to whelp a week early or late after the median pinpointed duedate.

Important Guidelines in Using This Dog Pregnancy Calendar Calculator

It's important that you enter the 1st day your dog was bred for it to work properly.

We recommend you reference our book "Firehouse Chihuahuas: Raising Happy, Healthy Chihuahuas" for tips and assistance with issues regarding whelping your dog and raising happy, healthy puppies.

This page is for educational purposes.   Some photos may not be appropriate for children under the age of 12.   Parental discretion is advised.

The slideshow to the upper right of this note shows the internal development of a canine embryo into a fetus.   These photos are property of National Geographic's "In the Womb".   I do not take credit for these photos. 

The photos below this note are my photos and belong exclusively to Firehouse Chihuahuas.   Any unauthorized use of these photos is in violation of copyright.

So, you dog has gone into her first heat.   A dogs "heat" lasts for 3 weeks. Typically the actual bleeding lasts for 1 full week during the 2nd week of the heat cycle. However, a couple days more or less isn't uncommon especially in the first couple cycles.   Blood drops are to be expected on carpets and furniture.

If you are not breeding please spay her or if you are planning breeding in the future please know that 1. you need heat diapers and 2. every male dog can smell her for literally miles. You will have "suitors" at your door, and the have been known to break, dig, chew and climb into fenced backyards just to get to the available lady.
Day 1 thru 4:   Wednesday-September 19th thru 23rd
WEEK-0

Tinkerbell and Jose mated.   Tinkerbell is very slim at this point.   Note her size change as the pictures progress the entire 9 weeks.   Most litters are born between 60-65 days after insemination.   Small breeds are usually birthed at 61-63 days whereas large breeds can go up to 65 days.   If your bitch goes over 68 days take her to a vet IMMEDIATELY!   There could be complications.

When dogs mate they usually "lock in".   This does not always happen, sometimes the male will "slip" out.   As soon as penetration occurs, be it a lock in mating or a slip mating, ejaculate is released into the female and is counted as the first day of mating
Day 5: Monday - September 24th

Tinkerbell and Jose have mated frequently the past five days.   This will continue but taper down and stop between the 7th-9th day.   Tinkerbell begins to fight off Jose's amorous advances with growls and nips when he tries to mount.   This is normal.   Sometimes she will allow a mounting with a sucessful mating or let him mount and then quickly turn to nip.   Notice Tinkerbell's slim figure, the "tuck up" of her stomach.   It will dissapear as her pregnancy progresses.
Day 7: Wednesday - September 27th
WEEK-1

Fertilization and division of cells begin. The embryos start to move from the fallopian tubes towards the uterus.   A change in personality may occur at this time.

Once active Tinkerbell now has started sleeping more during the day and doesnt like to be interrupted!
Day 14: Wednesday - October 3rd
WEEK-2

The embryos are 4 cells each now and will be 64 cells by the end of this week.   Embryos now have reached the uterus and begin implantation.

Tinkerbell is actually letting Jose mate with her again.   Twice on Monday and twice yesterday.   She is back to her energetic self again.
Day 21: Wednesday - October 10th
WEEK-3

Puppies are 1/2 the size of a grain of rice.   They have implanted sucessfully and have begun to feed off of the mother's blood supply.   Tinkerbell is still playful and has increased her intake of food this week.   She is slowly losing her figure.   You can notice some swelling.
Day 28: Wednesday - October 17th
WEEK-4

Spinal cords and eyeballs develop this week.   Also the face of the puppies are begining to develop.   The pups are 1/2 inch long.   Organs are developing.   Mammary glands expand to prepare for milk production. Tinkerbell is now round in shape looking from above.   She still runs around and food intake has increased a little bit.
Day 35: Wednesday - October 24th
WEEK-5

The puppies have toes, whisker buds and claws.   They look like dogs instead of fish creatures.   The eyelids have sealed and all organs are mostly complete.   Puppies are 1 1/2 inches long. I have stated incorporating scrambled eggs into her diet to help her along with the stress being put on her body with the puppies getting bigger. They will grow really rapidly in the upcoming 4 weeks.
Day 42: Wednesday - October 31st
WEEK-6

Development of pigmentation in puppies start.   The puppies weigh in at 6 grams and are two inches long. Tinkerbell grows round, her belly widening instead of growing towards the floor.   The puppies' heartbeats can be heard with a stethoscope.

Individual "lumps" can be felt in Tink's belly.   She has begun collecting small toys and things and putting them into her kennel.   I have went ahead and made her nesting box a week earlier than I normally do.   I have noticed she has also shown "nesting" behavior, by ripping her bedding up.   This is interesting since I have never seen her nest this early. It is VERY important to place the nesting box in a quiet and private place so Tinkerbell will feel safe and relaxed to have her babies.
Day 49: Wednesday - November 7th
Week-7

Puppies are complete, just need to develop fat and grow more.   Tinkerbell starts to loose her belly fur.   Her belly looks stretched and kicks can be felt and movevement seen in her abdomen. Depending on how fast the gestation occured the pregnancy might be a week early or a week late. 

We are keeping a very close eye on Tinkerbell for early signs of labor. She is grunting alot and being very clingy.   I have noticed a decrease in food but not in her activity.   At 58 days puppies can be whelped safely since the lungs are complete.   Normal temp is 101.5, when she drops to 99-98F labor is close.   You might also notice shes hiding in a dark place, dialated pupils, digging, panting and even a confused unbreakable stare at her hind end.   I cannot stress how important a whelping box in a safe and quiet place is!!!
Day 56: Wednesday - November 14th
WEEK-8

She is very large and likes to lay on her side as much as possible.   Puppies are getting crowded and movement is very noticable.   Most puppies can be identified by location and individual limbs can be felt and traced. End of this week Tinkerbell may begin to express milk. Just like human pregnancies, canines can give birth up to a week early or late.


Day 63: Wednesday - November 21st
WEEK-9
Due Date

The expectant mom begins to chew at her prepared bedding and digging.   This is called "nesting".   Your pregnant female may shred your towels and rearrange them.   Panting occurs when she enters heavy labor.   When her temperature drops down from 100.2-100.4 to nearly 97 degrees birth is imminent.   Have a vet's emergency number handy just in case.   She rejects her meals but might have a little bit of water.   Keep offering she will eat when she is ready.

Tinkerbell is going through the first parts of POPCAN.   She is becoming increasingly aggitated and restless.   She refuses to leave the nesting area (bathroom) and has to be carried outside to go potty.   She began lactating clear fluid last night and the puppies have had minimal movement.

Remember This Acronym!

                                                         POPCAN

P: Panting
O: Observant
P: Pupils Dialated
C: Contractions
A: Ancy
N: Nesting

Panting occurs when the female enters hard labor.
She will be overly observant towards her rear end and stare.
Her pupils will dialate as well
Contractions can sometimes be seen when her abdomen sqeezes in on itself.
She will rotate in her bedding and readjust herself quite a bit before a puppy emerges.
She will dig and rip her bedding with her teeth, this is nesting.

If your female is experiencing POPCAN she is ready to give birth!

This will keep the time, date, weight, sex, color and birth order of the pups.


BIRTHING

Labor usually begins when the female starts to show signs of impending birth.   Humans cannot see early contractions but can gather information to infer birth is near. Tinkerbell has begun oozing a clear mucus and is currently running a temp in the low 99's.   The mucus will change color through the hours from clear to almost forest green.   When you hit the green stage that means the placenta has detached from the uterus and the pups are on the way down the birth canal.   Right now are just the begining contractions of a labor of love this evening.   Place down plenty of food and nice cold water.

Do not panic if she does not produce milk straight away after the first pup emerges.   She will often bite or growl at the newborn during contractions.   It is best to keep the pup in a seperate box until birthing is complete.   The female may be nervous at the fact of the removal of her offspring but let her sniff her baby when she wants it.   Let her know her baby is in good hands. 

When the puppy emerges (this is in Tinkerbell's case) she needs assistance because of her size she cannot turn around to break the sac open to let the puppy breathe.   When you get an umbilical cord, tie two strings around the cord leave an inch between the strings.   Cut between the strings and lay the sac on a towel. The other end might go back into the female, dont worry.   She will pass the placenta soon.   She will then eat it.   Dont take it from her.   This will replace valuable iron and other nutrients taken from her during pregnancy and birth. Rupture the sack with your fingernails or even the tip of the sissors.   Be careful not to nick the pup inside.   The bag will open and you will have a limp puppy. Pick the puppy up and place the head at your fingers and the rear towards the heel of your hand. 

Keeping a firm clasp but not a strangling grip shake the puppy downward forcefully, head towards the floor to force any fluids out of the lungs. Immediately rub the puppy vigorously with a dry towel until you get a good strong yelp.   This means the lungs and breathing passages are clear of amniotic fluid. Place the newborn with the mother for her to get its scent but be wary of aggression towards it when she has more contractions.   Repeat until whelping is complete.   Place all puppies on fresh bedding with the mother in the whelping box and offer fresh food and water.
1. Puppy Recording Sheet:   This will keep the time, date, weight, sex, color and birth order of the pups.

2. Plenty of dry towels:   I prefer to use Underpads because they are quite large and disposable, not alot of time to do laundry!   So use these and save time.

3. Fresh Food:   This needs to be puppy food.   This will help her produce fat rich milk for her puppies.

4. Fresh Water:   Keep water always cool and accessable.   Licking puppies and dealing with afterbirth, clean water to drink is a necessity.

5. Stethoscope:   This will allow you to check the puppys respirations and heart beat.   A crackling noise when breathing means amniotic fluid in the lungs.   Clear lung sounds are a nice Wosssh Wosssh noise.

6. Floss:   This will assist in the birth by tieing the umbilical cord in two places to allow a clean cut to remove the pup.

7. Hemostats:   My personal addition to the kit.   This assists with the umbilical cord to make the final cut. They are very slippery so a pair of hemostats makes the job easier, safer and quicker.

8. Sissors:   To cut the amniotic sac and the umbilical cord from the puppy.

9. Whelping Box:   This should have been set up at least one to two weeks ago so the female could get comforatable with it.   Lay a cloth towel inside before using disposable pads.   These are for during and after the birth.
Stage I, which lasts about 6 to 12 hours, is characterized by mild uterine contractions and dilation of the cervix. At this time the bitch displays external signs such as intense nesting and constant lying down and standing up.

Stage II is characterized by intense uterine contractions, which causes the expulsion of the puppy. Bitches usually deliver lying down, but some may assume a squatting position. Most puppies are born with feet and head first. The bitch should instinctively start to lick the fetal membranes away from the puppy's face, and then sever the umbilical cord with her teeth. There should be no interference with this maternal process. However, if the bitch does not act, you should step in and break the membrane with your fingers, so the puppy can breathe. Similarly, the umbilical cord needs to be tied, cut, and disinfected with iodine.

Stage III is characterized by expulsion of the placenta. The bitch usually expels a placenta within a few minutes after the expulsion of each puppy. It is normal and instinctive for the bitch to eat the placentae. However, you may want to reach and take some of them from her to avoid undesirable adverse effects. Make sure that the bitch has expelled a placenta for each puppy. If she retains any, she may develop postpartum metritis and need veterinary help. In general, the bitch will deliver her entire litter over a period of several hours. The uterus usually returns to its normal size (involution) within 12 weeks of whelping.  

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