Giving birth to a Yorkie or Yorkshire terrier: how long does pregnancy last, how to deliver a baby and how to care for puppies

Decorative breeds are at risk due to pregnancy. The owner of the Yorkie needs to prepare for the process, know all the nuances, and be in constant contact with the veterinarian. Pregnancies in Yorkshire Terriers often end in caesarean section. The operation can only be performed under sterile clinical conditions. From the article you will learn: how long the pregnancy lasts, what are the harbingers of an imminent birth, what you need to prepare, how to facilitate the process and when you should immediately go to the clinic or call a veterinarian.

Features of pregnancy in Yorkies

After the mating, some time should pass, after which it will become clear that fertilization was successful and there will be puppies soon. The average total pregnancy for bitches of this breed is two months. Of course, depending on the physiology of the bitch, the timing may vary slightly: from 59 to 65 days.

Already three weeks after mating, subject to successful fertilization, you can notice the first signs of pregnancy in the bitch:

discharge from the loop: thick mucus without color;
the dog loses its appetite: from decrease to complete loss;
shiver;
toxicosis, expressed in nausea and vomiting.

All of these symptoms can be signs of pregnancy or other diseases of the bitch. When they appear, you need to visit a veterinary clinic, where, based on tests, the doctor will determine the fact. An ultrasound examination will be performed, a veterinary specialist will make a conclusion about the number of embryos, the duration and course of the bitch’s pregnancy, and give advice on care.

After 30 days, the bitch begins to show more obvious signs:

Signs

It is impossible to understand whether a dog is pregnant or not at an early stage after mating. The veterinarian will record the fact of pregnancy only after 20 days after mating by conducting a blood test.

However, it is possible to determine that a bitch is bearing offspring even before this time by external signs:

After a week, with a successful mating, the behavior of the animal changes. The dog becomes more lethargic and sleepy. May show aggression when trying to disturb her. This is especially true for pregnant women for the first time.
Eating habits are changing . During the first period, the animal may even temporarily refuse food or some specific products. Usually this is a consequence of toxicosis. Morning sickness and vomiting are also possible. If this continues to haunt your dog even after 20 days, you should consult a veterinarian.
The nipples become slightly swollen, and the skin around them begins to lighten.

There will not be any noticeable changes in weight or increase in volume in the first month, since babies develop rapidly only in the second period. But after the 30th day, the tummy will begin to actively grow, the mammary glands will increase even more. When an experienced bitch is preparing to give birth, colostrum even begins to secrete from the nipples.

Pay close attention to all the signs, keep a diary and pregnancy calendar, they will tell you whether the process is going normally and without any deviations or whether it is worth seeking advice from a veterinarian.

Signs of imminent labor

During pregnancy, it is worth keeping a notebook in which you record the course, symptoms, temperature readings and visits to the veterinarian. It is possible that during the birth process something will not go according to plan and you will have to consult a doctor. There are often situations where there are overlaps, when your doctor is busy or absent, another specialist who is not familiar with the bitch will find such information very useful.

The main signs of close births:

The pet’s behavior changes: it becomes fussy or, conversely, lethargic. The bitch will try to hide in a secluded place. Often the space under the sofa or other inconvenient places is chosen. You shouldn’t let her do this, as you might miss the beginning of the process. The bitch should have her own equipped place, located in a secluded corner, so she will not have to hide;
drop in body temperature. Together with the veterinarian, the expected date of birth is calculated. 2-3 days before, temperature measurements begin to be taken once a day. When the readings drop to 36-37 degrees, the process will begin very soon. The maximum waiting period is one day;
frequent urination. The stomach drops, pressure on the bladder increases, and the urge becomes more frequent;
the dog often develops diarrhea;
breathing quickens, trembling appears. These signs indicate the beginning of contractions, which means the birth process has begun and the puppies will soon be born.

Preparing for childbirth

To successfully complete the process, when both the bitch and the puppies feel great, the owner needs to carry out thorough preparation.

Important: do not rely only on your own strength. Be sure to agree with a veterinary specialist in advance so that in a critical situation they will wait for you and do not have to wander around to various clinics. Labor may begin at night; not all hospitals are open at such times.

What you need to prepare:

Place for childbirth. It is necessary to lay clean natural fabric and prepare disposable diapers. The location should be quiet, away from drafts or radiators. Prepare a container of water.
Supplies: a supply of diapers, alcohol, a set of clean pieces of fabric or gauze, tampons, cotton pads.
Place for newborn puppies. A box or basket lined with a warm cloth will do. Place a bottle of warm water in the box, which is replaced as it cools. Make sure that the water in the container is not scalding hot.
Tools: sharp scissors (cut the umbilical cord), silk thread for a sling, brilliant green for processing, pipette (pump out mucus from the nose, a baby bulb aspirator may be suitable).

It is worth preparing a first aid kit, which must contain the following medications:

calcium gluconate;
oxytocin;
diphenhydramine;
saline;
no-shpa;
chlorhexidine;
alcohol.

Additionally, you need to prepare small-volume syringes.

Before giving birth, the dog’s nails must be trimmed to avoid injury to the bitch and puppies. In the area of the tail and on the belly, if necessary, the hair is shaved.

Necessary preparation

To prevent childbirth from taking you by surprise, you need to prepare in advance everything you might need. Be sure to notify your veterinarian of your expected delivery date. In about two weeks, the Yorkshire Terrier bitch will have to get rid of worms. But it is not advisable to vaccinate her or give her medications, only in the most extreme cases. For example, if the dog is sick.

Also prepare in advance the place where you are going to give birth and keep the bitch with newborns. Choose a separate room where strangers will not disturb you and your pet. Remove unnecessary items so that they do not interfere during childbirth, do a wet cleaning, and ventilate.

In the room, place a maternity box or a large box, for example, made of cardboard, ninety centimeters wide and one hundred and twenty centimeters long. It will contain the puppies and their mother. The box should be raised fifteen centimeters above the floor so that the bitch and her newborns do not catch a cold due to possible drafts or a cold floor.

The temperature in the room during childbirth and two weeks after must be maintained at twenty-eight degrees using electrical appliances. Then it can be lowered to twenty degrees. Temperatures that are too high or low can be harmful to puppies.

Insulate the bottom of the box with clean sheets. For the dog’s convenience, they need to be folded several times. Also prepare a small box to hold the newborns during birth. The birth itself can be taken, for example, on a bed or sofa, having previously laid oilcloth and a sheet on the upholstered furniture.

There must be fresh diapers and the necessary items nearby:

trash bag;
pure water;
thermometer;
scissors;
tweezers;
pipettes;
syringes;
sterile gauze wipes;
small soft boiled diapers (they can be made from waste fabric);
silk threads, if you need to bandage the navel;
alcohol for disinfection;
five percent glucose in ampoules;
hydrogen peroxide;
brilliant green;
an anti-inflammatory agent, such as traumeel.

In case of premature birth, you should prepare medications such as calcium gluconate, no-shpu, dexamethasone. Everything must be in ampoules so that the injection can be given.

So that you can record what time each puppy is born and how much they weigh, also prepare a notebook, pen, small scales and colorful strings to indicate the order of births.

A couple of days before the birth begins, you need to prepare the Yorkshire Terrier bitch: trim the hair in the area of the nipples, around the genitals, as well as the anus, collect the hair itself in curlers, and wash the genitals. Since the length of the dog's fur on the face, and even the curlers themselves, can interfere with her during childbirth, she will most likely need your help. Therefore, trim your nails in advance and disinfect your hands before giving birth.

Childbirth at home: how to take it

The owner plays an important role in the process of pregnancy and childbirth of the bitch. You should not leave your pet alone, especially during the first birth. You can’t panic and fuss; you need to prepare for the process by understanding the physiology of the process in advance and discussing all the actions with a veterinarian.

Important: the more embryos, the simpler the process. In this case, the puppies are small in size and it is easier for a decorative miniature bitch to give birth to such a baby.

If there are two or three puppies, the birth may be difficult due to the large fetuses. In this case, it is very important to carry out the birth in the presence of a veterinarian. He will be able to determine in time that the babies are walking with their paws up, which means a caesarean section will be needed.

Indications for caesarean section:

light weight of the bitch (up to 2 kg);
narrow pelvis;
puppies walk with their paws up.

The duration of labor is from 3 to 12 hours (can last longer). If the owner is afraid of blood, panics, and doesn’t have time, the best way out is to send the bitch to a hospital hospital.

Rules for caring for newborn puppies

The mother takes care of the babies; human care is unnecessary. The person is required to weigh the newborns, repeat weighings every 2 weeks to confirm full development, keep the room clean, change the bedding, and make sure there is no draft in the room.

Yorkies get pregnant and give birth like other breeds. But a miniature dog needs careful care. A good breeder approaches the maintenance, choice of food, walking, and disinfection with maximum responsibility, because the life and health of the expected offspring depend on this.

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How to accept

Host actions:

ensure peace in the house during childbirth;
the first birth should be carried out in the presence of a veterinarian;
after the puppy leaves the loop, the umbilical cord is tied at a distance of 1 cm. A cut is made with sharp scissors and treated with brilliant green;
the amniotic sac is ruptured, the puppy is wiped, the nasal passages and mouth are cleared of mucus. They give it to the mother to lick the baby;
the newborn kitten, after all the procedures, is applied to the bitch’s nipple. At the next attempts, it is put into a box with a warm bottle of water or a heating pad;
The dog usually eats the afterbirth. This is normal, it contains substances that stimulate labor. Do not disturb her; in case of multiple pregnancy, 1-2 pieces are enough;
If the baby is stuck in the birth canal, you cannot pull it by force. You can help the bitch only if the kitten's head and paws have already appeared. In other cases, you need to call your veterinarian immediately and act under his guidance.

Up to 30 minutes can pass between puppies coming out, so don’t fuss and carry out the newborn’s hygiene carefully and carefully.

Important: between births, the Yorkie bitch needs to be given water to drink and allowed to move around - all this stimulates labor. After the last baby comes out, the bitch is left alone with them in a box.

Postpartum care

The dog is left with the kids, but after 7-10 hours you will need to take it outside. Provided that the birth took place normally. The walk doesn't have to be long. Returning home, they carry out careful hygiene: the Yorkie bitch is washed, dried with a hairdryer and only then returned to the puppies.

Feeding your pet during this period is important. If babies suckle without problems, everything is fine. If you hear constant squeaking and fussing from the box, the puppies are not getting enough nutrition. The dog should be fed 4-5 times a day, the nutritional value of the diet should be increased.

Particular attention is paid to the nipples of the young mother. They are constantly examined for inflammation. Babies may not suck out all the milk; leftovers lead to stagnation and inflammatory processes. In this case, you will have to express.

Symptoms:

the nipple becomes hard and hot;
the color changes: it turns red and even turns blue.

In this case, babies are not allowed to suck and are transferred to artificial feeding. The bitch is immediately taken to the veterinarian.

A common problem for Yorkshire Terrier bitches who give birth is diarrhea. If it does not go away for several days, the dog is put on a diet and given a decoction of rice.

Important: within 9-12 days, the discharge should become clear and very scanty from blood, and should not have an unpleasant odor or impurities of pus. Their presence is a reason for an urgent visit to the veterinarian.

Prenatal period

First month

The prenatal period covers the entire two months of pregnancy, right up to birth. Typically, Yorkshire Terrier bitches are pregnant for sixty to sixty-two days.

During the first month of pregnancy, no significant changes are observed in the dog's appearance. Changes in behavior are more noticeable - the bitch becomes lethargic and sleeps often. There may be a lack of appetite due to toxicosis. Although it happens that these signs are absent, because every Yorkie has a unique body and the reaction to changes in it is different for each animal.

The feeding diet can be left unchanged for now. Walks should be daily so that the dog can breathe fresh air and receive solar energy. Exceptions are made only on rainy, too hot or cold days, in order to avoid possible colds or overheating.

The Yorkshire Terrier bitch can still run, but given her delicate position, physical activity should not be long and in no case heavy.

Somewhere on the twenty-second day of pregnancy, future puppies can be felt in the womb of a Yorkshire terrier bitch. But you can’t do this yourself, as you can damage the fruits. If you want to know how many puppies there will be, you can contact an experienced veterinarian.

Echography determines the number of fetuses on the twenty-fifth day of pregnancy, radiography - on the forty-fifth day, ultrasound - from the fiftieth day, when the movements of the future puppies are already noticeable.

Yorkshire Terrier females can give birth to up to four puppies, rarely five, but the volume of the abdomen depends on the individual characteristics of the body. A dog can have a large belly and two fetuses, or a compact tummy with all five fetuses. Therefore, this sign of pregnancy is not always noticeable in the first month. But lightened skin around slightly enlarged nipples is a symptom that is almost always present.

Second month

From the second half of pregnancy it is necessary to change the established regime.

Firstly, change your diet. When feeding ready-made food, you need to switch to special food for pregnant bitches.

If the dog ate natural food, it is necessary to add vitamin and mineral supplements to the food. The veterinarian will help you calculate how much vital substances you need to give your pregnant bitch.

The volume of food should be increased by ten percent every week, focusing on proteins: lean meat, fish. About two weeks before the expected birth, the volume of proteins is reduced, and a week later they are removed altogether. Despite the fact that in the second half of pregnancy the dog needs to be fed more often, it should not be overfed. The main thing is to monitor her weight to avoid obesity.

Secondly, daily walks must be continued, but in quiet places where there are no strangers or other dogs. The Yorkshire terrier bitch should not be allowed to jump or run a lot - the hikes should be short, without overexertion.

Signs of imminent labor include very swollen and clearly defined nipples. Somewhere five to six days before birth, milk should appear. Over the course of three to four days, the bitch's belly begins to sag, as evidenced by her sagging back. The external genitalia of the bitch increase in volume, this is especially noticeable in the last two days before giving birth.

A couple of days before giving birth, the dog’s behavior changes. She begins to get nervous, run after her owner in search of support, digs her place, and may whine. Some, on the contrary, go to a quiet and dark corner and sit there. Some individuals begin to eat a lot, while others completely lose their appetite.

Two to three days before the expected birth, you need to start measuring the temperature of the pregnant bitch - it should drop to thirty-seven degrees compared to the norm of thirty-eight and a half degrees. They do this early in the morning, while the dog is not yet active, and in the evening before bed. The day before labor begins, the temperature should be as low as possible, and fetal movement should become unnoticeable.

If there are complications

Complications may occur during childbirth:

cessation of labor;
heavy bleeding;
stuck puppy;
absence of contractions for a long time after the water breaks;
damage to the uterus;
eclampsia, etc.

Of course, some problems can be solved on your own. If such a birth is the owner’s first, your actions can only cause harm. Need help from a specialist.

How many puppies are born

During estrus, up to 12 eggs mature. Of course, not all of them will be fertilized or implanted in the uterus. But such a possibility exists. The number of fertilized eggs will be affected by the bitch’s hormonal background, number of matings and births, age, health status and other factors.

The average number of puppies is 3 or 4. There are deviations in one direction or another, but both multiple and small pregnancies are dangerous for the dog. In this case, the best option is delivery by cesarean section.

False pregnancy

After mating, a false pregnancy may develop. In this state, the bitch not only has external signs of pregnancy, but also her hormonal levels change and colostrum appears. In addition, the bitch begins to lick soft toys, fuss, “make a nest”, get nervous, and aggression is possible.

This condition cannot be cured. All that remains is to wait for the moment when the hormones return to normal.

During this period you need:

walk your Yorkie more;
feed properly;
remove soft toys.

You can seek help from a doctor, especially if there is bleeding, lethargy, fever, etc.

Briefly about the main thing

Pregnancy in a Yorkie female lasts from 58 to 65 days.
You can deliver the baby yourself or in a clinic.
There are usually 3 to 4 puppies in a litter, with smaller and larger numbers requiring special attention.
In the postpartum period, they monitor the bitch’s hygiene, the condition of the nipples and discharge from the loop.
If there are complications, you should call your doctor and act under his guidance.
False pregnancy cannot be treated; you need to wait for the hormonal levels to stabilize.

How was your pet's birth? Did you give birth yourself? Please write about your experience in the comments.

When is a Yorkie ready to reproduce?

The age when a male Yorkshire Terrier is ready to breed is different from the age when a female Yorkie is ready to have puppies.

A male dog's body produces sperm by the age of 8 months. It shouldn’t happen this early for several reasons:

sperm are not yet fully developed. Few puppies may be born and not all will be healthy;
If a male has been mated at least once, he will sense any dog in heat from afar. This can lead to the fact that he may run away from you after a bitch and get lost;
A young mated dog is more difficult to train and often becomes uncontrollable.

The most appropriate age when it is best to mate a male is after 1 year. This should be done no more than once a month so that the quality of sperm has time to recover.

The best age for a Yorkie female to give birth to puppies is around two years old. Although the first heat usually occurs at 10-12 months, mating at this age is not yet possible. Puppies may be born underdeveloped and there is a risk of miscarriage. Early pregnancy can be harmful to the health of a young body.

Read more about how Yorkies go into heat in this article.

If the dog is 4 years old and has never whelped before, you should consult a doctor. Often at this age, in nulliparous bitches, the hip joints harden and the muscles become less elastic. The dog may have difficulty giving birth and will require a caesarean section.

Although bitches have a long reproductive age, they should not be bred after 8 years. This negatively affects the health of both the dog and the puppies.

There are owners whose dogs give birth every six months. This is done only by those for whom mating and breeding Yorkshire terriers is a business, and they are not interested in the health of the dog. If you love your Yorkie girl, you should not knit her more than 6-7 times.