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Shih Tzu - Whelping
By Connie Limon, Fri Dec 9th
The average gestation period for a shih tzu is 58 to 65 daysfollowing conception. With a first pregnancy your shih tzu maynot show signs until late in term. Just before her due date theabdominal muscles may suddenly appear to distend suddenly. Someshih tzu may produce colostrum and milk. She may suffer a lossof appetite or if just eaten, they may suddenly throw it backup. She may show extreme fatique, and have very deep periods ofsleep. These are all signs that whelping is nigh. If it takes an hour or longer between once whelpingbegins she "might" be suffering from inertia. However, allmatrons are different. I have to have as long as 4 hoursapart and nothing be wrong at all, and usually the same motherwill go through this same process each time. But if you have amatron who does not usually take this long between puppies, andthen she does, this could be cause for you to call your vet ortake her to the vet. Some breeders will give their matron aglass of milk as a calcium source. My shih tzu usually won'ttake anything like that during this time. If the matron stays inlabor a long period of time, you may need to take her for acesarean section. Most shih tzu, however, are free whelpers,even my little girls have whelped out their on theirown. There is always the exception to this rule, however, andyou should be prepared to stay for the entire whelping with yourmatron to guard against the complications that may require thevet's assistance. One trouble sign would be a steady strainingby the matron. I have been very fortunate with my shih tzu, inthat as of yet I have not experienced a lot of problems withtheir whelping times. As whelping progresses, matrons will go through periods ofintermittent labor and occasional minor contractions overseveral hours before intense contractions occur in rapidsuccession producing a puppy. Normally, she will visibly pantrapidly,
may attempt to shred her bedding and will often shrednewspapers if you give them to her, she will move restlessly andwhine and will intermittently sleep deeply through the whelping.Once deliveries begin, usually arrive anywhere from afew minutes to an hour apart, but again this is not always therules with every matron. I have had shih tzu to take as long as4 or 5 hours between and still everything turn outalright. Some it looks as if they are not even having pain orpushing, and then suddenly a puppy will appear. The mother willimmediately begin to tear open the sac around head and face andproceed to take the whelp out of the sac. If you notice mothernot doing this, you will need to work quickly and tear the sacoff the face and eyes so the puppy can get air. Mother willusually continue to clean up her whelp and chew and tie thecord. Many people think they need to take over at this point,but I feel mother is more capable by nature and instinct andshould be allowed to chew the cord and tie it off without myhelp. Mother does this in a way to stop the bleeding. I have hada few that I have had to take over, but normally, if mother isdoing as she ought to do, she will do this much better than Ican and I drather let mother do as she knows best at this point.
A breeder's attitude of the mother and the litter over the nextfew days will also affect the successful outcome of raising thislitter. About the author:Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professionalnewsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you andyour pets. Special weekly discounts on shih tzu andother products to subscribers. Up-to-date information onavailable Stain Glass Shih Tzu puppies. Sign up athttp://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
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