maltese x shitzu

Question
QUESTION: hi there,my female maltese x got pregnant to a long haired border collie although he is not as big as your average collie i am still concerned about the size of the puppies and if she'll be ok to have them naturally at home,also we found them locked together on the 28th or 29th of december 08' what kind of gestation period will she have is it 57 to 63 days.thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Rebecca.  The gestation period for most dogs, including Shitzu's is between 58 - 63 days.

Here is a link to a "Whelping Calendar" that I use.  http://www.debbiejensen.com/date.html

Just type in the date you mated your female, at the top, and the calendar will print out a complete - week by week- listing of what you should expect.

Good luck and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i was really more concerned with the size of the puppies being a female maltese x and a male border collie,will they be too big for a natural home birth.

Answer
Hi Rebecca.  The only real way to tell if the puppies will be too big for your Maltese to deliver naturally is to check with your veterinarian concerning X-Rays.  The actual puppies themselves do not show up on the X-Rays, but the skulls and spinal cords do. However; I'm not a big believer in taking X-Rays on a possibly pregnant dog, for the same reason that they will not X-Ray a pregnant human.  

As an alternative to X-Rays, Your veterinarian can perform a physical exam,
X-rays and or an abdominal ultrasound can assist your vet in determining the size and number of puppies.  They can also help your vet in determining your dog's pelvic conformation and help in the determination of if she can deliver the puppies naturally or if a C-Section will be required.

When the time comes, and your female goes in to labor keep a very close eye on her and be prepared to seek medical attention if necessary.  In some cases, a puppy can get stuck in the pelvic canal, and if this happens it will require assistance.  An experienced breeder, or a veterinarian, may be able to help the puppy out manually with out the need for a C-Section, but this is not something an inexperienced breeder should attempt.  Also prolonged labor can cause shock and or dehydration in the mother which may call for IV fluids.


Good luck, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com