X-rays on pregnant Chihuahuas

Question
Hello Joyce Crierie!

I have a few questions about the x-ray on pregnant Chihuahuas. Is it safe to use the x-ray on moms and puppies? Will it exposed anything inside that may be a risk? And what is your opinion about making a book the vet for x-ray on pregnant Chihuahuas at how many days should I bring in to determine the size and number of puppies plus to ensure that they will not need c-sections or not?

Estrella was bred to Yoshimura on July 31st, 2008 and I assume that Estrella is about 43 days old pregnant? Her litter due should be on October 2nd, 2008 then? Plus Fontana was bred to Yoshimura on August 7th, 2008 (at least I think?) so she is around 36 days old pregnant and her litter due is on October 9th, 2008.

So please tell me if I am following right? I know it is not an accurate perfectly but at least, I know both girls are confirmed pregnant so I believe I might almost got it right so far. Besides, this is Estrella and Fontana's first litters though. Both weighted 4.6 lbs and 4.1 lbs. The stud weighted 3.2 lbs.

Two more things- do you think it is a wise to feed them the raw diet food as such as cheese or chicken boneless? And lastly, when SHOULD I start to stay home and monitor on them in case when they are in labors?

Thanks!!

Answer
Hello George

We x-ray all our expecting dams and have done for years without issue.   X-rays help you to determine if in fact there are pups and approximately how many to expect.  A excellent technician with a good picture can tell you the exact number of pups to expect.

We schedule x-rays anytime after day 50.  The pups bones don't calcify until they are 50 days along. So it makes it impossible to see anything.

Did you breed the girls only the one time?  And how was pregnancy confirmed?

The thing with doing the counting method is that a) you have to know that they caught they day the were breed.  A females egg takes 7 days to mature and sperm can live for 48 hours.  So it's always give our take a day or two.  And small dogs may not go 62 days but can go 60 days.  

Raw is an excellent diet as long as you are supplementing with vitamins and calcium.

Once your females start slowing down and refusing food that is the first sign.  Make sure that the each have their own whelping box, for Chi's nothing bigger than a Rubbermaid container lined with old sheets/towels or newspaper to safely and quietly whelp their litter.

Good luck!