Puppy size prediction

Question
QUESTION: Hello and thank you for your previous answers.Looks like our small frame young chi IS (very unintentionally) pregnant. Male is slighly bigger but genetically has small family. My concern is emergency c-section due to CPD or  malposition. I am a midwife and there is much we can do in pregnancy to prevent these problems. Is that possible in canines? Is there a safe way for her to grow smaller, yet healthy pups? Our last pups (different mom) were pretty large ~ maybe due to "over saturated" prenatal diet? Or?
We have been to 5 vets in our area and they are very unsupportive and nasty regarding breeding (and greatly over charge). Is there a "breeder's vet " site or something you can reccomend? Really need a good vet!
Thanks again for your information.

ANSWER: There is no way for her to grow smaller yet healthy pups. A reduced pre natal diet will only starve HER of needed nutrients, the pups will get what they need. Their size is determined by genetics rather than diet. I would much prefer to see her spayed than to run the risk of losing her due to an unplanned, dangerous pregnancy. Due to the fact that females carry pups in two separate horns there's nothing you can do during pregnancy to establish position. If you simply refuse to have her spayed, I would schedule a csection with an experienced vet as close to her due date as possible.
We rescued a three pound chi once that had been accidentally bred to a JRT who weighed eight pounds. We didn't realize she was pregnant until three weeks before the pups were due.We had had her a very short period of time., days. When she reached the point in her pregnancy that she literally could not put her feet on the floor due to the size of her belly, the vet did an immediate section. We saved two of the pups. She had permanent spinal misalignment due to the weight and strain of the puppies and joint damage as well. We had her xrayed every four days toward the end of her pregnancy. It was heartbreaking. And yes she was spayed during the section.
Good luck
Cindi

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply~
I was not meaning to imply that a great prenatal diet would not be supplied but I did read somewhere on this site NOT to feed puppy food in pregnancy as the pups would be too large? That is what she is on currently. Also, she is about 7 lbs, dad about 8; so not too small, just what I perceieve to be (and maybe I'm wrong) small hip frame.
In midwifery we use herbs (red rasberry, ect)and exercise to keep the uterus toned for easier labors. This was also what I was refering to, as a means of "prevention" of problems. I do have a prenatal canine herbal formal (very similar to what we  use for humans)that I will try. I am not opposed to planned c-section in this case but how do you know for certain one is neccessary before labor?  Also, why is it not possible to induce labor (naturally  herbally) in dogs?
Thanks again~

Answer
I don't agree with not feeding puppy food during pregnancy. Just like women need prenatal vitamins, does need extra help during pregnancy as well. Please remember that ALL answers posted on this site are opinions. So they will differ sometimes.  There can never be anything wrong with exercise and keeping a dog healthy during pregnancy but if the puppies are too large to fit through the birth canal, the pelvic bones simply too small then there is nothing that you can do during pregnancy to change that. Having an xray done closer to delivery will give your vet a better idea of the size of the puppies. Often an xray can tell you whether the female needs to have a section by accounting for development and growth of the puppies between then and the projected due date.
I don't know why inducing labor naturally would even be a consideration or why anyone would want to do that. She will either have the pups on her own or via section, but inducing labor would not solve any problems
Cindi