Yorkie expecting

Question
My yorkie was 2.2 pounds before expecting puppies. Now she is 37 days pregnant. I am 13 and would like to help my mom by knowing what to do when she is due and how to prepare.

Answer
Hello Eullyne:

As you may already know, the average gestation for dogs is 63 days but can vary from 57 to 65 days. You can help by preparing supplies in advance of her due date. You'll need some kind of whelping box to keep the puppies contained, safe & warm, as well as washable or disposable pads for them to lie on. When your Yorkie is about a week from her due date, one excellent indicator of when to expect labor to begin is by taking her temperature a minimum of twice daily. Normal temperature for dogs is 101-102.5 and often, but not always, a pregnant female will experience a drop in temperature, usually below 98 degrees, when labor is imminent. Other signs of impending labor include heavy panting, shivering, nesting behavior, refusal of food & occasionally vomiting. Once these signs are noted, be prepared for whelping to begin. Labor will start with her water breaking, which may only appear as a puddle of fluid if she's sitting at the time it's expelled. Generally obvious contractions will shortly follow. Make a note of the time they begin -- if more than an hour or two passes & she's straining yet no puppies are produced, you'll need to contact your vet ASAP. It's always possible an over-sized puppy may be lodged in the birth canal & she may either need an injection of a drug called oxytocin, which helps the uterus to contract more efficiently or it's also possible a C-section is necessary.

I would also urge you to have your vet examine her as well as have an ultrasound done or an X-ray once she's a little further along in her pregnancy. An X-ray will be able to detect the fetal skeletons around 45-50 days gestation & is a good way to know how many puppies to expect. Also your vet should be able to advise you if he thinks she may have any problems in delivering naturally or if a C-section would be recommended.

I'm including some links to a few web sites that include some helpful advice as well as a list of supplies you'll need on hand when the big day arrives. You may want to print out the info so your family will have easy access to all info. I hope this helps & please let me know if you have any additional concerns.

http://hattrick-dals.home.att.net/TheWhelpingBox.html

http://www.gocco.co.za/whelpingchart.htm

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/whelping.htm

http://lowchensaustralia.com/breeding.htm