Breeding Chihuahua is no easy feat, and some owners will even have to resort to artificial insemination. However, once your Chihuahua is pregnant, how long will they be pregnant for in months and days?
How many months is a Chihuahua pregnant? Just like any other dog breed, Chihuahuas will be pregnant for between 58 and 68 days. The average gestation period and pregnancy of a Chihuahua lasts 63 days, which is just over 2 months from conceiving to giving birth.
Chihuahua pregnancy calendar
Week 1 (days 0 to 7)
After conception, there is no need to make any changes to your Chihuahua’s diet or exercise. She might show some signs of morning sickness, but over than that you won’t even notice that she is pregnant – it’s simply hasn’t been long enough.
Handy Hint: If you are unsure that your Chihuahua is pregnant you could go through these pregnancy signswhich are a good test to go by.
Week 2 (days 7 to 14)
Your Chihuahua has now been pregnant for nearly 2 weeks, and the cells in the embryo will start to develop, whilst moving to the uterus… with still no need for you to make any lifestyle changes for her.
Week 3 (days 14 to 21)
The Chihuahua fetuses are now developing quickly but will still be very tiny. The mother might show an increased appetite, but otherwise there will be no visible signs of pregnancy.
Week 4 (days 21 to 28)
Your Chihuahua will now have been pregnant for almost a month and your vet might even be able to feel the puppies moving inside of her.
The end of the 4th week is a critical point in the Chihuahua’s pregnancy calendar. The puppies are at most risk of miscarriage, so exercise should now be limited.
Talk with your vet about any changes you will need to make to the mother’s diet. You might need to add more nutrition into her diet.
Week 5 (days 28 to 35)
Your Chihuahua has now been pregnant for other a month, and the small fetuses are really starting to develop into something resembling a dog shape including paws and claws.
Your vet will be able to perform an ultrasound scan at this point, and this will show you how many puppies your Chihuahua is expecting.
Week 6 (days 35 to 42)
Your Chihuahua will now be noticeably pregnant, being much larger than before with quick and rapid growth… which will be even more pronounced due to her increase in appetite.
Around this time, you can also help her to prepare for the birth. Do this by helping her find and create a suitable and safe nesting area.
Week 7 (days 42 to 49)
Your Chihuahua has been pregnant for nearly 50 days at the end of this period and will be preparing herself to give birth. The puppies inside if her will look like mini Chihuahuas too!
Week 8 (days 49 to 57)
The mother Chihuahua will now start to build and prepare her nest, and it might even be possible for you to see her puppies moving around under the belly skin.
Week 9 (days 57 to 65)
Your Chihuahua has now been pregnant for as long as she needs to be, and it’s time for the puppies to arrive in this final week.
How to get a Chihuahua pregnant…
Now that you know how long a Chihuahua is pregnant for, let’s get back to the “basics” of breeding – but full disclosure first; I am not a breeder, just a fan of dogs sharing what I know…
There are two ways; natural breeding and artificial insemination. I probably (or at least hope) I don’t need to explain the natural breeding way, but the artificial one for sure.
In the majority of case, the female and male Chihuahuas won’t meet each other, with sometimes the semen even being shipped on a frozen form.
It’s a complex procedure including timings, blood tests, temperatures, and loads more technicality that I am not qualified to comment on. In the future I will look to interview a breeder so I can publish more expert insight.
Do Chihuahuas always need C-sections?
No, they don’t. C-sections usually happen when Chihuahuas are expecting a fewer amount of puppies. This is because, the less puppies in the womb, the larger they get. The larger the puppies, the higher risk of a complicated pregnancy – e.g. getting stuck in the birth canal.
How often do Chihuahuas go into heat?
Chihuahuas go into heat from the point they reach sexual maturity. The regularity of their oestrus cycles tends to be every 6 months on average but will vary from dog to dog. It can take up to 2 years for a French bulldog to develop regular heat patterns.
Female Chihuahuas can gain sexual maturity as young as 5 months old. At that point, if they have started to have regular oestrus cycles, they are at risk of getting pregnant.
Handy Hint: Here’s what to expect with your Chihuahua’s heat cycle, including the signs to look for.
The stages of a Chihuahua reproductive cycle
If you’re really keen on knowing all the various stages that go into the Chihuahua pregnancy period, here’s a breakdown of what it all means with the medical terms.
There are four stages of their reproductive cycle:
- Proestrus: the “getting ready” stage where blood can discharge – around 9 days
- Oestrus (aka estrus): the “mating” stage – around 9 days
- Diestrus: the “pregnancy” stage – around 63 days
- Anestrus: the “recovery” stage – until the next oestrus cycle starts – can be every 6 months.
Conclusion
Now you know how long a Chihuahua is pregnant for with my pregnancy calendar, I invite you to explore some more of my Chihuahua content on Doggysaurus.
- Chihuahua teeth chart and list of dental problems
- When the puppies lose their milk teeth to grow adult ones
- When the puppies open their eyes
And finally, please research Chihuahuas before you buy a puppy or attempt to breed your own.
Image in header from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/chihuahua-dog-puppy-cute-nose-2769980/