Pregnant chihuahua, please help UPDATE

Here's some pics.

Sorry if I offended you in any way from any of my previous post.  Much of my experience comes from helping with many whelps and most did not end with happy stories.  Working for a vet we often got pregnant bitches come in with serious problems most leading to the pups to be aborted to save the mother.  I#%92ve also seen byb and the horrible conditions the dogs are in so anything about breeding I take seriously as do many of the others on this forum.  If done correctly it can be a really happy thing to experience and you posting here does show that you really do care for your little girl.
 
All your little ones are adorable.  Please keep us updated on how she is doing and if you have any questions please ask, there are so many minds here that know so much about dogs that you will find your answer somewhere in this bunch.
 

Thank you, very much.  And I don't believe your previous posts were offensive at all.  In fact I think you're the one that told me the heating pad was a bad idea and to do a heating lamp instead, which is exactly what I did tonight.  The lamp gets quite hot though and it seems dangerous.  Is there anything I can do to make it safer?  I also got a thermometer to keep track of the temperature in the box. 

I have no doubt that you love your dog, which is what kind of confuses me because her life is risked everytime you breed her. []

She's cute, but she doesn't adhere to the breed standard..... after a few generations of breedings like this they won't even look like Chihuahuas. What's the point of breeding purebred dogs that look like mixed breeds? [8|] With all the pet overpopulation I don't know how anyone can justify breeding other than to improve and preserve our existing breeds.

Edited to add that I think Chihuahuas are one of the most widely backyard bred breeds, which explains the HUGE variation in the breed with everything from ear size/shape, head shape, body type, size, etc. There's almost no uniformity like there is with most breeds.

Try this website: [linkhttp://www.learntobreed.com]http://www.learntobreed.com[/link] for some information.

ORIGINAL: superchi

Thank you, very much.  And I don't believe your previous posts were offensive at all.  In fact I think you're the one that told me the heating pad was a bad idea and to do a heating lamp instead, which is exactly what I did tonight.  The lamp gets quite hot though and it seems dangerous.  Is there anything I can do to make it safer?  I also got a thermometer to keep track of the temperature in the box. 

I did suggest not to use a heating pad, they are very hard to control the temps and can burn the pups.[]  A thermoneter is a really good idea.  I prefer to used hot water bottles but they do have to be swiched out often, milk jugs work and similar containers work well for hot water bottles.  Something similar to hot water bottles would be a sock filled with dry beans or dry rice and microwaved for 2 min., the larger the beans the longer they hold in heat.  I've never used a heating lamp so I'm hopeing someone will come along who has that can give you more help.  I would think one that is used for chicks and ducklings might be a good choice in lamps, thoes you could get from a feed store and someone there should be able to help you use it.

Wait, wait, wait!  During a c-section the pups come out of momma FAST.  They have to be cleaned, dried, warmed, stimulated and sunctioned.  I recall Jaime telling me about her Frenchie and how the entire staff was in the OR to tend to the pups.....all standing there ready to take care of the pups.
 
I know chi's probably don't have big litters, but the vet has to be tending momma and if he only has his wife, thats only ONE pup being properly tended.  In my humble opinion, this vet is either over confident or he and his wife have some kind of crazy system that allows all the pups to be tended in a split second, and I just can't imagine what that would be.
 
I don't remember the exact details, but I do recall that once the uterus is cut into the pups have to be gotten out in a hurry.  Its the WHY I can't remember.  Two sets of hands just aren't going to be enough.
 
For that reason alone, I'd think you would want to get a second opinion.  You may have used this vet for years and really like and trust him, but gosh, logistically this seems impossible to me.

Non of these dogs from the pictures seem to fit the breed standard.  Deerhead are not acceptable nor are flopped ears.  You are entitled to breed all the dogs you want.  But not having a pup euthanized that had a fractured chest due to an injury is not responsible. It is hard for me to imagine leaving a pup to suffer and how much pain that pup had to endure as you picked it up and held for feedings.
 
Chihuahua pups need to be with their mom's 10-12 weeks.  The pups need to be vetted, de-wormed and started on puppy shots. 
 

I don't agree with people who don't have the monetary resources or aren't willing to do the research just sticking a male and a female together and hoping for the best.

Did you do the research?  If so you know that in toy breeds the male should never be larger than a female.  Did you know a good breeder will never breed a dog without doing the roper testing?  Do you know how many chi's suffer from luxating patellas?  Do you know that if you let a chihuahua leave it's mom before 10 weeks you increase the chance of that pup suffering from hypoglycemia?
Sleeping on the floor with your mom and her pups doesn't make you a responsible breeder.  Breeding to the breed standard, breeding for temperament, breeding out genetic defaults and breeding in good ones make a good breeder. 
 
You came to this forum looking for support and while I wish you the best of luck getting this little girl through this pregnancy it sounds like far from being her last.  I can not nor will I ever support byb. 
 

Am I a horrible person because I like a specific breed of dog? 

Nope I love Chihuahuas too.  But I will tell you this... I have a well bred Chihuahua and there is such a difference in her looks and her personality vs. others I have seen that came from not such good breeders.  She is not barky, she is great with kids, she has no health issues.  I  was not worried about molera as I had done my research.
 
If I was looking for a pup as a well informed buyer I know where to look and an ad in the local newspaper is not the place.  I was placed on a long waiting list for Zoey.  My family was screened, my references called.  Reputable breeders charge the same for both sexes... If I didn't care about the lines or the genetic factors I would be rescuing one of those pups already out there.  Check out how many babies are on petfinder.
 
I will stop now, as you stated it is fallen on deaf ears anyway.  I hope by this thread others will learn and it will stop at least one beloved pet from being turned into a puppy machine.

With our planned section....it was the Vet and a tech...my husband and myself...and a receptionist. This was done after normal hours at the clinic. So there were...4 extra people as the vet would be doing surgery.
 
They did come out quickly...the reason being that when he brings the uterus out I believe he clamps the major vessels to stop her from bleeding when he makes his incision. The pups then are deprived of blood in addition to being under the influence of the same drugs used to put momma out...they need to be revived QUICKLY.
 
They had to be constantly and vigorously rubbed for 20 mins and some were given Dopram.

ORIGINAL: superchi
If you have constructive critiscism that will help me at this point I would love to hear it.  But telling me I shouldn't have allowed them to have puppies is going to fall on deaf ears because that ship has already sailed. 

/quote]


Yes, that ship has sailed, but it doesn't have to again. When your dog does get it's c-section, please schedule the spaying (I'm not sure if they can do that at the same time, I've read differing opinions). After all you've read you surely can't think that it is safe, responsible, socially-conscious or in the best interests of anyone to continue to breed her. And that IS constructive advice.

edited to remove pic

ORIGINAL: glenmar

Wait, wait, wait!  During a c-section the pups come out of momma FAST.  They have to be cleaned, dried, warmed, stimulated and sunctioned.  I recall Jaime telling me about her Frenchie and how the entire staff was in the OR to tend to the pups.....all standing there ready to take care of the pups.

I know chi's probably don't have big litters, but the vet has to be tending momma and if he only has his wife, thats only ONE pup being properly tended.  In my humble opinion, this vet is either over confident or he and his wife have some kind of crazy system that allows all the pups to be tended in a split second, and I just can't imagine what that would be.

I don't remember the exact details, but I do recall that once the uterus is cut into the pups have to be gotten out in a hurry.  Its the WHY I can't remember.  Two sets of hands just aren't going to be enough.

For that reason alone, I'd think you would want to get a second opinion.  You may have used this vet for years and really like and trust him, but gosh, logistically this seems impossible to me.

 
This is exactly why I fear for the dam and whelps. C-Sections are common in Boston Terriers and you need more than 2 people around to do a C-Section. When the pups are delivered, they are handed off to someone who spends time reviving and tending to the pup. This means you need 2 pairs of hands for each pup delivered. If you are interested in seeing what goes into a C-Section, clicky [linkhttp://www.boston-terriers.com/csection.htm]here[/link]. This website explains and shows pictures of a Boston Terrier getting a C-Section.
 
With that said, never be afraid to get a second opinion. Your(collective your) dog's health is on the line.

Non of these dogs from the pictures seem to fit the breed standard.  Deerhead are not acceptable nor are flopped ears.

That's exactly what I was going to say, Otto (my Chi) is a wonderful pet and I think he is the cutest chi ever But..... he does not fit the standard in several ways, he is deerhead, his ears did't ever stand up, and he is 7 lbs (he looks smaller then your pup does actually in the shot of you holding him) I adore him, but he won't be a dad! Good luck with this litter, but please think twice before doing this again.

ORIGINAL: ottoluv

Non of these dogs from the pictures seem to fit the breed standard.  Deerhead are not acceptable nor are flopped ears.

That's exactly what I was going to say, Otto (my Chi) is a wonderful pet and I think he is the cutest chi ever But..... he does not fit the standard in several ways, he is deerhead, his ears did't ever stand up, and he is 7 lbs (he looks smaller then your pup does actually in the shot of you holding him) I adore him, but he won't be a dad! Good luck with this litter, but please think twice before doing this again.

  

But Otto is a great looking pet!  I love the expression on his face in the first picture of your sig.

As far as the size litter of Chihuahuas that can be as varied as their color.  Zoey's mom had three litters one with 6 pups and two with 5.  The fourth litter and last litter she was ever going to have was indeed her last litter.  Macee had complications needed an emergency c-section and all the pups were lost.  Macee was spayed and retired which was the plan in the beginning, but she lost all those gorgeous pups.  The vet bill was high and Macee was upset.....the owner was devastated.  It is heartwrenching... even the experienced breeder can have problems.   

[] I think everything has been said.
What is a deerhead?
OT And Darla I love your siggy

When I started out reading this thread I was going to stick up for the OP but after reading all the posts it seems that this will be the dog's SECOND C-section??  That just made me cry, I just don't even know what to say, it is so extremely horrible[]
If I misinterpretted something please correct me, I hope I did because it is just so unbelievably heartless to breed a dog thats already had a C-section.  IMO.
Or is it common practice for breeders to do so?  To me it just sounds so cruel and selfish.
And was this dog really mated to a larger male?  What could possibly be the justification of doing that??
I really hope it won't be just the vet and his wife doing the procedure.  What a disaster.
Unlike most of the people who posted on this thread, I do not normally lecture people who breed their dogs but this is just so over the line I can't even believe it.