Pregnancy is an extremely delicate process during which bitches need to receive various specific care to maintain optimal he alth and to give birth to strong and he althy puppies. Therefore, when deciding to adopt a female, it is important that we have a good understanding of how pregnancy works in dogs, both to prevent unplanned litters and to know how to care for them and help bitches during pregnancy, childbirth and lactation.
With this in mind, in this article on our site, we clear up frequently asked questions by tutors on this topic. Here you will discover how many puppies a dog can have, how long it takes for a first-time female dog to give birth and what to do if your dog becomes pregnant without any planning.
How many puppies can a dog have? - Here the answer
This is probably the most common question from most tutors who share their daily life with a pregnant dog. After all, you have to plan the arrival of the new members of the family! However, we must tell you that there is no exact number of puppies that a dog can have in the same pregnancy.
For example, an English Bull Terrier can give birth to between 1 and 15 puppies in the same delivery, but generally the litter of this breed is made up of 5 or 6 puppies. A smaller dog, such as a Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier, usually only gives birth to 2 or 3 puppies in the same birth, although they can have up to 6 pups. On the other hand, some large breeds can easily give birth to litters of 8 or 10 puppies, such as female Labrador retrievers or golden retrievers. In fact, a Neapolitan Mastiff bitch entered the famous Guinness Book of Records after giving birth to 24 puppies.
How many puppies can a dog have? - By races
Generically, the following dog breeds can have this number of puppies, although the number of puppies in a litter depends on many factors:
- English Bull Terrier: 1-15 puppies.
- Chihuahua: 2-6 puppies.
- Yorkshire terrier: 2-6 puppies.
- Pinscher: 2-3 puppies.
- American staffordshire terrier: 1-15 puppies.
- Labrador: 8-10 puppies.
- Golden retriever: 8-10 puppies.
- American bully: 3-5 puppies.
- Bichon Frisé: 3-8 puppies.
- Dalmatian: 6-8 puppies.
- German Shepherd: 4-9 puppies.
- Shin tzu: 6-10 puppies.
- French Bulldog: 1-4 puppies.
The number of puppies a dog can have during pregnancy will depend on factors endogenous to its own body, such as breed, physical context, age and he alth. In general, a young dog that is still experiencing her early years tends to breed fewer puppies because her body is still maturing. In addition, the female must be he althy and well fed to be able to develop a pregnancy and childbirth without complications.
The sire and litter size
It is also important to know that males influence litter size, not just females. Sexually mature males can fertilize a greater number of eggs and can conceive, together with the bitch, a larger litter. It is worth remembering that the sexual maturity of all dogs (male and female) also depends on internal and external factors of their organism. Therefore, if your dog has become pregnant, we recommend that you go to the vetso that she can examine her and analyze her state of sexual maturity
In addition, there are external factors that can influence the number of puppies a bitch can give birth to. In this regard, the environment and the care we provide to a pregnant dog are often a great differential. During pregnancy, childbirth and lactation, it is essential that dogs are not stressed and can enjoy balanced nutrition, exercise appropriate to their condition, and a nurturing and loving home.
How long does it take for a first time bitch to give birth?
There is no exact or correct time for female dogs to finish giving birth to their puppies. This will also depend on the physical characteristics, age and he alth of each dog, as well as environmental factors. Therefore, it is very important that, as guardians, we can provide a positive and safe environment where the dog finds a refuge to relax and be calm before, during and after the birth.
It is important to have an idea of how long a bitch's part lasts in order to identify when there are problems during this process. Generally, the length of labor is directly related to how many puppies a dog can have at the end of a pregnancy. On average, it is estimated that a puppy can take between 60 and 90 minutes to arrive in the world, with intervals of 15 to 30 minutes between births. Therefore, it can take a bitch 6 to 8 hours to give birth to 4 to 6 puppies. And obviously, the larger the litter, the longer it will take for the bitch to give birth to all the puppies.
Also, it is important to remember that the bitch's labor can begin long before she gives birth to her first puppies. Therefore, it is essential that a guardian knows how to recognize the signs of labor in bitches in order to provide your pet with the necessary help.
How do I know if my bitch has finished giving birth?
As this is often a long process, it is normal for many guardians to have questions about how to tell if the birth is over or if there are still puppies in the bitch's belly. In fact, one of the possible problems in the delivery of the bitch is that a puppy gets stuck, which is usually because the pup has taken a non-ideal position for delivery or because its head is too large to fit through through the mother's vagina.
The best way to avoid this problem is to follow up with a vet to find out exactly how many puppies your dog is going to have. Ideally, make one visit a month to monitor the progress of the pregnancy and make sure the dog and puppies are he althy. In this way, you can be sure to reduce risks during delivery and easily recognize if there are any puppies left to be born.
In addition, it is highly recommendedthat the dog has the help of a veterinarian when she gives birth to the puppies, especially when it comes to a risky pregnancy! A qualified professional will know how to respond to complications during childbirth and will ensure that the new mother and her little ones are stable after this delicate process.
Abortion in dogs - Causes and what to do
Unfortunately, some dogs end up miscarrying during pregnancy. There are many reasons why a dog can lose her puppies and it is important to analyze the period and context in which this phenomenon occurs.
If the loss of embryos occurs before the fifth week of gestation, it may be a sign of fertility problems In such cases, miscarriage is often asymptomatic and does not harm the he alth of the expectant mother, and can even go completely unnoticed by guardians. It is also important to mention that the loss of an embryo does not necessarily mean the end of the pregnancy, since the bitch can continue gestating the other embryos normally.
However, if the bitch loses her puppies after the fifth week of gestation, the vet will probably look for more complex and diverse causes, What:
- Hormonal imbalances.
- Viral infections.
- Bacterial infections.
- Parasites.
In such cases, bitches often experience bleeding and other symptoms that cause a clear deterioration in their he alth, such as fever, loss of appetite and apathy. In this other article we show you in greater detail the Symptoms of abortion in a dog.
Remember: if you notice irregularities or changes during your dog's pregnancy, don't hesitate to take her to the vet immediately.
What to do if the puppies are stillborn?
Of course, your dog is likely to be sad, listless and more reserved after having a miscarriage or losing a puppy after giving birth. Regardless of how or how many puppies die, it is imperative that both the bitch and the surviving puppies (if any) be examined by a veterinarian. For this reason, we again recommend that your dog be accompanied by a veterinarian, who can attempt to revive stillborn puppies and provide the immediate help the dog needs to prevent any postpartum problems. In this other article we talk about the Resuscitation of newborn puppies.
If other puppies survive the birth, it is also important that you observe the behavior of the female to avoid problems. Sometimes the mother may reject and even harm a puppy, especially after experiencing a traumatic experience or if she feels vulnerable. This behavior is natural and can occur for various reasons, being related to the survival instinct that all species (including humans) have. For more information, you can consult this other article on Why do dogs eat their young?
If the dog realizes that he will not be able to feed and care for all the puppies, or if he identifies that any puppies are too fragile to survive on their own in the future, it can refuse to nurse, distance itself from the litter, and even cause death. To prevent this from happening, it is essential to provide the dog with the necessary care, complete nutrition and a positive environment.
But be careful: don't touch the puppies if this isn't really necessary. During the first few weeks of a puppy's life, the dog may understand that contact with individuals and stimuli outside the litter makes the puppy more fragile and less able to survive in the wild. Here on our site, we explain Newborn Dog Care.
I don't want my dog to have puppies, what do I do?
This is a very delicate matter and when it comes to preventing the birth of a new litter, it is always better to be safe than sorry. In other words, the safest way to prevent your dog from having puppies is spaying or neutering her, with the prior guidance of a veterinarian to know which procedure is best for your pet and identify the most convenient age to achieve it. Here we explain the differences between neutering and spaying a dog.
How many litters can a dog have in her lifetime?
This advice is not only for female dogs, for whom pregnancy brings changes and wear and tear on the body, but also for dogs. Remember that females go into heat twice a year, so, although it would be very harmful to he alth, a pregnancy would be possible for each heat Therefore, As guardians, we must be aware of maintaining effective reproductive control for both females and males.
However, sometimes we need to be extremely realistic. The fact is that many guardians do not neuter their pets at the right time and then find out that their dog is pregnant. We must be aware that there are already many more dogs (of all ages) living on the streets or in shelters than people who are willing or able to adopt them, so one option would be terminate the pregnancy of a dog, as we explain in this other article on How to interrupt a dog's pregnancy?
Risk factors in a dog's pregnancy
In addition, there are some risk factors that make pregnancy a threat to the welfare of bitches. Age and he alth status, for example, can cause complications both during pregnancy and at birth, endangering the life of the dog and the puppies. Therefore, it is very important to consult a veterinarian to find out if it is safe and feasible to continue the pregnancy of the bitch.
Currently, there are pharmaceutical methods that allow the termination of a dog's pregnancy. However, we should never try to do these procedures or self-medicate our animals Only a trained veterinarian has the knowledge to determine if it is safe to perform the interruption and what is the safest way to do it. Therefore, before making any decision about your dog's pregnancy, consult a veterinarian.
