The Shih Tzu is a popular toy dog breed. They are friendly, generally sweet-natured, and elegant. Unlike a lot of toy breeds, which only have one to three puppies in a litter, the Shih Tzu can have as many as 6-8 puppies. Most commonly, though, a Shih Tzu litter size will be between 3 and 6 puppies.
Shih Tzu Pregnancy
Shih Tzus, like most breeds, will come into heat two times per year: spring and fall. It’s not recommended that they are bred two seasons in a row in order to give their bodies a rest.
Pregnancy lasts approximately two months, creating a litter between one and eight puppies. Most often, this breed will have between three and six puppies.
Caring for a Pregnant Shih Tzu
Caring for a pregnant Shih Tzu is much the same as caring for any pregnant breed:
- Feed a Good Diet – For the first month and a half of your dog’s pregnancy, her nutritional needs will likely be met with high-quality adult dog food. Typically you can continue to feed her previous diet. However, during the last two-three weeks of gestation, you may need to switch her to a highly digestible, high energy puppy formula as this is the time when the puppies are growing and taxing her body the most. Consider feeding smaller portions more frequently as she won’t have the room in her abdomen for a full stomach.
- Visit the Vet – Your vet will perform a variety of checks including a fecal test. This is used to identify internal Your vet will then give her a safe dewormer if needed, and they will monitor the health of the mom and puppies.
- Provide a Nesting Place – As the birth approaches, your Shih Tzu will want somewhere quiet, warm, and peaceful to rest. Provide a suitable resting space but do allow your dog the freedom to roam. Also, ensure she is getting enough suitable exercise, according to your vet’s instructions.
- Monitor Their Health – After around 7 weeks of pregnancy, you can start to monitor your dog’s temperature. When birth is imminent, the internal temperature of your dog will drop to around 98°F. You can expect the puppies to arrive within about 48 hours of identifying this temperature change.
How to Ensure Healthy Shih Tzu Puppies
When the puppies arrive, you will need to provide lots of care for mom while also monitoring the puppies, although you need to keep contact to a bare minimum wherever possible.
Below are some tips to help ensure your new Shih Tzu puppies are as healthy as possible.
1. Don’t Handle Them Too Often
Every time you handle newborn puppies, you should ensure you have thoroughly washed your hands and there is no risk of passing on any infection or bacteria. As tempting as it is to scoop them up for long cuddles, keep physical handling to a minimum.
Handling not only increases the risk of infection and illness, but it can also cause stress and distress in the puppies and the mom.
2. Make Sure They’re Eating
The more puppies there are in a litter, the more competition there will be for nursing. Most of the time your bitch will be able to accommodate her whole litter, but keep an eye to make sure all of the puppies are gaining weight and staying hydrated. Talk to your vet if you think you need to supplement one or two that aren’t getting enough.
3. Keep Them Warm
Your bitch will do what she can to keep her puppies warm and comfortable, but more puppies means more work and she may not be able to give each puppy the attention they require. Therefore, it may be up to you to make sure all the puppies are staying warm and cared for. Provide the new litter with a clean, comfortable bed in an area where you can control the temperature. These little bodies will have trouble regulating their temperature for several weeks, so make sure they’re not getting too cold.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Often Can Shih Tzus Have Puppies?
Shih Tzus typically go into heat twice a year, and their gestation period is approximately two months. Theoretically, they can have two litters of puppies a year, but it is not recommended. Whelping can be challenging for this small dog, and breeding too often can put considerable physical stress on her body.
Most Shih Tzus therefore should only have a single litter of puppies a year.
Can You Hold Puppies as Soon as They Are Born?
Generally, it is best not to handle newborn puppies, unless it is medically necessary or if the puppy is in danger. There is risk of passing on bacteria that can cause infections and illnesses, which can be extremely serious in very young puppies.
If you do have to handle the puppies, ensure your hands are spotlessly clean. Otherwise, leave the mother to care for her puppies for the first few weeks.
How Do You Know If Your Shih Tzu Is Going to Give Birth?
If you are comfortable taking the internal temperature of your Shih Tzu bitch, start monitoring it about 6 or 7 weeks into the pregnancy. If you notice the temperature drop to around 98°F, this is a good sign they will give birth within a day or so.
You may also notice signs such as the mom nesting, becoming more withdrawn, and becoming uneasy and pacing around.
Conclusion
Although litter sizes vary, most Shih Tzus have between three and six puppies per litter, with a maximum of one litter a year considered suitable. Speak to your veterinarian for guidelines on how to feed your pregnant dog as well as how to monitor and care for her and the puppies once they are born.
Featured Image Credit: Alessandra Sawick, Shutterstock