Is your Yorkie dog pregnant? Are you looking for information on how to take care of her and what precautions you need to take to be a better Yorkie parent? In this Guide, I share everything you need to know regarding Yorkshire Terrier Pregnancy.
Welcoming a new member to the family is an overwhelming step. You celebrate happiness, positive energy, and newness.
This time, it’s your brave girl moving on to the stage of motherhood. You have been planning, organizing, and booking appointments for your Yorkie to fix all the loopholes regarding her pregnancy as far as you can.
However, there are many other things in store you need to know about when your Yorkie is pregnant. In this article, I share everything you must know regarding Yorkshire Terrier’s pregnancy and how to go through this stage in her life smoothly.
What is Whelping?
Whelping is a medical term used for pregnant dogs who gives birth to their pups. It is the process of giving birth to a litter of baby dogs.
Dogs generally have a high probability of giving birth by themselves out of their dog instincts, but sometimes, it can be tricky and it can create certain complications for your dog.
If you have a pregnant Yorkie, make sure you let ways open for her treatment and safe delivery. Keep her in touch with her vet for regular checkups, ultrasounds, and X-rays to wipe out extremities in the future.
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How Long do Yorkies remain Pregnant?
To determine the gestation period in Yorkies is a tough call. It is because of the natural medical happenings that are beyond our control.
Research says that male sperm can stay inside a female Yorkie’s vagina, and even eggs can continue to remain fertile for more than 24 hours. It is highly unpredictable even for vets to determine the perfect timing when did your Yorkie get pregnant.
However, a detailed measurement of your Yorkie’s heat cycle may clarify the picture into a bigger perspective. Many Yorkie parents use vaginal smears or blood testers to surveil the sexual hormones released during mating.
The Average Gestation period is 56-58 days from the first day of diestrus, 64-66 days from the initial rise in progesterone, and 58-72 days from the first time in breeding your female Yorkie.
To know about the gestation period of your Yorkie is necessary to track her health and note down the nutritional requirements of your Yorkie, and deliver healthy puppies after the due date is over.
How to Find out that your Yorkie is Pregnant at Home itself?
If this is your first time handling your Yorkie’s pregnancy, It’s natural to wonder about ways to find out if your Yorkie is pregnant or not and what are the signs that can help you figure out if your Yorkie is pregnant or not?
Here are a Few Signs that indicate that your Yorkie has conceived and is on the way to delivering a litter of pups.
- Nesting behavior
- More affectionate
- Irritation
- Obesity
- Swollen Belly
- Increased size of nipples
- Fatigue behavior
- Increased appetite
These are the common symptoms that you can look for in your Yorkie to be aware of your Yorkie’s pregnancy. However, these symptoms can also be because of any other underlying disease or an allergy.
So before you assure yourself and start preparing for your Yorkie’s big day, consult a vet and book an appointment at the nearest vet clinic to hold on to x-rays, ultrasound, and other medical tests for confirmation.
Want to know when your Yorkie is pregnant? Here’s a complete post for you.
4 Clinical Methods to Determine your Yorkie’s Pregnancy
If you are unsure about your Yorkie’s pregnancy and want to be sure about her gestation phase, then you should talk to your vet, visit the clinic, and allow to perform all the necessary medical tests.
Here are the four proven methods that will aid you in figuring out your Yorkie’s pregnancy without any sign of doubt.
1. Palpation
Palpation is a method when hands and fingers are the tools for a thorough physical examination. It is also helpful during pregnancy in dogs.
Technically, during the first 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, your Yorkie develops fluid sacs with thick membranes around the corner of the sacs identifiable through a firm wave around the belly.
The size of the embryo, during this stage, is more like a cricket ball. After this stage, the sacs shrink, and the pups develop their organs. It is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most accessible methods of knowing about your Yorkie’s pregnancy.
2. Ultrasound
Ultrasound is one of the safest and easiest ways to find out about pregnancy in Yorkie dogs. Ultrasound is an all-in-one technique to dig information about your Yorkie’s pregnancy.
It emits light on the pregnancy and the health of to-be-mother Yorkie. It also enlightens the pup’s health, heartbeat, growth, and organ development.
It brings up the chances of abnormalities or complications under notice if any. Vets usually suggest Yorkie parents bring their pup to the clinic for an ultrasound between the 25 and 35 days of gestation.
But a Yorkie mother gives birth to how many puppies at once? Get to know that here.
3. Hormone Tests
Relaxin is a hormone test. It is applied when your Yorkie has completed a month in her gestation phase. Relaxin is a tissue that comes out of the placenta during pregnancy.
It aids confirm pregnancy in Yorkies. It promises accuracy. However, it can also be a false alarm and show negative results if the vet performs the test before 30 days of gestation.
4. X-Ray
If you have a question concerning your Yorkie’s pregnancy, How many puppies will be taking birth in the litter? In that case, an X-Ray is the best way to figure out the count.
Vets generally conduct an X-ray test after the 77th week of gestation in Yorkies. It is because, during the 5-6th week, the spinal cord is under-developed.
Day 56 is the best time to check for the pup count, and what type of delivery method would be best suited to your Yorkie? It depends upon her pain-bearing capacity and health.
Read More: How long do Yorkies stay in Heat?
How Long do Yorkies Remain in Labour?
After your Yorkie has finished her last week of pregnancy, she starts to feel the contraction and other symptoms of labor.
Generally, a mother Yorkie takes a time gap of 45-60 minutes to give birth to each puppy. However, the duration can extend up to 4 hours depending on how much your Yorkie can push for two pups during two intervals.
There are three phases of birthing that your Yorkie has to undergo.
Phase I: Labor Pain
During this stage, the contractions reach up the membrane wall of the uterus. The extent and frequency of the contractions may not be visible, but your Yorkie can sense it via mild to extreme pain.
To be assured of the start of labor pain, you can watch out for a few signs that signal when your Yorkie is in labor.
Your Yorkie might experience restlessness, nausea, vomiting, breathing issues, heavy panting, reclusive attitude, or intermittent nesting. It lasts for a maximum of 24 hours.
Learn Why do Yorkies shake during Pregnancy in this stage.
Phase II: Extreme Contractions and Giving Birth
During this phase, your Yorkie experience extreme pain in the uterus. At this time, your Yorkie tries to push strictly and eventually gives birth to her first puppy.
A pre-knowledge about the pup count aids in minimizing the birth risks to the mother and her pups, both. It usually takes 1-24 hours for mamma Yorkies to give birth to the whole litter of baby Yorkies.
Each delivery consumes 45-60 minutes and may extend due to heavy straining.
Phase III: Post Birth
This phase is the most crucial in Yorkie’s pregnancy. It is the phase when your Yorkie delivers all the placentas and is relieved of extreme contractions and uterine pains.
It takes 24 hours to give birth to all the puppies. However, if the duration goes beyond 24 hours, it will be a serious matter, and you will need to contact your vet immediately to nullify post-birth complications.
What are the Possible Afterbirth Complications in a Yorkie Mother?
It could be possible that your Yorkie may face pregnancy-related complications after giving birth to all her puppies. If you notice any such abnormalities, immediately start the cure.
1. Metritis
Metritis is a condition when the uterus gets inflamed and swells up. Under this condition, the uterus of your Yorkie may become inflamed because the placenta retains.
It can become health-disastrous if left idle for a long period. So before it gets worse, talk to a vet.
2. Agalactia
Agalactia is a condition when the lactating Yorkie does not produce milk. Colostrum, or the first milk, is necessary for your puppies’ growth, development, and immunity boost.
The underproduction of milk can be because of poor health or post-delivery complications and calls for immediate medical attention.
3. Mastitis
Mastitis is a breast condition that is very common in lactating Yorkies. It affects the breast tissue and causes inflammation in mother Yorkies.
It might cause sore breasts and nipples, and your Yorkie might feel extreme pain and swelling. However, if the newborns keep sucking, it will ease up the pain of swelling. It will also aid in pulling the inflamed material out of your Yorkie’s body and breast.
4. Vaginal Discharge
After your Yorkie has given birth to all her pups, she might experience a liquid vaginal discharge. It is the stored blood during pregnancy. It will continue for six weeks, or a maximum of eight weeks.
The color of the vaginal discharge would be reddish to black. However, your Yorkie might experience over-bleeding. She might also sense odor or a harsh smell.
5. Temperature
In some cases, many Yorkie parents have noticed a boiling temperature in their Yorkie after giving birth to her newborns. It is common in Yorkies, and you will take note of the symptoms of fever between 24 and 48 days after pregnancy.
The body temperature might come up to 102 degrees. But with safe treatment and medicines, she will be fine. So, if you notice any of these signs in your newly-become mother Yorkie, immediately book an appointment at your nearest clinic and get your Yorkie medically treated.
Read More: What to do when your Yorkie is bleeding during her Heat cycle?
3 Post Birth Care Tips in Yorkshire Terriers
After your Yorkie has passed the pregnancy phase and is nourishing her newborn pups, she requires extra care and attention, at least for the first few weeks. It will help in the speedy pregnancy recovery of your Yorkie.
Here are the Three Tips that will fix your Yorkie’s health back to her original self.
1. A Quiet Place
Of course, after a pregnancy experience, your Yorkie may need her personal space to consume all the odds and evens of being a mother. From her being a mommy to nourishing her puppies, teaching them the dog instincts and at the same time being close to you.
Your Yorkie needs a break and a cozy place to give rest to her body and mind, which have been laboring since she conceived. Arrange a confined area that is noise-free and disturbance-free to help relax your Yorkie and give her the mental urge to nurture her newborns.
2. Check Her Nursing Cycle
Yorkie infants must get the first milk after they embrace the new world. It strengthens their bones, and immunity and aids them in fighting all odds outside.
Pet professionals suggest checking the nursing cycle of a newly-become Yorkie Mother and that she should be feeding her pups every two hours.
3. A Healthy Meal
Your Yorkie has overcome a big step, and she requires extra energy to take care of her puppies and nourish them with her milk. She needs a big healthy meal to recharge her energy. And this is where your job comes in.
You can customize her diet by going through my guide on the Best Dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers.
If she’s got a sensitive stomach, check out 5 Best Dog Foods for Yorkies with Sensitive Stomachs.
Whatever choice you pin down, make sure you provide her with a diet rich in calories that will give her a boost to beat any lazy and afterbirth reclusive behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is spaying necessary for Newborn puppies?
It depends upon your choice if you want to get your Yorkie spayed at an early age. However, it is clinically advisable that you should get Yorkie puppies spayed at an early age before they turn five years old. Spaying is the easiest way to avoid overpopulation, unwanted pregnancy, and pregnancy aftermaths.
When should you Spay your Yorkie? Here’s a complete guide.
Q: Is Socializing important for Infant puppies?
Yes, socializing with siblings and the world outside is crucial to getting along with the environment. It also helps them accept the survival ifs and buts.
For new parents, vets suggest not to separate infants from their mothers until they are 8-12 weeks old, lest they will be short of social and behavioral skills.
You can also start the weaning and housebreaking process at an early age to make the puppies learn the art of eating and basic home rules. Here’s how to Properly Socialize a Yorkshire Terrier.
Q: Is Milk Harmful to Lactating Yorkies?
Yes, only if you are already feeding your Yorkie with highly calcium-rich dietary food. Extra Vitamins and calcium may become harmful for mother Yorkie and her pups since they are feeding on their mother’s milk.
Q: Is massaging your Yorkie’s belly during pregnancy safe?
Yes, It is safe to massage your Yorkie’s belly during pregnancy as it helps induce whelping pain in to-be-mother Yorkies. Do not push or press around the belly. It might affect your Yorkie’s pregnancy. Gently rub around her belly section and make her feel comfortable.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is as much of a challenge as staying in heat for Yorkies. It is not easy for them to undergo mood swings and pregnancy-related complications.
It is where you jump in to be her back and support and offer her the convenience to make her feel comfortable. You want the best for your brave furry friend on the edge of becoming a parent soon.
All she needs during her pregnancy is love, care, and support from her favorite human friend.
Is there anything you would like to share with me? If yes, Feel free to link your thoughts below in the comments section.
Happy Breeding! 🙂
