Hi everyone. Can I start by saying, I would never in a million years breed an unregistered, unchecked etc bitch! And this is quite a long story!
On the last day of November, we took in two female Chihuahuas, one standard apple head and a deer head (we foster rescue dogs and a friend of a friend asked us to take these two in). The deerhead was very obviously in season when she arrived, and 3 weeks later it became obvious she's pregnant. After several attempts at contacting her previous owner, I finally got a reply and she claims the father HAS to be either her male Chi, or the Pom next door, although she said she's always separated the dogs when Tilly was in season so most likely the Pom is the dad. We have never bred a dog ever, have no experience with pregnancy, whelping or puppies! I have done hours and hours of research and I'm fairly happy with my knowledge now, this forum has been a godsend so far. I have also found a mentor to support me and she will be attending the birth if it's at home. Tilly has had 2 scans so far, the first on 26th December showed 4 pups, the second on 3rd Jan showed 6 pups but possibly another 1 or 2 hiding under her ribs! I do know this is a massive litter for a Chi and we will of course be having her X-rayed in a few more days to check head sizes etc, Tilly will have everything she needs, including a planned C section if the vet recommends it (and will be spayed asap!)
So my worry is this, since she arrived she's been on a quality dog food but after about 2 weeks she refused to touch it. Then I started her on the puppy food which she ate for about 2 days then refused. So I started cooking hearts, liver, kidneys, chicken, fresh veg etc and have been mixing that with brown rice, pasta, sweet potato or similar to bulk it out. She was happy with that for about 2 weeks and now refusing all except hearts or chicken too! Aside from those 2 meats, I'm at a point that she's only interested in cat food (or cat poo given the opportunity) and to be honest, I cannot find any information whether this is ok for her or not. I know she won't have much room in there for food, and I know cat food is higher protein etc than dog food, so I was wondering if being able to fit a bit of cat food in is still better than nothing at all. I know she shouldn't be eating only meat. I have been soaking the dry food to make sure it's not swelling in her belly, and I've even tried soaking that with gravy, meat juices after cooking, mixed it with the cat food to try fool her haha but she literally picks out the cat meat around the soaked kibble! Oh, and she won't touch puppy milk substitute.
I'm genuinely worried that hearts and chicken won't sustain her and the pups. I'm like a flappy hen to be honest, I've never been through this before and never would have chosen to, so I could really do with a boost that I'm at least half doing things right!
We do have several other dogs, various breeds and sizes, so I bought Tilly a big whelping/puppy pen that I've put her whelping box in with a heat mat and her food and water. She comes in and out at will and the other dogs are well trained and completely stay away from her pen so she's happy and knows she's safe in there. My kids also have a very good understanding of rescue dogs so are very good giving her space etc. I would say her stress levels are minimal.
Also, I've read a lot about reabsorbtion. As I said, this is looking like a pretty big litter for a Chi, so has anyone had experience with them absorbing at this stage? We've estimated that the second scan must have been around day 36/37 of pregnancy as she must have got caught only a day or 2 before we took her in (she was still presenting herself to our dogs for 4 days after she arrived).
Sorry for the long post, like I said I'm in a bit of a flap with it all being unplanned and unexpected! I'm sure I'll think of other things I meant to ask so I'll add in the comments of this thread if I do. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I have many years experience of breeding long coat Chihuahuas.  Some are a nuisance with their pickiness, and rather than have them go without, I have always given them whatever they choose.  If I had to pop out for a chow mein, I would have done.  It is not as if I'm going to be feeding an unbalanced food for life.  But they don't have great reserves to pull on if they lose a lot of weight.  Don't get stressed out over feeding, she will pick up on your vibes.

Be ready for an early whelping, my girls usually give birth on day 56.  No worries, pups are totally viable, with fully developed lungs.   But they are renowned for inertia, and they seem to enjoy needing a section out of hours, so be sure to have £1,000 ready.  I have never mated a bitch without having my C-section reserve!!

Unlike the larger breeds, they need vet help much earlier.  Don't listen to a vet who tells you to wait a few hours either.  If a bitch has contractions for 40 minutes with no results, I'm in the car with my right foot down to the floorboard.

I'm not quite sure why you say that a dog shouldn't be fed all meat?  Quite a few members feed exclusively raw, and I understand that their dogs are in marvellous condition.  I won't feed pasta, grain, rice etc.  Dogs in the wild don't get that after all.  I feed half wet, half dry, but will only buy grain free.  At the moment I understand that you have to feed your girl what she wants.  Don't worry - I've even had to hand feed pregnant bitches. 

I definitely think that you should have someone with you who will recognise inertia.  I've had it so often that I only have to look at a bitches face.   But experience makes it easy.  Good Luck. 

Thank you so much!
Yes she's booked in for X-ray on Thursday and I will be discussing the section reserve with the vet then in more detail. And we do already have the money ready, I'm very lucky to say my husband has a very good job and we're not financially short so we always have savings that usually get spent on the dogs. Plus the fact the father could be a Pom I expect makes her pregnancy even more dangerous.
So do you think the hearts, chicken and cat pouches will be ok then? The bit about not eating just meat was on a pug breeder's website and says "Try to make her eat a balanced diet, not just meat. But if your dam starts getting fussy, doctor up her meals with cooked chopped beef heart, liver, chicken hearts etc." It was another site that mentioned brown rice, pasta and sweet potato but I can't remember which one now. I think I might have driven myself mad reading so many different sites and books! Too much information haha and most of it probably inaccurate.
I did read about early whelping as well and my mentor literally lives opposite us thankfully so she'll be on hand whatever time Tilly decides to 'pop', we'll be in constant contact with the vet too so he'll be aware and ready if we need to rush her in. I'm so glad you mentioned the 40mins because everything I read so far has said a couple of hours! I've also read that she's more likely to whelp early with the bigger litter so we'll be prepared for that. I'm a nervous wreck, I would never have chosen to breed but now she's here I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can, right
Amanda, my mentor, has been breeding Bostons for 20 years and has assisted with Chi births so I will pick her brains more as well as we get closer. Do you think Tilly could go before 56 then with it being a big litter or is that highly unlikely?
Thanks again.

I would completely agree with JeanSW and she has loads of experience , give her whatever she wants to eat and don't worry about a temporary "unbalanced" diet, I have no experience with small breeds but understand that they usually whelp early and there is very little time to waste waiting for puppies to be delivered.  I do know some breeders book in for a c-section routinely with their breeds and your vet should certainly be on standby, good luck with your unexpected puppies.

> Do you think Tilly could go before 56 then

I sincerely hope not, the pups would have little chance of survival.  And I can only give advice on this particular breed.  And I always advise people not to try to save pups, as it is futile.

But, like many, I don't always follow my own advice!  One of my girls whelped 10 days early.  The litter was too big for her.  6 pups and they all weighed 2 and three quarter ounces each.  I fought for hours trying to revive these pups, doing all the things I have learned over the years.  I should have followed my own advice.  I sobbed for days over those still born babies.

Thank you both very much. Sorry for the delay getting back on.
Tilly's had her X-ray today and he saw a definite 5 but also a fuzzy one that he said could either be tucked behind another, or a stillborn. He was happy it's a bigger litter as it keeps the pups smaller, although he did warn to watch for inertia! The largest head is 1.5cm so far and her pelvis is 2.5cm so far, so he said it's worth letting her try for a natural birth, but that he'll be ready to go if we need to get her in if she's struggling. He said weight wise etc she's about perfect (a massive relief considering how skinny she was when we took her in) and that considering we've never had a pregnant Chi before, we're doing really well. I'm so relieved, hopefully I can relax a bit now for the last week or two!
Gosh JeanSW I think that would break me, as I said I'd never choose to breed and after this I know I'm definitely not cut out for it! Especially not a breed so prone to pregnancy and birth issues, fair play to you and your nerves being able to do it for so long!