I have a chiuahah that had one pup and then all contractions stopped and everything seems fine.  The prior owner said this is normal with this dog.  The one pup delivered was a still born and I feel at least 3 others inside, 2 of which are moving, 1 we knew was still because it was resting on the mothers tits for a couple weeks now.  I need to know if anyone has advice on if this is normal and if there is anyway to assist mom in going into labor again without drugs?  The prior owner said maybe she was aborting that pup, has anyone heard of this?  This is my first litter but the dog is 7 years old and has had many litters.  She is trotting around the house like normal, eating fine, and temperment is just as before labor.  any and all advice would be appreciated

Have I read that right? You left a dead puppy with it's mother for a couple of weeks.

First of all, on what date is this bitch due to whelp?

Was this first still born pup born early?

If you have not yet reached the due date, have you seen a vet with this bitch in the time since the dead puppy appeared?

Please explain more.

Dawn R.

No i didn't leave the dead pup with mom, she birthed it the other night and immediately took care of it. 
No one is sure when she is due, the prior owner believes that the first pup was early, but the dogs had been left alone so breeding date is unknown for sure.
The bitch has not been to a vet as of yet.
I got the bitch while pregnant because the prior owner had moved into a place where she couldn't have dogs.  I have had the bitch maybe 3 weeks.  On the 7th about 10pm was delivery of first pup, the stillborn.

Hi, I think that if she was mine, I would take her to a vet just so she can be examined, and so I could be reassured. Then if she is happy, and behaving normally, she is probably OK, and you should wait and see what happens next. Are you all set up and prepared for her to deliver her litter?

Am I right in thinking you are in the US?

Dawn R.

Thanks I'll locate a vet that can see her right off.......yes i am in the US.  I did call an emergency animal hospital and they said she should come in for a c-section but i figure the prior owner would know more as to what is normal for the dog seeings she had her for 7 years.  I don't want anyone to think I am irresponsible or cruel I just can't afford 1000$ for a c-section if it really isn't neccessary.
I have an area set up for delivery but I think she is just going to do it where she wants.  The first was born on my couch, she began passing the sac while resting on my leg.  I have towels, heating pad, water bowl and extra hands around for delivery.
I myself am pregnant so I know what she's experiencing and am making her as comfortable as possible.  She seems to like having her belly held while lying on the couch. :)

First things first,get your bitch to the vets immediatly and have her checked out,How does the prior owner know or think that this was early if she/he isn't sure of the dates of the mating?

The prior owner is guesstimating date of breeding, she figures the bitch should have about a week left give or take.  I would assume she is basing this on behavior and knowing the dog so well.

See what the vet says and take it from there. Either the dead pup is all there is, if she's behaving normally, or, she could have another one or two at another time. As long as she seems normal, I wouldn't worry too much, but see the vet for definate.

Dawn R.

<but i figure the prior owner would know more as to what is normal for the dog seeings she had her for 7 years.>

Let me get this right this is an over 7 year old bitch having a litter  & has had lots of litters before ? You must get her to a vet now doesn't matter what the previous owner thinks or wants or knows the bitch must come first

The dog is 7 or just over, but has not reached 8 years of age.  yes she's had a few litters.  You know people might heed what you have to say if you weren't coming across so "i know all and you are garbage".  I all ready said I would look to find a vet in the area, so thanks for the words.

<but i figure the prior owner would know more as to what is normal for the dog >this is what worries me you have already waited since<the other night>without checking with a vet

Sorry if I upset you however my concern is for the bitch & it does sound as if you have never whelped a Chihuahua before & they can have lots of problems The older the bitch the more problems she may have. If a puppy should get stuck are you able to assist her ? Do you know the signs of inertia ?

I know a Chihuahua breeder of many years experience & she would not leave a bitch after a still birth for several hours or longer before seeking vetinary advice & she has been breeding for 30 + years

Edited to add human births & canine births cannot be compared as they are not the same

You are right I have never whelped a dog before but I have done lots of research on the net to prepare myself for it.  I have had cats with litters but never dogs......I can understand your concern and I share it I just can't afford a huge bill if it is not needed.  If the puppy gets stuck and is out some then yes I am capable of assisting in pulling it out if it is not yet showing then no I wouldn't know what to do but can call vets to get assistance.  I have tried to look up inertia and haven't had any luck in finding anything related to dogs.  Could you please enlighten me.
I know I came across harsh but that is how I took your response.  I am new at this and want to do the most I can for my dog and am nervous enough without peeps jumping on me.  So please I'm here for advice not for critisism.  thanks

This might help you re inertia

With a breed as small as a chihuahua I know my friend always has the vet on standby(she calls as soon as the bitch goes into early labour)she would never attempt to pull a puppy out if one should get stuck she gets the vet involved at once, the bitch herself could be damaged & the puppy more so if help is not given properly & it is not like whelping a larger breed whose puppies are more robust

I think what is being critiscised is the reliance of you on the prior owners judgement. 

I would not have a lot of faith in someone who allaows their bitch to have "lots" of litters, and doesn't even know exaclty when the bitch was mated.  A bitch only has a window of around 3 days during which she can conceive, and is unlikley to allow mating over more than 5 to 7 days.

Is she due to the first mating or not yet due to the last?  If the pup was really born early it would have arrived a week before  due date based on first mating.

What condition was the pup in.  Was it mummified, immature and hairless?  Has she had any discharge sicne the birth?

All these issues will effect whether there is need for concern.

May be different in teh USA but vets are not keen to do unnecesary C sections and would only advise one if there were signs pointing in that direction.

From what I get out of your comments the stillborn may have been born a week early and the others may not be due yet, which would be why any and all signs of labor have not shown since just after first pup was birthed.  The pup was hairless but it didn't appear mummified at all and there has been no discharge, contractions, panting or anything from momma since the first pup.  It does appear that she is renesting in her kennel area so I'm hoping something will happen soon.
I appreciate everyones advice and opinions despite how I may come across sometimes.  The prior owner was not living in the home with the dog when she mated, her ex husband was and he didn't tell her when mating happened. 
The vet hospital said she should have a c-section but from what everyone has said on here and from what I have read there doesn't seem to be cause for alarm at this point.  I will continue to monitor her and keep everyone posted on things.  Thanks a mill.

"The vet hospital said she should have a c-section but from what everyone has said on here and from what I have read there doesn't seem to be cause for alarm at this point

I can see nothing at all in this thread that could possibly let you come to that conclusion.  Absolutely everyone has advised Veterinary help for this poor bitch.  The Vet hospital is completely right.
Once the first puppy detaches from the uterus, all the other pups do so too, regardless of when they were conceived.  A bitch of any breed would need veterinary intervention in such a situation - chihuahuas in particular, at difficult whelpers.
I appreciate that attitudes on keeping and whelping dogs are very different in the UK and US, but your bitch will be at risk without skilled help.

Thanks Nursey, it's nice to know people can give advice without coming across judgemental.  I figured as long as there are no signs of stress of any kind then things should be alright.  My brother-in-law breeds labs and he felt the same.  I know there are more pups in there I can feel them moving around, which says they aren't in distress either.  They are quite active so I am figuring if it's anything like human birth as the time draws closer the pups become more active to prep for birth.
I will still look into finding a vet that can see us for a check up though.  But again thanks.

I have my fingers crossed that everything goes well for you and the Chihuahua. Let us know how it works out.

Regards, Dawn R.

Thanks and I will be sure to let you know how everything turns out. 

I hope all goes well but if it had a pup a few days ago and there are still some inside I'd be very shocked if they came out alive!  It is extremely unheard of, the next day yes, but not a few days after.

I'm not getting at you but the poor thing having lots of litters in such a short life for such a small dog.

Keep us posted and I really do hope that your girl is OK and fingers crossed for any live puppies which may be born.

I agree perrodeagua, I think there is only a very slim chance of any live pups being born, once labour starts (which it obviously had due to one dead pup being born) the placentas start detaching, which is why you must only leave a few hours between pups being born.  Once the placentas break away, then the pups will be starved of oxygen and die.

I'm afraid cost doesn't come into it, you really need to get her to a vet, any vet before you lose both mum and pups.

Good luck, let us know how things go.

If you dont get this bitch to the vet asap you could not only lose all the pups but the bitch as well, i would act fast

I would like to let everyone know that this morning 7-12 at 230am when I went to go to bed I heard momma and babies in the dark.  She was cleaning off the second pup and hadn't made a sound until then.  She has another deceeased one and still has the one that was hanging on her teats still there so far.  As soon as I wake up enough I"ll let you know the stats....But I wanted to share that there have been some live births, again with the bitch showing NO SIGNS really that labor was going to happen til it did.
Thanks for all the finger crossing............

So glad to hear that something good has come from it and that there's one live puppy.  You have been extremely lucky though and I hope that your luck continues.

Thank goodness everything has worked out, you may never know how lucky you have been.

Dawn R.

PLEASE do not consider this typical of breeders in the USA. I would have had that bitch in for a section immediately. If you are going to breed dogs, you have to be ready for the costs involved. I am glad that this person has asked for advice here, and from the previous "breeder", but the vet advice should always come first!
                                                                                                    TiaLee

I'm sure we don't I know a few American breeders & they certainly have everything in plave when before whelping or even mating

Wonderchild your bitch will still need to be checked over by a vet........please take her just to make sure she is ok!!