If you’re reading this article, it’s probably because your Yorkie is on her way to pregnancy or she’s already pregnant. That’s amazing news for everyone involved! This means that your family will get bigger and your puppy will become a mom.
One thing you should remember is that if you’re planning for your dog to be pregnant, the pregnancy should be planned in detail and very carefully since it does bring a lot of responsibilities.
In this article, you’ll find out how many puppies you can expect from your pregnant Yorkie, so you can prepare yourself better. Keep in mind that no matter how many puppies your Yorkie gives birth to, you should show them all love and care!
Number of Puppies a Yorkie Can Have
The number of puppies your Yorkie can have depends on the size and age of the parents. If the mother of the future puppies is older or more experienced, she will have up to 5 to 6 puppies.
On the other hand, if she’s not experienced, she will have 2 to 3 puppies. Mothers who have gone through several heats or have already given birth will have a higher number of puppies than mothers who are inexperienced.
As we mentioned earlier, another factor that will have an impact on the number of puppies going to be born is age. The sperm of a younger male tends to inseminate a smaller number of eggs than the sperm of an older male dog. However, when there are more than 5 puppies, there is a bigger risk that some of the puppies are going to be stillborn.
Some other factors we want to discuss that will have an impact on a Yorkie’s pregnancy are their size and nutrition. By looking at the size of the dog you should be able to estimate how many puppies will be in an average litter. For instance, a Bernese Mountain dog or another large breed will usually have around twenty puppies. On the other hand, a smaller breed like a Yorkie will have up to 5 to 6 puppies.
The ability of your Yorkie to carry more puppies in her belly will also be affected by her nutrition. Don’t forget that your dog’s pregnancy is a crucial stage in their life. During this period, make sure that your Yorkie is eating lots of minerals, vitamins, proteins, and salts because she’s taking care of more than just one life.
Pregnancy Expectations
During their pregnancy, dogs have plenty of similarities with humans. For instance, as a result of the chemical and physical changes in their bodies, these dogs tend to have mood swings. Yorkies typically have an active routine; however, when they’re pregnant, you will see that they want to spend more time snuggling in bed.
Moreover, the nipples of the Yorkie will grow larger during the early stages of the pregnancy, and their stomach will also be firmer. Something that’s quite interesting to note is that a Yorkie can sometimes be insecure about how they look, so she can spend a lot more time grooming herself in order to hide those insecurities.
Lastly, just like humans, Yorkies will also gain weight if they are being fed correctly while they’re pregnant. You will see an increase in their appetite and their abdomen will get bigger.
Post-Pregnancy Care
In this section, we’ll go over how to take care of your dog after she has given birth. The first thing you need to do after your Yorkie has given birth is to give her a bath in order to wash away all of the blood and mucus. A good wash is essential for both the mother and the puppies in order to prevent the chances of getting a disease or infection.
After the babies are born, your Yorkie will probably feel too tired and won’t want to do anything except sleep. However, after some time has passed, she should start to act normally and want to drink and eat. You should put bowls of water and food close to your dog in case she gets hungry. Some foods that are a great source of protein include cottage cheese, raw cheese, and scrambled eggs.
One of the most common infections in dogs after pregnancy is eclampsia. Eclampsia is also known as milk fever and can happen because of a decrease in the levels of calcium in the dog’s body. Symptoms of eclampsia include dilated pupils, restlessness, muscle tremors, and anxiety. You should visit the vet if you notice any of these symptoms in your dog.
In addition, the post-pregnancy period is often accompanied by fluid discharge. Most of the time, the fluid discharge is completely normal. The discharge shouldn’t have an odor and it should have a brown/pinkish color. However, if the fluid is smelly, gray, or pale, you should take your dog to the vet, since this could be a sign of retained infected placenta or uterine infection.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve found the perfect partner for your Yorkie and you’ve decided to go for a pregnancy, we recommend that you do research before you make this move. Pregnancy should be treated with responsibility since it’s a very special moment for both your dog and you.
A Yorkie can have a hard time with the delivery of the puppies since they have a small body, so it’s important to provide all the care in the world for your dog. Just as it’s important to nurse the puppies, it’s important to nurse the mother as well.