My pregnant Maltipoo seems large. How many puppies can she have?

Ideally female dogs are not bred until they are 2 years old but there's nothing you can do about this now. she may not be mentally mature to care for puppies but she could do just fine. You will need to feed her appropriately but it may impact her over-all growth. Also, have radiographs taken so you know how many puppies to expect. Small breed dogs are more prone to problems giving birth so you need to know how many puppies to expect. This link may help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/pregnancy-diagnosis-caring-for-the-pregnant-dog/ I also recommend to discuss having her spayed after the puppies are weaned. There are many benefits to spaying a pet: https://www.petcoach.co/article/spaying-ovariohysterectomy-the-benefits-in-dogs/ I hope Zoe has a smooth delivery and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thabks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The size difference may or may not be a problem. If her litter is large the puppies will be smaller. If she only has one or two she’d be at more risk for needing a c-section. I would have your Vet take an X-ray at day 50 to confirm pregnancy and to count puppies. Write down the date she was bred. Dogs are pregnant 60-63 days. Starting at day 55 start taking her temperature daily rectally. Stage 1 labor tends to start 24 hrs once the temperature drops below 99 F. But your Vet can help you and go over concerns once we know she is pregnant and size of the litter. I hope this helps and good luck!

Hello, I’m not sure if there was supposed to be a photograph of the male dog attached to this post or not. If you have a large male who breeds with a small female, there is always a concern that she will not be able to have the puppies and will need a C-section. Any small female dog who is having puppies should have radiographs done after day 45 to see how many babies are expected. If you do not want her to have a litter, I recommend calling the veterinarian and discussing getting her spayed ASAP. Some dogs can have a shot to stop the pregnancy but there can be some serious side effects to that. Getting her spayed will eliminate an accidental pregnancy in the future. Getting her spayed also has other health benefits and is recommended for any dog not intended for breeding. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions!

If she’s pregnant she may need a C-section if the pups are too large to come out naturally. I recommend a veterinary exam and ultrasound to see if she’s pregnant and perhaps an X-ray when she’s close to delivering to see the size and number of pups. If they are small she could have them without a problem. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Luna.

It is likely they will be fine. As long as the parents are close in weight (within 10-15 lbs or so, the puppies should be fine. However just make sure to get radiographs when Pixie is beyond 45 days gestation to ensure the feti are not too big to go through the birth canal. I hope everything works out well for your pet Pixie. Best wishes and take care.

It is possible. the only way to know for sure is to have her x-rayed by your veterinarian. This would be recommended anyway so you know how many pups to expect. Since she is so close, start monitoring her body temperature. Use a rectal thermometer with sterile lube. Normal temp ranges from 100 F to 102.5 F. In most cases, labor will begin within 24 hours of a drop below 100 F.

I would strongly suggest to keep her monitored during pregnancy as c-section may be needed to deliver the puppies. Radiographs at 40 days of pregnancy will be very useful to assess the size of the puppies and make sure they can be naturally delivered. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.