Pregnant 9-year-old Chihuahua with diarrhea: What to watch for?

It could be caused by hormonal changes but if it continues than she should be examined by a vet, especially if she becomes lethargic and starts vomiting. She could also have a parasite or infection and your vet can run lab-work to look for potential causes and determine if treatment is needed.

It is possible she is pregnant if she was bred or in contact with a male while in heat and is now showing symptoms of pregnancy. However, if would be best to confirm with your veterinarian to rule out any other health issues. Your vet can also take an X-ray to determine how many puppies to expect if she is pregnant. If she seems to be going into labor, having a box with lots of blankets and cloth handy can give her a place to safely have her puppies. You may notice her pacing, visible contractions down her side, and she may stop eating while in active labor. The nipples can swell and "wax" (produce a waxy milk-like substance) right before she is due/early labor as well. If she seems very in distress, has strange discharge without labor or puppies, is pushing and can't produce a puppy or is in active labor/becomes very weak, it is best to seek veterinary care immediately as these can be signs there is a problem that requires immediate treatment.

Changes in appetite and temperature can indicate labor is close. If she's had a litter before, second and beyond litters will often be closer to 60 days than 63-65, so it is possible she is very close to her due date. I would continue to monitor her, and if she doesn't seem to be progressing to labor (contractions, nesting, waxing of nipples, etc) or seems to be in great distress, have her checked by your vet to make sure there isn't another cause, especially since she is having such a large litter for her size!

Hormonal changes can sometimes cause minor GI upset or diarrhea, however if the diarrhea continues or Mia seems in discomfort or is showing other signs of illness such as loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, etc, it would be best to have her examined by your vet to rule out any more serious issues.

I would keep giving the Betty the bland diet for the next couple of days, and then slowly add back in her normal adult dog food diet. She need to be off the puppy food now, as it's not recommended to feed a high calcium dog food in the last 10-14 days before giving birth. That's because too much calcium will prevent the uterus from contracting properly. Once she gives birth to her puppies, she can go back on the puppy food. If the diarrhea isn't clearing up, I would have Betty seen by a vet again. She may need additional medications to help with the diarrhea, which the vet can prescribe.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea is never 'normal.' In a pregnant dog it could be due to hormones, impending labor, from worms or diet change (most put pregnant dogs on puppy food). I would contact your vet for medications since she is pregnant, start a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice and add in a probiotic like Purina Fortiflora. If Lucy is not fully vaccinated I would worry about viral infections as well. I wish you and Lucy the best!

It could be a results of pregnancy however I would recommend checking for parasites and making sure she is dewormed properly. YOu can try and over the counter probiotic to help firm up the stool with a bland diet for boiled chicken and white rice. However if she is not improving I recommend taking her to a vet for an exam