Will my small Yorkie need a C-section for birth? What's the litter size?

Pregnancy complications really depend on how large the puppies are and how many she is carrying. It is best to work with your vet for regular checkups to confirm the pregnancy, and an X-ray as it gets closer to Riley's due-date to check on the size and number of puppies. Your vet can then recommend if a C-section is needed. Signs to watch out for during labor that may indicate dystocia (difficulty giving birth) include straining for long periods without success, a visible puppy stuck in the birth canal, or no puppies produced after several hours of labor. These are all signs something may be wrong and that Riley should be brought to the vet for care.

Both chihuahuas and pugs are high secton risks - your vet may be able to advise further depending on her frame and width of pelvis but if you do not wish to breed her aborting the litter or neutering may also be possibilities.

Once they have an issue giving birth (dystocia) and they have had a C-section they will usually continue to have problems. If I were your vet I would have spayed her at the time of surgery. Sorry to say this but if you play the odds she will most likely need to have another C-section. Every C-section causes scarring/adhesions of the uterine lining making it difficult for the placenta(s) of the future puppies to attach. If you are serious about breeding her only use a male that is smaller than she is to reduce the size of the puppies - that may help with the birthing process but will not help the attachment of the placentas. And, be prepared for another C-section. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I would recommend to get in touch with your local vet as there may be a miscarriage. C-section may be considered. 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Achoos. Unfortunately, if the puppies are too large for her to safely deliver, then a C-section will be necessary again. She can have x-rays prior to delivery to determine if the puppies can fit through pelvis. There not medications that can be given safely during pregnancy to change the size of the puppies. You may consider spaying her in the future if she continues to have difficulties during labor and delivery. I hope this information helps!

Yes, it is possilbe that Looloo is pregnant, and is dangerous for her age and weight. Dogs over the age of five or six should never be bred, and because she is a toy breed, they have a much higher chance of difficulties given birth due to their small size. They often need c-sections to give birth safely. I would have Looloo seen by a vet first thing Monday. It would be best to have her spayed immediately to terminate any possible pregnancy, and it will keep her from accidentally getting pregnant in the future.

An x-ray is helpful for determing the size of the birth canal relative to the size of the puppy's head. If there is a known problem, then a c-section would be recommended. However, the x-ray is limited and cannot test for all the possible reasons for needing a c-section. If there is any concern, then it would be best to have a plan for a possible c-section when she is whelping. I hope that helps and all is well with Sprinkle.