| The average gestation period for a shih tzu is 58 to 65 | | | | As whelping progresses, matrons will go through |
| days following conception. With a first pregnancy your | | | | periods of intermittent labor and occasional minor |
| shih tzu may not show signs until late in term. Just | | | | contractions over several hours before intense |
| before her due date the abdominal muscles may | | | | contractions occur in rapid succession producing a |
| suddenly appear to distend suddenly. Some shih tzu | | | | puppy. Normally, she will visibly pant rapidly, may |
| may produce colostrum and milk. She may suffer a | | | | attempt to shred her bedding and will often shred |
| loss of appetite or if just eaten, they may suddenly | | | | newspapers if you give them to her, she will move |
| throw it back up. She may show extreme fatique, and | | | | restlessly and whine and will intermittently sleep deeply |
| have very deep periods of sleep. These are all signs | | | | through the whelping. Once deliveries begin, puppies |
| that whelping is nigh. | | | | usually arrive anywhere from a few minutes to an |
| If it takes an hour or longer between puppies once | | | | hour apart, but again this is not always the rules with |
| whelping begins she "might" be suffering from inertia. | | | | every matron. I have had shih tzu to take as long as 4 |
| However, all matrons are different. I have puppies to | | | | or 5 hours between puppies and still everything turn |
| have as long as 4 hours apart and nothing be wrong | | | | out alright. Some it looks as if they are not even having |
| at all, and usually the same mother will go through this | | | | pain or pushing, and then suddenly a puppy will appear. |
| same process each time. But if you have a matron | | | | The mother will immediately begin to tear open the sac |
| who does not usually take this long between puppies, | | | | around head and face and proceed to take the whelp |
| and then she does, this could be cause for you to call | | | | out of the sac. If you notice mother not doing this, you |
| your vet or take her to the vet. Some breeders will | | | | will need to work quickly and tear the sac off the face |
| give their matron a glass of milk as a calcium source. | | | | and eyes so the puppy can get air. Mother will usually |
| My shih tzu usually won't take anything like that during | | | | continue to clean up her whelp and chew and tie the |
| this time. If the matron stays in labor a long period of | | | | cord. Many people think they need to take over at this |
| time, you may need to take her for a cesarean | | | | point, but I feel mother is more capable by nature and |
| section. Most shih tzu, however, are free whelpers, | | | | instinct and should be allowed to chew the cord and tie |
| even my little girls have whelped out their puppies on | | | | it off without my help. Mother does this in a way to |
| their own. There is always the exception to this rule, | | | | stop the bleeding. I have had a few that I have had to |
| however, and you should be prepared to stay for the | | | | take over, but normally, if mother is doing as she ought |
| entire whelping with your matron to guard against the | | | | to do, she will do this much better than I can and I |
| complications that may require the vet's assistance. | | | | drather let mother do as she knows best at this point. |
| One trouble sign would be a steady straining by the | | | | A breeder's attitude of the mother and the litter over |
| matron. I have been very fortunate with my shih tzu, in | | | | the next few days will also affect the successful |
| that as of yet I have not experienced a lot of | | | | outcome of raising this litter. |
| problems with their whelping times. | | | | |