Ever wondered how many puppies can a Shih Tzu have? While most Shih Tzus have 3 puppies per litter, they can have more or less. It really depends on a few factors such as age. Read on to learn more.
How Many Puppies Can a Shih Tzu Have?
My Truman was a litter of one, but that’s not typical for Shih Tzus.
Most Shih Tzus have between three and four puppies in a litter
As a Shih Tzu matures the number of puppies they have tends to increase and they will have a larger litter.
It is possible for a Shih Tzu to have up to five or even six puppies at one time.
However, at a certain point, litter sizes will start to decline.
Natural Birth or C-Section?
Most Shih Tzus will give birth to their litter of puppies naturally.
However, around 20 percent of them will be by C-section.
If your Shih Tzu is expecting, then this option is something you will need to discuss with your vet.
Keep in mind that the larger the litter the more likely that one or more of the puppies will be underweight and small.
If this is the case, you will need to ensure the pup gets the help it needs in obtaining milk from its mother so it can get to a healthy weight as soon as possible.
Also, you will want to limit the number of times you allow your Shih Tzu to have a litter of puppies.
For their health, you will want your dog to have no more than four litters.
When your Shih Tzu has more than 4 litters it can lead to health issues.
Overbreeding a dog can lead to physical health issues for the mother as well as genetic health issues for the puppies.
How Old Does Your Shih Tzu Need to Be to Be Bred?
At the very earliest your dog should be at least 8 months of age before she is bred, but honestly, this is a bit too young.
Waiting until she is a year or even better two years old is best.
This will help make the pregnancy easier on her and she will have more maturity to handle it.
You will not want to breed your Shih Tzu once they are over 5 years of age.
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What Are the Signs and How Long Will My Shih Tzu Be Pregnant?
Shih Tzus are pregnant for the same length of time as most dogs and that is 63 days.
Considering the fact that your dog might need a C-section knowing when they became pregnant is important so you can have the C-section scheduled with your vet.
Advanced scheduling will reduce the cost as well.
Once you know your pouch is going to have puppies your vet can tell you whether natural birth is an option.
You may notice signs of pregnancy fairly quickly.
These can include:
- A change in her behavior – change in activity level
- Wanting to nest
- Swollen nipples
- A larger belly around week four
- An increased appetite
A blood test at your vet will be necessary to know 100 percent for sure if your Shih Tzu is pregnant.
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To Sum it All Up:
As part of your Shih Tzu’s human family, you want to be sure to do what you can to make your Shih Tzu’s pregnancy as easy as possible. Avoid over breeding and wait until your pup is a couple of years old before you start the process. Poor breeding practices hurt both the mother and the puppies.
Please Note:
This article is informational only and does not substitute for veterinary advice. Always check with your veterinarian or doctor if you are concerned about your Shih Tzu. This article should not be considered in any way as veterinarian advice.
