| During a shih tzu whelping you should have | | | | weaning.If your mom shih tzu had a long |
| the puppies in a small box (I use plastic | | | | whelping, you might offer her some milk |
| rubbermaid boxes of various sizes). In bottom | | | | between the delivery of the puppies and give |
| of the box place a heating pad. On top the | | | | her a chance to relieve herself. You will |
| heating pad, place a soft baby receiving | | | | want to carry her out, and keep a tight rein |
| blanket. Drape another receiving blanket over | | | | on her. You don't want her running off |
| top the box. This creates an incubator type | | | | somewhere to finish delivering. Some of my |
| environment for your newborns.When you are | | | | shih tzu have repeatedly tried to pick their |
| sure your shih tzu has delivered all her | | | | own whelping spot and it could be under the |
| puppies, place the puppies from the incubator | | | | porch for all they care. Why they would |
| box in the whelping box with mom (after you | | | | choose under the porch rather than a nice |
| clean the whelping box and provide clean | | | | soft blanket in a box to deliver is way |
| linens). I use various types of whelping box | | | | beyond me, except of course, just another way |
| liners such as towels, quilts, baby blankets, | | | | to be stubborn and contrary.Clean the |
| regular blankets. Most shih tzu mothers are | | | | hindquarters with a damp towel right after |
| anxious to accept their babies and will | | | | whelping and dry her thoroughly. When it |
| probably make a fuss about any of them being | | | | seems she has rested some, settled in and the |
| out of her reach. There is always the | | | | puppies have nursed a little and are quiet, |
| exception, however, and if she does not | | | | it will be safe to take mom for a full |
| accept them right away do not be alarmed. I | | | | shampoo. Be sure and leave the heating pad in |
| have never had a shih tzu mother to refuse | | | | the whelping box and put your receiving |
| her babies for longer than a few minutes | | | | blanket over the whelping box to hold in the |
| actually. If mom is tired or in a momentary | | | | heat. Chilling is number one cause for |
| state of shock she might not feel like being | | | | newborn fatality. Don't let mom get chilled |
| with her newborns right away.A funny story | | | | during the bath. Blow dry her thoroughly. She |
| about one of my shih tzu moms, which was my | | | | will probably be nervous and upset to be |
| movie star girl, Ginger, and I will place | | | | taken away from her babies and very anxious |
| Ginger's picture in this article. I had a | | | | to return to them, but you need to be sure |
| family emergency just as Ginger started to | | | | mom shih tzu is thoroughly dry before |
| deliver her first litter. Oddly she whelped | | | | returning her to her babies, so pay this no |
| in daylight (usually it is always night or | | | | attention.A breeder's main tasks after |
| early morning for whelpings). I had no other | | | | whelping and until weaning time is to keep |
| choice but to leave her for a short while. | | | | the captain of the ship (your shih tzu mom) |
| She had whelped one puppy with me by her side | | | | well fed, plenty of fresh water and a clean, |
| doing my chores with the whelping process. | | | | dry whelping box. There are several effective |
| When I returned, I found just that one puppy | | | | cleaners on the market for cleaning the box. |
| she whelped before I left and I assumed she | | | | I like using just a mixture of bleach and |
| had not delivered anymore. I looked at her | | | | water. Clorox bleach is very effective |
| and said, Ginger, no more puppies | | | | against parvo virus. At this point, the |
| yet?Suddenly Ginger pointed with her head to | | | | breeder can begin to feel much like a "maid |
| the small step that leads out of this area | | | | servant" to her shih tzu mom and newborns. |
| where she was whelping and there layed | | | | The sight of these precious little babies |
| another puppy. I could almost hear her | | | | make up for most of it, however. If they are |
| saying: "over there it is." It was comical | | | | a healthy crew, they will wiggle and squirm |
| and I labeled it as one of the shih tzu's | | | | nudging each other out of the way to get to |
| many comical antics they are capable of | | | | their precious "milk," from mom.My moms often |
| coming up with. I also was troubled she did | | | | will be so excited about their babies, they |
| that. There she sat in the whelping box by | | | | will hold out their tongues as if in sheer |
| herself. The one puppy she whelped before I | | | | joy and laughter. Look out for a fuss from |
| left still in its spot. And now on the step | | | | mom each time you remove the puppies from the |
| lays her second puppy. Why in this world she | | | | box to clean. She will most likely jump |
| got up there and had the puppy, then returned | | | | inside the small box you place the puppies |
| to her box is left to anyone's imagination or | | | | in, no matter how small that box is, my |
| opinion, but I felt it was an "antic," | | | | mothers still try to fit themselves in there |
| perhaps even because I left her. She knew I | | | | with their new babies. They are terrified the |
| was looking for more puppies as soon as I | | | | babies cannot survive a second without them, |
| returned and immediately showed me where it | | | | and this is actually very, very true. There |
| was. Almost anything to be contrary sometimes | | | | is no other care that replaces the care of |
| is a shih tzu.I have always been able to put | | | | the mother during this time of a newborn's |
| the shih tzu newborns in with the mother | | | | life. I always try my best to accommodate |
| immediately after the whelping. I keep a | | | | mom's wishes, and respect her instinct, |
| heating pad in the box with mom and | | | | although it does create a little havoc at |
| puppies.You should take your mother shih tzu | | | | cleaning time. At this time, newborn shih tzu |
| to the vet within 8 hours after a whelping. | | | | are aware of anything but their mother. Mom |
| He will give her two injections most likely. | | | | will stimulate them to defecate and urinate. |
| One is to expel all things from uterus | | | | They are born unable to do so on their own. |
| (sometimes part of a placenta or even a dead | | | | Their eyes and their ears are glued shut. |
| puppy may remain in the uterus). The other | | | | Their open up at about 10 days.I recommend |
| injection will be an antibiotic to guard | | | | and feed HealthyPetNet Life's Abundance to my |
| against infection. Calcium pills and small | | | | nursing moms.Connie Limon publishes a FREE |
| supply of antibiotics might also be | | | | weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter |
| prescribed. Different vets have different | | | | with a focus upon health and wellness for you |
| protocols. Sometimes a vet will have you to | | | | and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies |
| give your shih tzu mom calcium pills until | | | | are offered to subscribers. |