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