Whenever we do a rescue at the public shelters, we typically check all potential cats and dogs for any obvious health or temperament issues. On occasion, some little things may be undetectable, like an early pregnancy. Such is the case with one of our latest rescues, Itty Bitty. While in quarantine, it began with the simple question among our Kennel staff, “Is it just me, or is she looking fatter?”

Photo of Itty Bitty

Shortly after being rescued, this adorable eight pound, long haired Chihuahua mix suddenly began to show signs of being pregnant; most prominent was the rapid growth of her midsection.

This is the exciting part of having a blog site for Living Free, because we now have the opportunity to share this and other incredible experiences with you.  We will keep everyone posted on the progression of Itty Bitty’s pregnancy, the birth of her puppies, and the follow-up on their development, with lots of photos along the way.

There are a lot of unknown factors surrounding Itty Bitty’s unplanned pregnancy that give rise to caution.  Not knowing the actual date of conception makes determining the due date for her puppies uncertain, though we’re able to estimate an approximate date based on the progression of physical symptoms.  The greatest concern is not knowing the breed of the male dog(s) with whom she may have mated.  Mating with a much larger male could produce puppies too big for such a tiny female and cause complications during delivery.  In cases like this, x-rays are generally required to ascertain the size of the unborn pups.  If they are too big for a normal birth, then our veterinarian would recommend birth by caesarean section.

The next post will include the results of the x-ray,  the size and number of puppies Itty Bitty is carrying, and her estimated due date.