5.5 week pregnant Yorkie!

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

If there is one thing breeding dogs for MANY years has taught me, experienced breeders that are professional and reputable and have devoted an enormous amount of time to producing healthy babies, usually do better with sharing all the little tips and advice than vets actually do.....we have more experience than they do with the entire process of breeding and whelping.....the exception being experienced vets specializing in reproduction! We can learn some very expensive lessons over the years, doing this. As good as a vet is, they can not stay in business unless they generate revenue for their business....xrays can be expensive, and if they have to be repeated, that is just fine with the vet! Breeders try to do everything that is necessary to whelp healthy babies, keeping the momma and babies as healthy as possible during all this. We have to SAVE money in areas where we can, without endangering the bitch and litter. Choosing to do the xray later provides you valuable information you need to get YOUR needs met. If you are going to budget for only one xray, to have it done early is going to be one of those expensive lessons you will learn. Go ahead and do your xray early.....be prepared to have to repeat it at the generally acceptable date of around day 58.....even if you get a great xray and your vet can see all he wants to see, your STILL need to re-ray at day 58 so you can take calipers and measure the pups and the moms pelvic ring to be sure they can pass through! Go ahead and get your xray early, but you really do need to plan on that second xray for the safety of the momma and pups. Good luck with your whelp, it will be a hands on learning experience for you! Your desire to confirm pregnancy only, is missing half the information you need about this whelp....ther most important information!

Excellent advice from a VERY EXPERIENCED and trusted breeder.

I would not go to a general dr to have surgery on my foot-I would go to a foot dr. Vets are general doctors. They know many things about many breeds, but I want someone who knows many things about 1 breed, and specializes in only that breed.

[Littlewone]

I just wanted to add that I never planned on one X-ray only! As my Bella is tiny I planned on 2! I was looking to determine if she was in fact pregnant and one later to determine size! I may be new to all of this however first and for most will always be the safety of my Bella! The money is not an issue for me therefore I didn't feel it an unnecessary cost to get two x-rays! I am not in this for the money, I have money specifically aside for her and the babies needs should issues arise! I also have insurances to cover the emergency c-section should it be needed as well as the funds should insurance not cover any and all procedures required for her or the babies!

Thank you again I do truly appreciate the help, and I do understand that there are very experienced individuals on this website hence why I am here.

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by Littlewone

I just wanted to add that I never planned on one X-ray only! As my Bella is tiny I planned on 2! I was looking to determine if she was in fact pregnant and one later to determine size! I may be new to all of this however first and for most will always be the safety of my Bella! The money is not an issue for me therefore I didn't feel it an unnecessary cost to get two x-rays! I am not in this for the money, I have money specifically aside for her and the babies needs should issues arise! I also have insurances to cover the emergency c-section should it be needed as well as the funds should insurance not cover any and all procedures required for her or the babies!

Thank you again I do truly appreciate the help, and I do understand that there are very experienced individuals on this website hence why I am here.

I hope you have several thousand dollars set aside- Its cost me upwards of $3800.00 for vet care, C-section, and puppies care so far, and they're only 2 weeks old. They still need shots and other health checks before going to new homes.

[Littlewone]

You bet I do! Like previously said I've been reading and planing about this since I got her! This was no hasty decision! Tones of thought has been but into this! I have upwards of $15,000 set aside for the unexpected! As well as insurances!

I hope all goes well with you little ones! I'm a little sad there is no babies. But there is always next time!

[McheleM]

Well that just gives you more time to try and find a mentor and learn more about breeding.
Maybe you'll decide to not breed her.

After my fiasco, I have decided I don't ever want to risk my girls life like that again.... She is worth so much more than that to me.

[Lovetodream88]

If you girl is not pregnant I would spay her and look for a bigger female its far to risky to breed a dong under 5 pounds and yes the half a pound makes a big difference. I would actually try to get a female that would be around 7 pounds and I would also make sure to do health and genetic testing.

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by Littlewone

I just wanted to add that I never planned on one X-ray only! As my Bella is tiny I planned on 2! I was looking to determine if she was in fact pregnant and one later to determine size! I may be new to all of this however first and for most will always be the safety of my Bella! The money is not an issue for me therefore I didn't feel it an unnecessary cost to get two x-rays! I am not in this for the money, I have money specifically aside for her and the babies needs should issues arise! I also have insurances to cover the emergency c-section should it be needed as well as the funds should insurance not cover any and all procedures required for her or the babies!

Thank you again I do truly appreciate the help, and I do understand that there are very experienced individuals on this website hence why I am here.

For next time, I would recommend doing an ultrasound first to confirm and an X-ray later on. You may want to consider progesterone testing the next time you breed, that way you will know exactly when she ovulates (and therefore have a more accurate due date) and since she didn't take this time, you also might have some issues going on. An ultrasound can be done at about 30 days.
In the meantime, research research research. There are tons of videos out there and maybe reach out to some experienced and reputable breeders. AKC breed clubs are a good place or perhaps contacting some from the YTCA? Going to dog shows is a great place to meet yorkie people and learn too...

[bjh]

Another bit of advise. It is not wise to let your dogs just free breed. It is always best to separate them as soon as the female comes in heat. Most of my females I breed around the 11th day of their heat cycle. Some will be ready a little earlier and some a little later. Since your dogs only bred over a 3 day period it is possible your male bred her to late in her heat cycle. Most females would accept a male for at least 7 days. I breed mine then skip one or two days and then breed them again. You do not want to risk the male getting hurt or wearing himself out. How old is your male?

[Littlewone]

My male is 2 years old! And thank you for the added advice!

[Yorkiemom1]

When I decided I wanted to get into breeding Yorkies, I used a large amount of money and I purchased 3 bitches (and 2 studs) that were proven free whelpers. These bitches/dogs had fantastic, WINNING pedigrees behind them, for at least 10-20 generations. You will find reputable, trustworthy breeders at dog shows, and after you have become familiar and engratiated yourself to them, you may be able to work a deal with them and get yourself a retired Champion that you can start you a reputable, top of the line breeding program, using exceptional pedigrees. If you choose bitches to use as breeders, that are going to require c-sections with each litter, or if your bitches have questionable personalities and they start eating babies from anxiety, or any other number of issues you can easily encounter, you are going to blow through that $15,000.00 rather quickly, trying to fix issues with your unfortunate breeding stock and their offspring. Use your saved up money to get you a breeding female that is capable of producing healthy babies, hopefully, wonderfully free whelped, that do not require vet intervention at every turn of the screw.

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

When I decided I wanted to get into breeding Yorkies, I used a large amount of money and I purchased 3 bitches (and 2 studs) that were proven free whelpers. These bitches/dogs had fantastic, WINNING pedigrees behind them, for at least 10-20 generations. You will find reputable, trustworthy breeders at dog shows, and after you have become familiar and engratiated yourself to them, you may be able to work a deal with them and get yourself a retired Champion that you can start you a reputable, top of the line breeding program, using exceptional pedigrees. If you choose bitches to use as breeders, that are going to require c-sections with each litter, or if your bitches have questionable personalities and they start eating babies from anxiety, or any other number of issues you can easily encounter, you are going to blow through that $15,000.00 rather quickly, trying to fix issues with your unfortunate breeding stock and their offspring. Use your saved up money to get you a breeding female that is capable of producing healthy babies, hopefully, wonderfully free whelped, that do not require vet intervention at every turn of the screw.

And a mentor that can teach you and help you. Breeders online can only help so much over the phone or via messaging, although I am sure glad I had those resources!!

[Yorkiemom1]

Mentors that are experienced and actually know what they are doing are soooooooooo valuable....form trusted friendships with these expert, experienced breeders and you will have achieved a really priceless building block to your own future.