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