• Take care of your special pet.chien, chihuahua, image by Monique Pointaire from Fotolia.com
  
  As an owner of a female chihuahua, you want to know that you can help to preserve your pet's health--even in the event of pregnancy. There are several signs that you can look for to determine if your chihuahua is expecting; these signs will also let you know if additional medical care is needed.
  
  

Human-Like Symptoms

• Female chihuahuas exhibit some of the same signs of pregnancy that a human woman would. If you notice that your pet is especially lethargic and not as active as usual for more than a day or two, this could be an indication of pregnancy. A chihuahua's nipples will also become very firm, and this will happen rather rapidly. Of course, the chihuahua's stomach will start to become enlarged, and this happens much faster than with humans--chihuahuas also tend to "show" quicker than other dog breeds.
  
  

Additional Signs

• Some chihuahuas will become unusually affectionate with their owners during pregnancy--the change in the dog's behavior could be an indication to the owner that the dog is having puppies. In addition to the dog's stomach growing, the belly will also be very firm to the touch. Chihuahuas will also begin to clean themselves very often and more thoroughly than normal when they are pregnant.
  
  

Signs of Late Pregnancy/Labor

• The chihuahua's body temperature will drop significantly before she is ready to give birth. Most veterinarians recommend that pet owners bring the chihuahua to the animal hospital to deliver the puppies, since the heads of chihuahuas are very large--some chihuahuas even have to deliver their puppies via cesarean section. If a chihuahua's temperature is lower than normal for more than 24 hours, the dog is ready to deliver the puppies. The chihuahua will also need to go to the vet if she has been pregnant for more than 70 days but has not had any puppies, since a chihuahua's pregnancy is only a little more than two months.