How many puppies do chows have

At the end of the article, we have also included a description of what you can do at home to keep your Chow looking and feeling her best. Unfortunately, your Chow Chow is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. In fact, your Chow Chow's lifespan may even be cut short by one to three years!

Rough Coated Chow Chows are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections—the same ones that all dogs can get—such as parvo, rabies, and distemper. Many of these infections are preventable through vaccination , which we will recommend based on her age, the diseases we see in our area, and other factors.

Obesity can be a significant health problem in Rough Coated Chow Chows. It is a serious disease that may cause or worsen joint problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease. Instead, give her a hug, brush her fur or teeth, play a game with her, or perhaps take her for a walk. All kinds of worms and bugs can invade your Chow's body, inside and out.

Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms , and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. One of the best things you can do for your Chow Chow is to have her spayed neutered for males. In females, this means we surgically remove the ovaries and usually the uterus, and in males, it means we surgically remove the testicles.

Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or fathering unwanted puppies. Performing this surgery also gives us a chance, while your pet is under anesthesia, to identify and address some of the diseases your dog is likely to develop.

Routine blood testing prior to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions against common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk. Gastric dilatation and volvulus, also known as GDV or bloat, usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests. This means your Chow Chow is more at risk than other breeds.

When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and sometimes to the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as half an hour. Your dog may retch or heave but little or nothing comes up , act restless, have an enlarged abdomen, or lie in a prayer position front feet down, rear end up. Preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked down or sutured in place so that it is unlikely to twist is an option.

If you see symptoms, take your pet to an emergency hospital immediately! Not many things have as dramatic an impact on your dog's quality of life as the proper functioning of his eyes. Unfortunately, Rough Coated Chow Chows can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful!

We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs for concern. A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Chow Chows. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend's bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life.

A genetically linked neurological condition, known as wobbler disease or wobbler syndrome, causes a wobbly, drunken gait in affected pets. Wobbler disease is the result of a narrowing of the vertebrae in the neck that pinches the spinal cord and associated nerves.

When pinched, the nerves do not send signals to the brain as they should causing the pet to be unable to feel his feet. The first signs you will often notice with wobbler disease are unstable hind legs, stumbling, and sometimes falling.

Treatment options include medications, neck braces, rehabilitation exercise programs, and surgery. Diabetes mellitus is a fairly common disease in dogs. Any breed can be affected, but Chows have an above average incidence.

Dogs with diabetes are unable to regulate the metabolism of sugars in their bodies and require daily insulin injections. Diabetes is a serious condition and one that is important to diagnose and treat as early as possible. Symptoms include increased eating, drinking, and urination, along with weight loss. If he shows signs, we will conduct lab tests to determine if he has this condition and discuss treatment options with you.

Treatment requires a serious commitment of time and resources. Well-regulated diabetic dogs today have the same life expectancy as other canines. View detailed profile Advanced or search site with Search Forums Advanced. This is her second litter , her first litter she had 5 living puppies.

The dad is older he is 9 yrs old and she is about 3 yrs old.. Attached Thumbnails. No, it's not normal Did you ever take your pregnant dog to the vet? Then you would have known how many puplies were coming. Keep an eye on the mother and I personally would take her in just to have peace of mind that there isn't anything going on There is never any guarantee how many puppies a dog can have.

All depends on many factors, the age of the parents, the number of eggs released, the quality of the sperm, whether the dam has absorbed any puppies over the course of the pregnancy, etc. Your vet could have told you about how many to expect. I agree with taking her to the vet. There could be a dead puppy in there or two. Also sometimes with just one pup she may not be producing enough of the needed hormones to complete labor.

This thread is off topic to the Connecticut forum. And while every chow is different depending on how they're socialized, most might not want to play very often. If they do, it'll only be with their immediate family. As far as social needs, the chow chow doesn't have many—he's a bit of an introvert. Their independent nature means they don't care much for other animals, but will tolerate them—especially if they grew up with them. They do best with dogs of the opposite sex, and fair best in a household with adults or older kids who understand their reserved nature.

The dignified chow chow doesn't have a lot of patience for rough play. If he's raised with kids, he will accept them, but may still be cautious around all chaos that comes with children. Although they can adjust easily to being alone during the workday, chow chows will prefer to be near their humans when they get home.

They don't do well being left outside. A chow can overheat easily if it's humid or sunny, and he should not spend a lot of time outdoors on hot days. Very clean, very loyal without being socially needy.

They are content to be with you, not on you. Both types of coats, rough and smooth, require regular grooming. Between grooming sessions, a chow will need to be brushed a few times a week to maintain a healthy coat and skin. Chow chows are very heavy shedders in the spring and fall when they blow their winter and summer coats.

Otherwise, they shed minimally year-round and consistent brushing should prevent excess hair balls in the house. Regular teeth brushing will help prevent any oral health issues and give you a close-up of that infamous blue tongue. If you can hear his nails clicking on the floor, they are too long and need to be trimmed. Chow chows are big dogs , but don't require as much space as many of their fellow large canines do. They have pretty minimal exercise needs —a couple of minute walks or one longer walk per day will satisfy them.

Find time for regular walks in the morning or evening, when the sun isn't as harsh and he won't get overheated underneath all that fur. Training a chow chow requires an owner with consistency. The proud chow can be very disciplined if behavior training begins at a young age, but it'll take some patience to fully gain his loyalty. With a history of hunting and guarding, chow chows are extremely dignified and feel they deserve the utmost respect. Consistent positive reinforcement will teach them right from wrong.

Given their guard dog ancestors, many chows might not be too happy if someone tries to take their stuff away from them—especially food. The majestic chow chow will live 8—12 generally healthy years , though they may be more susceptible to conditions including eyelid entropion , hip dysplasia , elbow dysplasia, and allergies.

Stomach cancer is rare in dogs, its general occurrence is around 0. However, the rate of stomach cancer in Chow Chows is between times higher. Studies are ongoing to determine the genetic links responsible for this almost always fatal disease. Symptoms of stomach cancer include vomiting, loss of weight, fatigue, diarrhea, black tarry stools, and loss of appetite.

The prognosis is grim even with veterinary treatment. Autoimmune Diseases: In autoimmune diseases , the body attacks its own cells. Normally, the mechanism of white blood cells is used against viruses and bacteria. There are many autoimmune diseases classified by what parts of the body are affected. Chow Chows are prone to many of them.

The most commonly seen in Chow Chows is pemphigus foliaceus. In this disease, the skin is the target of the autoimmune attack. Blisters usually start around the face and ears with the whole body being covered with sores eventually.

The toe pads may crack. Diagnosis is made by a skin biopsy. The disease usually starts in middle-aged dogs. Autoimmune thyroiditis occurs when the attack is on the thyroid. The thyroid then fails to produce enough thyroid hormone resulting in hypothyroidism. According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Chow Chows rank th for the frequency of occurrence of the disease with an abnormal thyroid incidence rate of.

Other autoimmune diseases that occur in Chow Chows include Uveodermatological Syndrome , attack on the eyes, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus which is a serious attack on various body organs. Treatment of autoimmune diseases will be with some type of immunosuppressant drug therapy. Prednisone is a frequent drug used to treat especially skin-related autoimmune diseases or acute flares of a disease like SLE.

Prednisone is an inexpensive drug and is usually the first drug employed to relieve the symptoms of the disease. If Chow Chows carry on being such viral dogs, I would not be surprised if, within ten years, they jumped back to the top 20 dog breeds in the United States!

Hip dysplasia is a common problem for dogs. It involves a malformation of the ball joint of the hip making it susceptible to osteoarthritis. Symptoms include difficulty in the dog getting up, a reluctance to engage in running, and lameness. Treatment usually involves anti-inflammatories which help with the symptoms. The cause of hip dysplasia is thought to be genetic.

Researchers believe it to be caused by more than one gene. In data collected by the OFA on breeds between , Chow Chows ranked 34th highest in the incidence of hip dysplasia. Of the dogs examined, Degenerative Myelopathy: The fatal disease, degenerative myelopathy, is thought to be caused by a recessive gene. That means both the dam and the sire must be carriers. Degenerative myelopathy symptoms usually begin in older dogs. The disease is much like the human disease, Lou Gehrig disease.

A dog will begin to lose motor function and control of its bowel and bladder. The dog eventually will not be able to walk.

There is no cure for it. Other Conditions: Other health issues found in Chow Chows are bloat and heart problems. Bloat strikes broad-chested dogs.

It happens when the stomach of the dog turns on its axis. This torsion of the stomach prevents blood flow to the intestines of the dog. Symptoms include retching and vomiting. Bloat is a life-threatening medical emergency. Bloat kills half the dogs it strikes even with medical intervention. Pulmonic stenosis is a valve abnormality in which blood flow is impeded because of a narrow valve.

Symptoms of this condition include fatigue and exercise intolerance. This heart condition can result in heart failure. Most cases are mild and no treatment is recommended. Surgery is usually successful but is reserved for only the most severe cases since the surgery itself is risky.

It is recommended by major registries that dogs pass health assessments prior to breeding. Other tests for hip and elbow dysplasia and eye disorders should be negative. A genetic test for Degenerative Myelopathy is also available.