All dog breeds have the same gestation length; a Maltese will be pregnant for about 63 days; ranging between 58 and 65 days is considered normal.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

A Maltese litter typically has two to five puppies, but having just one is not uncommon. Occasionally, a litter of 6 or more pups will be born.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

During her heat cycle, a female dog can get pregnant at any time. Her most fertile period lasts 10 to 15 days after the onset of heat.

If a female mates with two males within a short period of time, she might have a duel-sired litter.

False pregnancy (pseudopregnancy) is a possibility. If that’s the case, symptoms like a bloated stomach and puffy breast tissue usually go away within three weeks.

Pre-pregnancy testing is recommended. To rule out inherited health issues in this breed, in addition to a general check and assessing pelvic width, a cardiac exam and a patella evaluation should be undertaken (and these are AKC recommended tests).

During pregnancy, a female Maltese will gain roughly 20% of her regular body weight. A 6 pound Maltese, for example, will gain 1.2 pounds.

When is the best time to start a family?

There are three ages to consider:

A Maltese can become pregnant at the age of:

A female Maltese can become pregnant as soon as she reaches puberty, which is marked by her first heat cycle. This is between 4 and 8 months old for this breed. However, breeding a female during her first cycle is not advised.

A Maltese will not be at full adult size, her pelvic width will not be at its optimum, pregnancy can be exceedingly stressful for such a young dog, and breeding may not be possible at all due to underdeveloped eggs.

According to AKC standards, a dog’s age is:

A dam should be at least 8 months old, according to the AKC. Nonetheless, for all of the aforementioned reasons, this is a very young child.

Age group to avoid:

It is normally advised to wait until a Maltese has completed her second or third heat cycle and is at least two years old.

Symptoms of a Pregnant Maltese

The pregnancy of a female dog lasts 9 weeks. In weeks 2 and 3, you’ll start to detect signs. By the start of Week 4, the signs are clear.

Stomach bloated. This starts at the end of Week 2 and progresses to a visibly swollen stomach by Week 4.

Nipple shifts. Nipples will most likely become larger, pinker, and some that were previously flush with her skin may now be poked out beginning at the end of Week 2, with clear symptoms by Week 3.

Nausea. It’s possible that your Maltese dog will get morning sickness at any time of day. This is most common around Week 2, although it can occur in later stages as well.

Appetites shift. By the conclusion of Week 3, you should be seeing an increase in appetite.

The mammary glands expand. Mammary glands will begin to fill with colostrum as a result of milk production. While this is a long process, it usually starts in Week 3 and becomes better with each passing week.

Behavioral shifts Nesting instincts can be detected as early as Week 3. A Maltese may begin to collect goods and keep them in one location. She may become more clinging, or she may wish to withdraw and relax alone.

Identifying a Pregnant Maltese

There are various tests that may be done at the vet’s office. In case you want to know for sure if your Maltese is pregnant without waiting 2 to 4 weeks for obvious indications to appear.

A blood test can establish pregnancy by Day 22.

Palpation and/or an ultrasound can be used to confirm the diagnosis by Day 28.

An x-ray of the growing fetuses can be seen by Day 48, and this is usually done to check the size of the litter before whelping.

If a pregnancy is suspected, especially if it was not expected, a veterinarian visit should be scheduled as soon as possible to evaluate her overall health, examine her pelvic width, and review her diet. It will also be necessary to discuss whether or not recommended pre-breeding testing was carried out.

Tips for Maltese Pregnancy Care

Don’t give your Maltese any extra calcium while she’s pregnant (food or supplements). Eclampsia, more difficult labor, calcium deposits, and specific joint deformities in newborn puppies have all been linked to increased calcium throughout pregnancy (until just before labor).

Continue to exercise as usual to help her maintain muscle and endurance, which will aid in whelping.

Keep jumping to a minimum. To position against sofas or chairs, you could want to have pet stairs or ramps.

Your Maltese’s nesting instincts will be strong, so if she doesn’t already have one, now is the time to get her one.

If she appears to be bothered by other dogs in the house, keep them away from her. By Week 5, if the sire is still in the house, he should be separated from her. Also, don’t let him see her during labor and delivery, and don’t let him see the babies until they are about four weeks old.

You should not use any flea or tick treatment on her without first consulting with a veterinarian.

By Week 4, the veterinarian may suggest switching to puppy food to provide a higher-fat diet.

As the projected whelping time approaches (Week 6 or 7), talk to your veterinarian about starting to introduce calcium-rich meals like whole cottage cheese (do not give this sooner during the pregnancy. Also, do not add this at this time unless approved by a vet).

A dip in body temperature is a sign that a Maltese is about to give birth. As a result, starting on Day 57, her temperature should be taken every day. This should be done twice a day by Day 60. She should deliver her litter in about 24 hours if the temperature dips below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.77 degrees Celsius) from its typical range of 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 39.17 degrees Celsius).