Ask Dr Claire

Will a small female dog mated with a large dog be able to have the puppies naturally?

It is always difficult to know if a natural delivery will be possible is a mismatched couple (in terms of size).

The size of the mum and the size of the litter are the main indicators of puppy size. For example if she was only carrying a few puppies her risk of not being able to give birth naturally is higher, than say if she was carrying a litter of 6 or more puppies.

It’s very possible she will require a caesarian to safely pass the puppies (for the safety of her and the puppies), it’s really important that she has regular veterinary attention during her pregnancy, and that you know how many pups are present.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can get a vet on a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail now.

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Chat soon,

Dr Claire