I think it's nearly time for Lilly!!!

[LillyH]

Eeek, I think it's nearly time! She's been acting pretty lethargic and tired all day & evening & just barely picking at her food. Her temp this (yesterday) morning was 99.7, then afternoon 100.1, just now at 4:30am it's at 98.7! The babies are moving like crazy & she doesn't seem like her happy little self at all (ears pinned back & all teary eyed) She keeps looking back at her tummy & then at me as if to say whats going on Mom
Are there any other signs I should be watching for? I don't see any fluids yet, but she keeps licking herself. I notice her tummy seems to harden for a few mintes and then soften again... I'm assuming like us woman these are contractions?
Geeze... thought I was all prepared & now I'm a wreck!
Poor Lilly!!

Tina

[Susan123]

It sounds like she's getting ready. Like a woman, bitches do have contractions. Look for her to start digging like a mad woman. She'll also have that far away look. She may start peeing everywhere but with little result. They're just feeling the pressure and starting to push a little. Keep us up dated!

[lisatodd]

most become very excited, running around, panting hard. this can last for about 12 hrs. what day are you on? it could still be early. her temp is not staying down.

[lisatodd]

also, the babies will calm down b/4 she is due. again this is for most.

[LillyH]

She is due anytime after the 27th, so pretty much right on schedule. I've been up busy all night, trying to get her to hold off until at least 6am. Maybe kind of silly, but an emergency vet call in the wee hours on a sunday can cost upward of a $250 an hour here. My logic is if I can at least get her to hold off until 6 or 7am, at least we only have another couple of hours before the offices are open... just in case the vet is needed.
She's been by my side pretty much all day & night... only leaving me to go pee.
She's litter box trained & just went into her box twice in the last 30 minutes peeing & pooping both times.

[lisatodd]

Originally Posted by LillyH

She is due anytime after the 27th, so pretty much right on schedule. I've been up busy all night, trying to get her to hold off until at least 6am. Maybe kind of silly, but an emergency vet call in the wee hours on a sunday can cost upward of a $250 an hour here. My logic is if I can at least get her to hold off until 6 or 7am, at least we only have another couple of hours before the offices are open... just in case the vet is needed.
She's been by my side pretty much all day & night... only leaving me to go pee.
She's litter box trained & just went into her box twice in the last 30 minutes peeing & pooping both times.

you had stated in a previous post that you have whelped before, right? i don't want to tell you anything you already know. like signs you need to get her to the vet right a way. if you need to know, let me know. i still think you might be a tad early since she is not nesting yet.

[LillyH]

Well no panting, but her breathing seems a bit laboured. No nesting yet either, but I know she's waiting until I go to bed for that. I'm almost positive she's going to try & have them on my bed, under the covers... where she always sleeps.

[lisatodd]

Originally Posted by LillyH

Well no panting, but her breathing seems a bit laboured. No nesting yet either, but I know she's waiting until I go to bed for that. I'm almost positive she's going to try & have them on my bed, under the covers... where she always sleeps.

they will try and go to a small area. i would place pillows under the bed and under anything else she can get to that is small and dark.

[LillyH]

No, I myself have never whelped puppies... but I've been witness to several litters born. Old English sheep dogs, English Mastiffs, Shih-tzu's and a few others. Never anything as small as our Yorkies, and none have ever had any real difficulties. Asside from a few still borns that is. With the exception of the c-sections the bitches did all the work themselves & us humans just got to stand by and watch the miracle happen.

[lisatodd]

ok.....here is some little tid-bits

if you see green/black fluid prior to the puppies being born....get to vet asap
if you see green/black fluid after a pup, make sure the next pup is born w/n 2 hrs, if not, get to the vet
if she is in hard labor for 2 hrs with no pup
if she is in distress
if there is another pup and no contractions for 4hrs

sometimes you have to help them deliver.....
dry puppy, you need to lub and try to pull slightly
if she is straining, you can place your hand down her belly to help her push

these are just a few things. just keep us posted. be online when it happens so that if there are any questions, yt breeders can help you out.

[LillyH]

Thank you so very much Lisa! I know to worry if she's taking too long between pups, and if straining for too long etc, but I knew nothing about the green/black fluid.
With all the research I've done I've heard nothing about this... what does it indicate?

[lisatodd]

Originally Posted by LillyH

Thank you so very much Lisa! I know to worry if she's taking too long between pups, and if straining for too long etc, but I knew nothing about the green/black fluid.
With all the research I've done I've heard nothing about this... what does it indicate?

if it is at the beginning, most likely a still born.
if you have had a puppy, the placenta has separated and if the puppy does not get out quickly, it will be a still born

go into the search box above, put in "green fluid"....it should bring up some threads discussing it. you will get a lot of information regarding it

[Yorkiekids]

I had a dog that had that green fluid once, and I nearly died. I rushed her to the vet, and he delivered all 8 of her pups. Thank goodness they and her were all ok.

[Ladyhawk]

The dark green/black fluid is called lochia and is indicative of the placental separation at the wall of the uterine horns.

[dray]

I just wanted to say , Good Luck with that little girl, I hope everything goes well for her.