When a bitch is getting ready to whelp the temperature will usually drop to around 99 degrees and stay there for 12 to 24 hours before whelping. If you take the temp in the morning and it is 99.1 and then in the afternoon it is back up to 100.1 then most likely the bitch is not ready to have puppies. The temperature is just a guide line but not a sure thing because I have had bitches deliver when there temp was 100 degrees.
Can you feel puppies moving when you hold your hands on her belly? Usually about a week before they are due you can start feeling light movement and the closer to term they get the more active the puppies are. I do not do anything to upset or stress out my females when it is close to their due date. If your bitch is used to free roam then in my opinion you just need to watch her like a hawk. Usually when they are ready to start whelping they will start panting and nesting, but I know some bitches will start this behavior a couple days before actually delivery. Usually, right before delivery the bitch will have several bowl movements and sometime they start vomiting. |