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Cookie2 · 07-04-2008, 09:23 AM

Found this info at this site :
PWCCA

The vigil begins about one week before she is due to whelp. I take a bitch's temperature 2-3 times daily and record the readings to get an indication of HER unique trend in temperature. Most bitches drop to a range between 100.0 and 100.9 the week before whelping. Some will tend to stay above 100.5 while others will dip to 99.7. Most bitches will drop at least a degree from their average prepartium temperature 12-36 hours before whelping. Usually a drop to 99.4 or lower is significant however, it is important to establish your bitch's trend as some can go down this low without whelping. If I have a bitch that is routinely between 99.6 and 100.2 that last week I probably would not consider her drop significant until it was below 99.0. On the other hand, a bitch that has been above 100.5 consistently, may whelp after a temperature drop to 99.6. The more you know your bitch, as well as her line, the better you can use temperature to predict whelping. Further, remember this is an abrupt drop. You may not be catching it at the peak low. If you think it is on the decline (i.e. you take it when you get up in the morning and it is a questionable 99.6 ), take it again in a few hours to see if there is further decline to a more significant temperature. If you have had a significant drop and the temperature begins to climb to normal non-pregnant levels (between 101 and 102) then whelping should be within 3-12 hours as this is just an expected effect of normalizing metabolism and the result of the trembling and restlessness that start before whelping. A somewhat questionable drop (say to 99.5) followed by a return to the temperature she has been all week, is probably not significant especially if she is showing no other signs of labor. Sometimes our bitch will go out for a run with the other dogs or guests come over and she gets excited- keep in mind that exercise or excitement may temporarily cause her temperature to go up above 101. Retake it in a few hours to see that it has come back down to a normal pregnancy level. Any temperature above 102 the week prior to whelping in a bitch that has been laying around (not up and excited about something) would be a cause for concern and may require a trip to your vet to evaluate. Occasionally, a bitch will have a sudden dip in temperature well before the expected whelping date. If no other indications of whelping are present, don't panic, just monitor her.

In addition to monitoring temperature, there are several other significant indicators of impending whelping. For a few weeks before whelping, you will be noticing a clear mucus discharge. This will get fairly heavy a few days before whelping but should never anything but clear, or slightly cloudy, mucus. Any other color or consistency is cause for concern. "Lumping up" will be noticed up to a week beforehand. This is where the abdomen periodically gets hard and "lumpy," not smooth and rounded as it normally is. (Think of a sack of large rocks-that is how a lumped up bitch feels) The frequency and intensity of this "lumping up" increases as whelping approaches. The larger the litter, the more dramatic this can be. Once the hour of whelping arrives, the bitch seems "lumped up" almost continuously. Restlessness and digging at bedding are vague indicators and can occur up to a week before whelping. Intense panting and a distant look to the eyes usually do not occur more than 24 hours before whelping- and often start closer to whelping than that. Most bitches will refuse food 12-24 hours before whelping; they often have a little diarrhea and straining the day they are going to whelp. A bitch that scarfs down her breakfast (and keeps it down) and has a normal bowel movement will probably not be whelping in the next 12 hours. I have found that this criteria and the absence of intense/frequent lumping up has helped me on some of my bitches who have had early, premature temperature drops. One needs to look at the whole picture and not be confused when one criteria is causing panic.

07-04-2008, 09:23 AM	#3
Cookie2 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,568	Found some great detailed info on temperature drops and whelping Found this info at this site : PWCCA The vigil begins about one week before she is due to whelp. I take a bitch's temperature 2-3 times daily and record the readings to get an indication of HER unique trend in temperature. Most bitches drop to a range between 100.0 and 100.9 the week before whelping. Some will tend to stay above 100.5 while others will dip to 99.7. Most bitches will drop at least a degree from their average prepartium temperature 12-36 hours before whelping. Usually a drop to 99.4 or lower is significant however, it is important to establish your bitch's trend as some can go down this low without whelping. If I have a bitch that is routinely between 99.6 and 100.2 that last week I probably would not consider her drop significant until it was below 99.0. On the other hand, a bitch that has been above 100.5 consistently, may whelp after a temperature drop to 99.6. The more you know your bitch, as well as her line, the better you can use temperature to predict whelping. Further, remember this is an abrupt drop. You may not be catching it at the peak low. If you think it is on the decline (i.e. you take it when you get up in the morning and it is a questionable 99.6 ), take it again in a few hours to see if there is further decline to a more significant temperature. If you have had a significant drop and the temperature begins to climb to normal non-pregnant levels (between 101 and 102) then whelping should be within 3-12 hours as this is just an expected effect of normalizing metabolism and the result of the trembling and restlessness that start before whelping. A somewhat questionable drop (say to 99.5) followed by a return to the temperature she has been all week, is probably not significant especially if she is showing no other signs of labor. Sometimes our bitch will go out for a run with the other dogs or guests come over and she gets excited- keep in mind that exercise or excitement may temporarily cause her temperature to go up above 101. Retake it in a few hours to see that it has come back down to a normal pregnancy level. Any temperature above 102 the week prior to whelping in a bitch that has been laying around (not up and excited about something) would be a cause for concern and may require a trip to your vet to evaluate. Occasionally, a bitch will have a sudden dip in temperature well before the expected whelping date. If no other indications of whelping are present, don't panic, just monitor her. In addition to monitoring temperature, there are several other significant indicators of impending whelping. For a few weeks before whelping, you will be noticing a clear mucus discharge. This will get fairly heavy a few days before whelping but should never anything but clear, or slightly cloudy, mucus. Any other color or consistency is cause for concern. "Lumping up" will be noticed up to a week beforehand. This is where the abdomen periodically gets hard and "lumpy," not smooth and rounded as it normally is. (Think of a sack of large rocks-that is how a lumped up bitch feels) The frequency and intensity of this "lumping up" increases as whelping approaches. The larger the litter, the more dramatic this can be. Once the hour of whelping arrives, the bitch seems "lumped up" almost continuously. Restlessness and digging at bedding are vague indicators and can occur up to a week before whelping. Intense panting and a distant look to the eyes usually do not occur more than 24 hours before whelping- and often start closer to whelping than that. Most bitches will refuse food 12-24 hours before whelping; they often have a little diarrhea and straining the day they are going to whelp. A bitch that scarfs down her breakfast (and keeps it down) and has a normal bowel movement will probably not be whelping in the next 12 hours. I have found that this criteria and the absence of intense/frequent lumping up has helped me on some of my bitches who have had early, premature temperature drops. One needs to look at the whole picture and not be confused when one criteria is causing panic.