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Originally Posted by gardenyorkies  The temp dropping only one degree is not enough...They typically drop at least 2 degrees so I would be looking for a temp about 97.8 or lower...
I am not sure what your progesterone levels were when breeding was done...Usually when the progesterone level reaches 2.5 ng/ml breeding is scheduled for two days after this...The sperm require a period of approximately 7 hours after ejaculation before they are capable of fertilizing an egg. The egg also needs time to mature after it is ovulated, generally 48 hours from ovulation until it can be fertilized.
I would recommend doing another progesterone test before doing a c-section...About 48 hours before whelping, the progesterone level drops to the 2 ng/ml range and within about 24 hours of whelping, the level drops to the 1 ng/ml range. This can help determine the proper timing of a c-section thus making sure it is time to take puppies...
It is always better to let mom whelp naturally...If you take pups too early without a temp drop or labor beginning you run the risk of puppies being too early,mom not wanting to care for pups, mom's uterus not wanting to contract back to normal and a spay...
This is a stressful time right before whelping so stay with your mom to be and watch carefully for signs... |
As I stated before I know when she ovulated and it is from there you determine or estimate her due date. Regardless of when she was bred and how long the sperm takes to mature or how long it takes for the eggs to ripen. The male that I used was 4.5 lbs and she is 5.5 lbs herself. The stud, according to the owner, is known to produce bigger babies. So I guess I should have said all this to explain why I am so worried about the puppies being too large to delivery naturally. Also her lines are canadian, larger dogs in her pedigree. So with all this into play, I am worried if I wait too long the puppies will have grown too big. I live 45 minutes from an emergency vet, so IF something were to go wrong during the whelp, I have to wait 45 minutes at the min. to get help.
Normally its a drop of at least one degree from the temperature you bitch has been at during the last week of pregnancy. Due to the hormone fluctuations and what not the last week, their temp drops about one degree the last 1-2 weeks of pregnancy, then there is the real dip in temp (which indicates possible iminent whelp) which could only be 1 degree.