Well thats just silly! I dont even mess with temps unless I have to go somewhere and be gone for several hours close to due time. Its not unusual for one of the girls to go over a few days either. I look for the signs of labor and dont put much into the dropped temps.
I think I would take my chances and let natural take its course. I would be concerned and really watch her though since its a first time labor and she has only one puppy and they tend to be bigger.
When she goes into labor (steady contractions) watch for the black bubble sack, about the size of a quarter/silver dollar(no puppy in it). It should burst within an hour, and a sack with puppy should appear within an hour, tops 1 1/2 hours and that may be pushing it. ( no pup after an hour, I think I would call the vet)
After the bubble bursts, if the lightening isnt really good, get a flashlight and watch the vulva very closely often. I have even put on gloves and did a digital exam about an inch into the vagina if I thought a puppy might be in the canal (vulva bulging with zero results in 15 minutes or so)
Once I had a puppy come butt first, and the lightening was not bright. Mama keep up hard contractons for about 30 minutes after the sack burst, almost knocking her off her feet. I got a flashlight and looked, there was barely visible a tiny little foot with no sack around it. I had to pull the puppy by finding both feet and legs (not easy to do), he didnt survive because he was out of the sack to long and suffocated. I think if I would have looked closer right away, he would have lived and if the sack wouldnt have burst prematurely, he would have lived too. After pulled his 2 litter mates came quickly. Mom did well after that and checked fine the next day at the vet and the other two pups did too.
Just thought I would post that Breny in case you find yourself in a tough situation and alone, with no time at the moment to make a phone call and you need to act right away during the holiday.. |