Is tonight the the night???

[DejaVu]

Sorry everyone, I am begining to think she will not ever have these puppies. I was up with her on and off last night, but she did not have them. She sure acted like it though, digging, pacing, distant look in her eyes while panting, i dont get it?! ive been trying to recover today, i dont know how much longer I can go without sleep!

[TikiBabiesMom]

How many days is she today?

[DvlshAngel985]

I had no idea these were such a rollercoaster of emotions. Hope you get some rest!!!

[DejaVu]

She is on day 64 today. She is still within a normal whelp period, but when she I take her in to the vet if she doesnt go soon?

[luckylady]

I'd say give her the weekend at least as long as she's not in any distress. With it being the weekend though, do you have an e-vet number/clinic near by......just in case....

How many ties did she have; I assume this is day 64 after the first one???? I'll bet, being a weekend, she'll go before Monday. Hope I'm online for the happy event. Keep us posted.

[DejaVu]

Actually she is 64 days from her ovulation date. I had her progesterone tested 3 times so I know the day she ovulated. And from what I have read its 63 days from that date. She was bred the 2nd and 3rd after ovulation. I am getting alittle worried now though...shes got a huge belly! Xrays were taken on day 57 and the vet said she should not have a problem with delivery size wise, but that was a week ago!

[gardenyorkies]

I just went back and reread your other thread...I saw that her temp had gone down to 98.2...She had other symptoms along with the drop in temp...Panting, not eating, digging etc...

I would be concerned that she was in first stage labor and never progressed to second stage labor...Was her temp down for 12-24 hours?...Was it at least a full 2 degrees lower than what her lowest temp had been running?...If you are concerned go with your gut and make a call to your vet to see what they say...Not all bitches progress to second stage labor!

[DejaVu]

Thanks for your input, that is what I am worrying about. I have tried another thermometer and I think the one I was using was off a good bit. It was reading a low temp of almost a full degree so I am pretty sure if I had used the other one I had it would not have really dropped to 98. I still feel like she will never go into labor. Her temp is normal this morning and shes acting the same as she has all week. Monday she has an appt to have a c-section, and it will be her 68th day. Maybe the pups are just too big now anyway and its best she just have the surgery...a good thing hidden behind a bit of disapointment?

[LazyDaisy]

Oh she will have those puppies...probably when you least expect it. Has she had any signs other than temp. drop?

[bjh]

Try to relax. Many females can have a temperature drop when their blood sugar is low and sometimes when the pups drop the temperature will go low. As long as she is not running a high temperature, does not have a green discharge and you can feel puppies moving, I feel that she will be just fine. I have had several bitches go 68 to 70 days and they did just fine. Often, mine will start getting restless and start digging a couple of days before the puppies are due, especially if they are heavy with pups. I think some of them just get miserable and want relief. I know it is difficult being on puppy watch for so long. I will be praying that momma does just fine.

[LazyDaisy]

I was reading on a site that was suggested by another member awhile back and here it said that (example) if she ovulated on day 11 then conception would be on day 13 because it takes 48 hours for the egg to ripen...So maybe that would be giving you a few days? Just trying to help...This is the site that I found the info on.
http://www.debbiejensen.com/due_date.html

My Mom's dog Millie is due October 3rd with 7, So I'm trying to gather as much info as I can to help her.

[DejaVu]

68-70 days is a long time, lol. I dont mind waiting that long, I am just worried the pups will be too big to deliver by then. At least if I do the c-section on monday I will know that she isnt too early to have them.

I have always known and heard from all the research I have done, 63 days is the due date from ovulation, regardless of when they concieved. It takes up to two days for the eggs to ripen and then the eggs are ready to be fertilized up to 72 hours thereafter. Shes still in the normal range so I am just trying to remember that. I just took her out for a nice walk while its still cool out and shes resting now, maybe that will help things along

I will try to be patient now

[gardenyorkies]

Originally Posted by DejaVu

Thanks for your input, that is what I am worrying about. I have tried another thermometer and I think the one I was using was off a good bit. It was reading a low temp of almost a full degree so I am pretty sure if I had used the other one I had it would not have really dropped to 98. I still feel like she will never go into labor. Her temp is normal this morning and shes acting the same as she has all week. Monday she has an appt to have a c-section, and it will be her 68th day. Maybe the pups are just too big now anyway and its best she just have the surgery...a good thing hidden behind a bit of disapointment?

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...

[DejaVu]

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.

[LazyDaisy]

Well I hope she whelps soon so your worries are put to rest...Keep us posted