Day 67 of pregnancy

[PamperedYorkies]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I personally have never let a female go past day 70. The babies are viable by then, no preemies that may require tube feeding....my vet xrays first to be sure there are no position issues, and then she will induce labor.

Do you count your days from breeding date or ovulation?

[PamperedYorkies]

Originally Posted by McheleM

This is one of the most knowledgeable breeders on the boards!!

Trust her.

Thanks! It's good to have a reference
I'm hoping to get to know everyone better, but hopefully not under difficult circumstances.

[PamperedYorkies]

Originally Posted by Silly yorkie

I have whelped many years the most ill let my female get to is 68 days then I go to the vet get a X-ray and ultrasound check the positioning and induce. Many years ago I let one of my females to day 70 and a couple of puppy's were born dead. My vet said I waited too long. Contact your vet and get her checked out! Is this her first litter or has she whelped before?

I called my vet (or the only vet in the area with emergency services). Their response was that I don't have anything to worry about as long as she seems fine. That she would start to shoe signs of labor in her own time.

I wasn't too happy with that answer. I wasn't looking to do anything unless absolutely necessary, I just wanted to know whether I should be worried it's going this long.

This is her second litter, but the first I do on my own.

[PamperedYorkies]

Originally Posted by bjh

I agree that it is better to have the vet check them if they go to long. When my first yorkie went 70 days I took her to the vet and he checked her and told me everything looked fine. I took her home and she delivered four healthy pups later that day.

My biggest concern is when a smaller bitch is only carrying a couple of pups the pups can get to big in the womb for the bitch to deliver. Since the OP had problems with the previous breeding then I would be a bit more concerned with this litter.

I hear you. I'm very nervous. She does seem fine, pups are active, heartbeats are strong, but I'm afraid I'll miss something critical. With the first whelp she was at the breeder's home for the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, so I didn't get to monitor any changes she might have gone through. I feel so clueless and the vet doesn't seem to think there is anything to worry about.

Maybe I'll call again today and ask that the vet herself call me rather than relaying messages through the receptionist.

Thanks!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by PamperedYorkies

Do you count your days from breeding date or ovulation?

I personally count from day of first tie. Two weeks before the due date, I have her already isolated from other dogs, at the foot of my bed. Then I really focus in on her 5 fays before that "due date", and 5 days after that "due date". I have her isolated and observed. crated in a whelping crate, at the foot of my bed. You can expect action at any time during that period. The early side of the due date, and you may be dealing with preemies....I had a litter born day 56....the mortality rate of babies born day 56 or earlier, is close to 85%-100%....the earlier, the less chance they will survive regardless of what you do....they are just not developed enough. I had to work my tail off on that litter, but by the Grace of God, they made it. When you start running long, you have to be diligent with watching the puppies....monitoring them closely.....if momma is NOT in labor, and the babies are alive in there, there is really no harm leaving them until mom goes into labor....but I see no reason to leave them in there past day 70....they are term and should survive without any problem....and that day 70 outside parameter will cover any babies that are conceived after the third tie.....you go taking babies too early, and the babies that were conceived after the last tie, can be "light weights" and now you have an entirely different game!

[PamperedYorkies]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I personally count from day of first tie. Two weeks before the due date, I have her already isolated from other dogs, at the foot of my bed. Then I really focus in on her 5 fays before that "due date", and 5 days after that "due date". I have her isolated and observed. crated in a whelping crate, at the foot of my bed. You can expect action at any time during that period. The early side of the due date, and you may be dealing with preemies....I had a litter born day 56....the mortality rate of babies born day 56 or earlier, is close to 85%-100%....the earlier, the less chance they will survive regardless of what you do....they are just not developed enough. I had to work my tail off on that litter, but by the Grace of God, they made it. When you start running long, you have to be diligent with watching the puppies....monitoring them closely.....if momma is NOT in labor, and the babies are alive in there, there is really no harm leaving them until mom goes into labor....but I see no reason to leave them in there past day 70....they are term and should survive without any problem....and that day 70 outside parameter will cover any babies that are conceived after the third tie.....you go taking babies too early, and the babies that were conceived after the last tie, can be "light weights" and now you have an entirely different game!

Ok, so today is my day 70 from first tie. We only did 2 ties, the 2nd was 3 days later, so even by that date, I would be on day 67. I'm going to call the vet again.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.

[PamperedYorkies]

Called the vet. We're scheduled to go in at 2 pm (2 1/2 hrs from now). They'll start with Xray and Progesterone test.

Are there any specific questions I should be asking? What should I expect from a Progesterone test? Should I push for induction regardless of results?

Thanks much!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by PamperedYorkies

Ok, so today is my day 70 from first tie. We only did 2 ties, the 2nd was 3 days later, so even by that date, I would be on day 67. I'm going to call the vet again.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.

Yesterday you said:
"Today we are on day 67 from the 1st breeding and day 64 from the 2nd breeding."

So wouldn't today be day 68 from the first breeding and day 65 from the 2nd breeding? It certainly could not hurt anything to take her in to the vet again. When was the last x-ray done? Did the vet think the pups would be small enough for her to deliver?

[bjh]

Originally Posted by PamperedYorkies

Called the vet. We're scheduled to go in at 2 pm (2 1/2 hrs from now). They'll start with Xray and Progesterone test.

Are there any specific questions I should be asking? What should I expect from a Progesterone test? Should I push for induction regardless of results?

Thanks much!

I guess we posted at the same time. I am glad you are taking her in. I hope everything goes well. I've never done a progesterone test so I will let other comment on that.

[PamperedYorkies]

Originally Posted by bjh

Yesterday you said:
"Today we are on day 67 from the 1st breeding and day 64 from the 2nd breeding."

So wouldn't today be day 68 from the first breeding and day 65 from the 2nd breeding? It certainly could not hurt anything to take her in to the vet again. When was the last x-ray done? Did the vet think the pups would be small enough for her to deliver?

Oops! Idk what I was thinking! I must be going crazy! Sorry.

Her due date (day 63) was Friday, Jan 31st. So yes, today is day 68. Xray was done day 59 (Monday) and the vet did not make any comments related to puppy size.

Maybe I should wait? I was doing a bit of reading and it seems like a progesterone test without a prior one as a baseline or reference may not be very useful. Is this correct?

Thanks.

[Yorkiemom1]

You need to be sure the babies will fit thru the pelvic ring before she is induced, or you will kill babies. The reason to do xrays is to determine how large the babies are and if they will be able to pass through the pelvic ring. Puppy size is what he should be looking for with xrays.... Every day that the babies are in there, they are getting bigger and bigger....I dont do progesterone levels at this stage of the game....and yes, you track progesterone levels for highs and lows....a lot of times, all they need to get them going at this stage is fluids and some glucose....and maybe a little calcium and then they go on from there.

[Yorkiemom1]

A little exercise often helps get things moving....I PERSONALLY would take her out in the back yard and walk her around....ooops! You are in Pa....you are under two feet of snow, right???!!! I wouldnt get her chilled...just exercise her inside the house....maybe a game of fetch....walking from room to room....f you can get her into some sunshine, they have done research and studies on the effects of sunshine on breeding dogs/pregnant dogs....sunshine is marvelous for them and actually essential to keep breeders cycling well.

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by PamperedYorkies

Called the vet. We're scheduled to go in at 2 pm (2 1/2 hrs from now). They'll start with Xray and Progesterone test.

Are there any specific questions I should be asking? What should I expect from a Progesterone test? Should I push for induction regardless of results?

Thanks much!

A good repro vet can do an ultrasound and check for gut motility. It gives more of an idea of whether or not the puppies are ready. They can also check heart rates with an ultrasound which gives a better indication of whether or not the puppies are having any stress. I would at least ask those questions of your current vet… good luck….

[PamperedYorkies]

At vet's office. XRay shows skull alone is exact dimension of opening in hip bone. 1 baby is breech. Waiting on progesterone results, vet says the can tell whether pups are ready by that??? I will inquire about additional tests suggested. Sorry message is short and choppy.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

A good repro vet can do an ultrasound and check for gut motility. It gives more of an idea of whether or not the puppies are ready. They can also check heart rates with an ultrasound which gives a better indication of whether or not the puppies are having any stress. I would at least ask those questions of your current vet… good luck….

This is going to do more for you and the information you are needing, than a progesterone level at this stage of the game! But I am not sure the vet you are using is able to provide the answers to the questions suggested by tjdmom.