Yorkie day 55 and has a temp drop??

[xBilliex]

Hi 'Yorkiemom1'

Thanks for your message.

I'll take it all into consideration and keep any eye on her.

She doesn't leave my side at all.. Even when I need to go to the toilet.

Kind Regards

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

When I first started doing this, I learned that not all bitches are "textbook"....I had one that never went off food, never had a temperature drop, never did the nesting behavior....she ran around at my feet, and then just disappeared and had a puppy.....then she came back to my feet, ran around awhile, and went to another area and had another puppy....when I heard the first one whimpering, I was frantic, trying to find that baby! So I decided then, I was not doing it THIS way ever again! Fortunately, all the ladies I now breed, are very even tempered and they are used to whelping in this manner. They are crated within view of me and so they dont feel abandoned or left unattended....they seem to appreciate the quiet and not dealing with the activity and drama that goes on with a houseful of dogs! Oh....then there was the little lady, a maiden, that kept trying to move her babies to the den, to her bed where she usually spent her day......she was NOT adjusting at all to this new area, she wanted to go to her familiar bed in the den, and it took several days before she stopped carrying her babies around in the whelping box, trying to get to the den!!!...that was why I decided I would let them get used to the whelping crate so they were comfortable pre-whelp in that crate, and would not be trying to adjust to a new area they were unfamiliar with after having the litter. It works best for all of us....ladies are comfortable with it, and I know where everyone is, at every minute, and I can watch/monitor momma constantly without having to locate her, worry about babies being delivered in multiple places, etc. My lady Rosie taught me not all these ladies are textbook cases, and you could very easily miss something you need to be aware of, waiting and watching for "textbook signs" to occur!

I totally agree that there is just no set of rules that apply to all. Some can really fool you and not act like they are in labor at all and just pop out a pup while others dig, pant and act crazy when they go into labor. I agree it is best to keep them separated when it is near their due date but if it stresses them out to much then it is best to just watch them close and don't let them out of you sight.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by bjh

I totally agree that there is just no set of rules that apply to all. Some can really fool you and not act like they are in labor at all and just pop out a pup while others dig, pant and act crazy when they go into labor. I agree it is best to keep them separated when it is near their due date but if it stresses them out to much then it is best to just watch them close and don't let them out of you sight.

[xBilliex]

Thanks Ladies..

I really appreciate all your help. Finally coming to an end of day 55... Another day closer to her Due Date! :-)

[dawn27]

My gals tend to wait until the house is quiet and dark before they whelp. But normally we stick to our regular routine until those sure tell tell signs of stage one labor have begun. Than confinement to the whelping box during the day and night with me close by on the couch.

At day 55 you still have a ways to go... Here is a site that will help you determine what those tell tell signs are if you don't already know. Debbie Jenson site is full of an overwhelming source of information and I am sure you will find yourself referring to it on many occasions.

Canine Reproduction Video and Book on Breeding and Whelping dogs by Debbie Jensen for dog breeders and Whelping Supplies needed to deliver puppies.

[xBilliex]

Hi 'Dawn27'

Thanks for the site. I've just had a look and stage 1 is as follows:-

Stage 1

Temperature will drop to 98 degrees or so...
Eyes will dilate
She will stare at you and want you near
Refusal to eat
Hide under your bed or a dark place
Laying on her side but can't seem to get comfortable
Mucus Discharge

She has all of those above so referring to that site I believe she is in stage 1! How long until stage 2? I just hope she can hold on for a few more days at least.

Thank you once again! :-)

[bjh]

How big is your girl before getting pregnant? Has she been to the vet for a checkup and x-ray? Do you know how many pups she is expecting? It worries me that she is not eating. Do you have Nutri-cal or something similar on hand? You could try boiling some chicken and mixing some of the chicken with some boiled rice with her food.

If she is big and uncomfortable it would worry me if she is a small bitch. So many things can go wrong so I pray you have been in touch with your vet and keeping him updated.

[xBilliex]

Hi BJH..

She weighed 6 1/2lb before pregnancy. She hasn't been for an x-Ray but has had a scan. She doesn't like car journeys so the scanner come to me. She gets really stressed and sick constantly.

The scan confirmed 2/3 pups but they were small so could of easily missed 1. I asked for a re-scan but the lady didn't think it was necessary?

She'll eat every so often when I feed her in my hands. She's not got much of an appetite though. Little and often seems to be doing the trick & boiled chicken is her fave ATM! She refuses to eat herself unless I'm feeding her?

Kind Regards

[bjh]

Originally Posted by xBilliex

Hi BJH..

She weighed 6 1/2lb before pregnancy. She hasn't been for an x-Ray but has had a scan. She doesn't like car journeys so the scanner come to me. She gets really stressed and sick constantly.

The scan confirmed 2/3 pups but they were small so could of easily missed 1. I asked for a re-scan but the lady didn't think it was necessary?

She'll eat every so often when I feed her in my hands. She's not got much of an appetite though. Little and often seems to be doing the trick & boiled chicken is her fave ATM! She refuses to eat herself unless I'm feeding her?

Kind Regards

That is good that you are hand feeding her. After she has her pups you will probably have to continue hand feeding her for awhile. It will be very important that she eats a lot after she has the pups. Do you have a good quality puppy food to feed her? Sometimes I will soak the dry puppy food then add to that. The mom will need a well balanced diet while she is nursing her pups. Have you ever whelped a litter before? It can get to be very stressful.

[xBilliex]

I've seen a few dogs give birth.. Never raised the pups though.. So technically this is my 1st and boy am I nervous!!

Tbh she was eating royal canin but she won't eat much. As said previously her fave is boiled chicken and rice from my hands! Haha. At least it smells better I guess! :-)
I'd rather her eat something, anything.. Rather than nothing.

What diet did you put your dog on once pups were here?

[bjh]

I have been feeding Chicken Soup For The Puppy Lover's Soul dry food for years. It is a very good dog food but not that easy to find. I give my pregnant mommas the dry food mixed with some Pedigree canned puppy food or canned Pedigree Healthy Digestion. I also give them a calcium supplement.

[xBilliex]

Oh ok... Just re-took her temp..
It was 98.6 about 2pm..
It's now 99.3.

Kind Regards

[xBilliex]

Originally Posted by xBilliex

Her temp is now 38.6?

Kind Regards

Sorry typing error... It's supposed to be 98.6

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by xBilliex

Hi 'Dawn27'

Thanks for the site. I've just had a look and stage 1 is as follows:-

Stage 1

Temperature will drop to 98 degrees or so...
Eyes will dilate
She will stare at you and want you near
Refusal to eat
Hide under your bed or a dark place
Laying on her side but can't seem to get comfortable
Mucus Discharge

She has all of those above so referring to that site I believe she is in stage 1! How long until stage 2? I just hope she can hold on for a few more days at least.

Thank you once again! :-)

You are welcome !

That is hard to say, each dam is different and so is each whelping. Normally within 24/48 hrs. Also whelping can be very different for each. I've had a Dam go into stage 1 in the early morning and by the end of mid day whelp a litter of four. Than that same dam go quickly into stage 2 and go several hours between each pup. My current dam tends to drag out stage 1 and once she get to stage 2 she than whelps within just a few hours. Sometimes within mins up to a half an hour between each pup.

As a breeder and some having several dams we each experience different things with each of them. Its all a matter of watching your pup closely and you'll know when she's ready. Typically if you see her do like a hick up type movement or cry out in pain that is stage 2 labor and those are contractions. That is when you will need to get her to her whelping box and prepare for a long day/night.

[xBilliex]

She's still holding on and keeping the pups safe! No other different changes in her either. Temp this morning was 99.6. So seems reasonable...

I'll keep you all posted :-)