Hi

You may remember me having trouble with a vet for pre-mate etc. Well going off my own back and letting the experts get to it the dogs she is pregnant and now just started the first stages of labour. She has lost her plug but it was brown is this right? I thought it was a poo at first then smelt it!!! She is panting in the box as i type, her milk hasnt come through properly so we have got some replacement. No contractions yet. Ive just cleaned her tummy up and her nipples and rear end. I have the BOB with me but it doesnt say about the colour of the plug. I have never noticed it before, must have just assumed it was a poo outside. Doesnt smell bad either. Will keep you informed, i know how you all like the news of puppies.

Mike

>her milk hasnt come through properly so we have got some replacement

Don't worry too much about that. Often the milk doesn't come in until after the pups are born, and then only in the small quantities of colostrum that's all that's needed in the first day or two. s the pups grow and suck more the bitch produces more milk.

Hi - I posted the same question a week ago as Mischa's plug was tan/brown
Vet saie dnothing to worry about.
It took about 8 hours after that before her early contractions

Hope this helps but if worried ring the vet - I felt much better after a short chat

Good luck

Good luck Mike!

Still no contractions yet, she is panting and sleeping isnt in any distress. A friend has just txted me and said if there is no milk i should take her to the vets for oxytocin. I dont want to do this as she can do fine on her own. Is there a need to at this stage? She hasnt started nesting yet either so i want to let her do it.

Mike

No, there's no need for oxytocin yet. That should only be given when the cervix is fully open and labour underway, but the contractions aren't strong enough to expel a puppy. Administering it too soon is at best pointless and at worst can cause harm.

Keep your vet up to speed with developments.

Information about oxytocin use.

Hi

Thanks for the link, ive just rang the vets to inform him where we are at. She is young fit and healthy, this is her 2nd litter. Her last was very quick almost went straight into contractions and first puppy was born. The first stage is taking longer this time, how long should i expect to wait and not be concerned? She is panting but its warm in here, ive given her a drink of condensed milk and she happily took that. Hoping to get a girl this time and really dont want anything to go wrong. Oh and its day 61 for her, id marked her due date as tomorrow from the first mating.

Mike

First stage labour (panting and nesting etc) can last up to 48 hours. If she's only on day 61 I wouldn't be panicking yet.

Shes just been out for a drink, pee and poo. Refused a bacon treat! which is not like her lol. Ok ill be calm and read my book, get in some power naps and make myself some food.

Hi Mike,

In 30 years of breeding dogs I've never noticed any correlation between obvious milk before whelping and sufficient milk after.

Don't worry. As JG said - giving ocytocin before cervix relaxation will be a bit like the pups banging their heads against a closed door.

Still nothing yet, no contractions just heavy panting.

Is anything happening?

Heavy panting no contractions but abit of shivering, although this has been happening on and off for a while. Looks like it may be into the early hours and i dont like coffee.

Mike

Pups have shifted down and her tum is quite hard now, i hope its soon :-)

It looks like an all nighter Mike :-)

Good luck

when my girl had her litter (2) she didnt nest like the 1st time ...if she panting and shivering im sure its not going to be to long now :)

Good luck (if u dont like coffee get some pepsi ) :)

we have a boy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

congrats!!!

Well done!  Pleased for you.  Been up 48 hours myself, and my girl took a very long time in comparison to her first litter.  This is her last.  Shattered but on an adrenalin high.  Hope yours is not as long as mine from first to last!  :-)

Well her plug came out at half 7 this morning, she was heavily panting all day. Contractions finally started at half 10, 2 hours went by i was paniking then i could see something on way, a boy. That was over an hour a go and no more puppies yet. But he is lovley very chunky, a girl please next. Looks like im guna be up til tomorrow dinner. Ah at least the first is safe sigh of relief. Now in 8 weeks i just need to let those bad people take them away.

Congratulations, looking forward to more news!

Any more news?

Had to go for emergency c section just waiting on news now. 2nd pup was too big and got stuck even with oxy and vets arm up her. She may have to be spayed too, just hope she is ok. Not a happy bunny just hope she pulls through. Anyone think breeding is easy think again. This is the price you pay and money too £500 plus!

ooo no i do hope your girls ok ...and yes breeding isnt about alots of money ,it can alot of the leave you out of pocket .x

She is fine, had to spay she lost alot of blood. She had 7 but 2 died the one that got stuck and another. Shame as the one that got stuck was a beast apparantly the nurse said. Im happy with what i have. 3 girls to pick from. I did fret about her and thought is it worth it all but she will not go through that again. I couldnt bare to lose her.

Mike

So sorry things went wrong for you Mike,makes me appreciate how lucky we were to have a trouble free pregnancy and whelping.As you say,at least you still have your precious girl.Enjoy your puppies,we have such a short time with them don't we.

sorry to hear you lost 2 pups
but glad to hear your girl is fine ....

When it came to decision time at the vets, i suprised myself as i wasnt as concerned about the puppies as i thought i would be i just wanted my girl to be ok. I kept thinking there could have been something i had done wrong, not kept her muscle tone up as she could no longer walk with the other dogs as it was too much for her, therefore she didnt get a walk everyday but she was happy with what she did get. Then i thought perhaps i overfed her and the pups were too big, but i didnt i stuck to a diet and didnt even up her food until she was 6 weeks as i wasnt sure she was even pregnant. Its just one of those things i suppose. I now have a fabulously sized litter a few nipples to go around i dont like big litters too much hard work. Im still worried about her, she lost alot of blood. Im so glad she is strong i couldnt deal with losing her.

Mike

Good luck with your bitch and pups

Linda

> Im so glad she is strong i couldnt deal with losing her

I think we all know that one.  You're right, when our girls do have difficulties, all of our concerns are on them, and not the puppies. 

Mike, I've checked in several times since your first pup was born, hoping that nothing was wrong.  Very glad for you that your girl lived to tell the tale.   :-)

hi mike its great to hear your girl is ok :) ....sorry about the 2 pups :( .....my girl is now 6+ and is getting big she want to eat all the time (im not letting her) she is on puppy now .she is a large breed and i worry about the pups being to big for her to have ...

good luck with your girl and her babys :) x

>my girl is now 6+ and is getting big

Which of your dogs is pregnant, white lilly? I'm confused, I'm afraid. :-o Is it the shih tzu, the GSD, the ESS or the fourth one?

jeangenie ill pm you as i carnt put it up i will get introuble ...as its classed as addvertising .

So glad it all worked out ok, your girl is fine and thats all that matters. I had a similar experience 2 years ago, my girl ended up with 3 dead puppies and a ruptured uterus, extreme blood loss and spayed...we came so close to losing her and at the time i didnt care about anything but my girl so i know what you mean when you say you surprised yourself...so did i!

When i goes right it's amazing....When it goes wrong it is heartbreaking, not to mention expensive, but bringning my girl home was worth every single penny :)

I wish you luck with your new babies

Take Care
Mandy x