I have noticed a couple of times when daisy has got up off the floor that she seemed to kind of be struggling to get her back legs sorted, but assumed that it was because of the weight of her tummy and the fact that her centre of balance is off. A couple of hours ago I nearly had a cardiac though as she was stepping out of the back door, her front paps were out and her back legs slipped on some water an went out behind her and she landed with a heck of a smack on her tummy. She just laid there, shocked I think, and I had to help her up. I had a tense couple of hours where she was panting really heavily and whimpering , but everything seems to have settled down now and the pups are moving around still. I am still slightly concerned though as she got up a moment ago and her back legs seemed a bit wobbly, is it just from the sheer weight that she is carrying or should I be concerned? She is day 59 today so she is cumbersome to say the least.
Thanks in advance ladies.

hi

by the sounds of think she could be lacking calcuim

when my girl was in whelp my vet told me to put her on calcuim a week bedue pups are due then keep her on them whilst feeding them

hope this helps

Personally I'd take for a check up, it could e lack of calcium, but it could be something else too ;)

I'd be visiting the vet too.

I will give them a call, god they are going to think that I am such a neurotic, this will be the second time in 3 days - she is worth it though! She is quite happy in the back garden catching the evening breeze at the moment, but I will feel better for speaking to them. Out of curiosity why would calcium deficiency make her back legs weak?

Any news?

Why is it different vets have differing opinions on calcium?? I'm so frustrated, I've been told by my vet not to give her calcium supplements. She didn't have any during pregnancy except from food, and now she's 5 days into feeding 9 pups! Still the vet tells me not to give supplements...

On the weakness thing, it may be more that she's lying around more than usual due to her size, and when she does get up and move around she's stiff on those back legs, the extra weight might make her legs go 'dead' so takes a while to be properly mobile when she does get up. I'm sure if you take her to the vet they won't think you're neurotic, maybe you could just give them a call and ask their advice, won't involve getting her there which at her stage in pregnancy is no mean feat!!

Good luck, I hope she's ok.

Sorry for taking so long, yes I spoke to the vet, he said that as she didnt seem at all disorientated and was quite perky he didnt think it was calcium. He did point out that as her breed has fur under their pads and my floor is tiled that may be contributing *blush* as she seems to be slow but fine getting up on the grass. I told him that I had checked all of the puppies heartbeats and they were pounding away and that when you squeezed around her hips and legs she didnt seem to be in any pain, so he just said to keep an eye on her. She seems fine this morning, but I cant wait now for her to have them as she really is getting so huge that she is missing out on playing with the other dogs, she just lays there and kind of barks encouragements to them, but you can tell that she would love to join in!
These last few days are hard, I am stressing and watching her like a hawk, and she is now looking more and more like a pot bellied pig! She ate loads -for her- last night though and had a really good nights sleep ( unlike her owner who twitched every time she moved and made the paper in the whelping box rustle) so I am hoping that if she was shocked yesterday all is good now.

Thanks itsadogslife, our posts must have crossed, my vet also said that he doesnt like giving calcium while they are in whelp! You are right it only happens when she has been laid down for ages, I guess I am just so protective of her as I am aware it was me who chose to mate her, so every time she looks fed up I am so guilty!

If a dogs on a ood quality diet and i fit and healthy I don't see why they would need extra calcium?  But I'm very much of "let nature take it's course unless something looks very wrong"

I have read that giving Calcium to a bitch BEFORE pups are born can contribute to the bitch having uterine Inertia, but if a vet advises to give or not to give (as all breeds are different) then I'm sure it is ok.

I know that the book of the bitch advises against it for that reason amongst others, I will just keep an eye on her - she says as if she isnt watching her like a hawk anyway!

I have just taken her temperature and it has dropped to 36.7!!!! What do you think ladies she is day 60 now. Oh I hope it means she will be having them in the next 24/48 hours!! Still no sign of the plug though, and she is snoring away on the kitchen floor so hardly in active labour LOL.

mine was extremely quiet, no panting etc, I would hope maybe for it to drop to around 36.5 but it does sound promising.....More sleepless nights for you!! :-)