Hi all, My girl is due anywhere from wed to sat next week. We woke this morning to her crying and pacing around. She went up onto my bed, which she never does any more and started to rearrange my blankets, I left her toit and just kept an eye on her. She has barely eaten all day, only a tiny bit of meat, which isnt her. She has had bouts of resting and panting all day long with digging a big hole in the corner of my garden lol. We went for a little walk on lead around the streets, which she was quite happy to do, then when we came back she suddenly decided after 2 weeks that she does actually like her whelping box and has completely trashed it, tearing up the paper and scratching up her bedding etc.
We took her temp at 4pm ish and it was 37.2, this is the first time it has been taken as was going to start tomorrow. I have just taken it again and it was 36.8, do you think this is her drop and if so this means pups should be here within the next 24 hours, am I right?!

Do you think they will be OK if she took on her last mating therefore making her arrivals a week early?

Am sleeping on couch with her for next few weeks anyway but just would love to know something else will happen soon, shes shattered already I feel so sorry for her. And now its pouring down and Im following her around the garden in my pj''s and a torch, the neighbours must think Im mad lol

Thanks
Amy

sounds like it could be soon but this is the stage and can last 24h maybe longer so dont worry about them being aweek early thats fine but she might have taken on 1st matiing so pups will only be a couple of days early! its not that she dont like her whelping box ,she is nesting in there :) just make sure you watch EVERY move she makes ,even when shes outside she could think she needs to poo and have a pup out side!
good luck and wellcome to the no sleep club lol ps when you get a temp drop take it again 1-2h later and if its still down then your girl will be starting with in 24h :)

Thanks whitelilly, have been waiting for a response for ages lol, im desperate lol. Been on phone to vets to let them know shes starting so just a waiting game now.
Will take her temp in a bit and let report back, wish me luck for if it happens overnight.
Amy

Its now 36.9 so still quite low at the moment, she seems far more uncomfortable now, she lies down for a minute then sits back up. She doesnt seem to be able to get comfy in any position, poor girl :-(
We just want them here now, I feel so so sorry for her

I would never have taken a bitch for a walk that had been crying and restless - she could have had contractions while outside, and whelped a pup.

She is definitely within a normal, viable timescale to give birth.  Have you whelped a bitch before, and do you have "the book of the bitch?"

Edited to add - the panting and digging is usually a sign of pain.

We only walked to the end of the street and back, I would never have taken her any further than that, just in case. It was to get her to have a wee as she would happily go in the garden but even on lead would just try and get to the corner to dig other than having a wee, she did need one she was just more interested in other things, bless her! She had a wee and we came straight back. Yeah I have book of the bitch and have read it about 10 times just today lol, just thought I would ask others opinions :-)
I have whelped one of my own bitches before but this was 6 years ago and you soon forget things!!! I have however been at countless whelpings before, having worked for a lady for a few years who was top breeder for 10 years. Its just different when its your own dog, Im remaining calm and am on the sofa watching from a distance as I dont want to interfere too much. Yes she does seem to be very uncomfortable at times and earlier her eyes were very glassy, shes resting at the moment (on the couch)

Still dont seem to be any further forward, maybe I shouldve tried to grab a couple of hours sleep on the couch but was to frightened to liedown incase I slept through anything lol. She has been cleaning herself a lot and her temp is crawling back up. It was 37.3 at 10am

Certainly sounds like first stage labour to me.

I have had bitches whelp 5 days before the due date to first mating.  A friend had her litter of standard Long Dachs whelp 7 days early no problems.

for this reason I expect whelping from any time from a week before due date, but my breed doesn't often go much over.

From what you say she could be due from Wednesday so therefore may only be 3 days early and as she may have them tomorrow then might only be two days early. That is not a problem.

hi ladyjade ,hows things going? the girl i have here had pups 5days ago and when she started her was 36.3 for over 24h and then went to 35.7 before she whelped ,your girl could go before that :) sounds like it shouldnt be to long now ,let me how you get on ...good luck

Well so far we have 5 dogs 2 bitches all arrived safe and sound, shes resting at the moment but Im sure I can still feel another 1 or 2 in there. Shes being a good mummy, if a little clumsy so am a nervous wreck at the moment incase she lies on them lol. She started to contract at 1pm and had first at 3pm, Im so so proud of her!!!
Will update if she has any more
Amy

Hi Amy,

Congrats on your new arrivals, all the best and let us know if she has any more. x

another on its way, hopefully a little girly, nope its another boy lol, shes still got one more in there that I can feel, will let you know

thats fantastic :) well done to the both you!! you will soon luck like me lol bags on your eyes big enough to carry your weeks worth of shopping in!! lol ....keep us posted

:) :) :)

Well done - at last!  Fingers X'd for a girly for you!  :-)

Glad things went well - Congratulations

any more yet ? hope you got 2 more girls :)

Well grand total of 6 dogs and 2 bitches in the end. Had to rush her to vets at 6am as she was pushing but very tired. Turned out to be a placenta that dropped out on the floor after an internal lol. Had her scanned just to be sure there was nothing left. Cost us a small fortune just for them to see her but it was well worth it for peace of mind and know she was OK. I wouldnt have settled otherwise. They are all feeding well although we had to spend time latching them on 4 at a time last night to stop them crying. She is doing so well and is cleaning them well and they are all feeding well too. Nice content mam and babies.

Thanks for all your help
Amy

thats great to hear mum and babys are doing so well....i had to do the same ,its not cheap is it but like you say peace of mind is the best thing :) ....your girl had same amount of pups as the girl here :)