Hi

My sister's dog Lucy was due on the 2nd/3rd Jan, she isn't showing any signs of distress and hasn't been very active today, she isn't panting heavily, not pushing, has been sick several times, with a couple of bouts of lose stools over the past few days and movement can be seen from the pups. 

This is Lucy's first litter and was only mated once so there is no doubt with the due date.  She was scanned (sheep scanner) at 5 weeks and advised that there were 10+ puppies.......

Her vet has advised her that bitches can go 10 days overdue......  I was quite shocked at this, but then all my litters have come on the due date (maybe I've just been lucky).

The question is has anyone had a bitch go 10 days overdue??  And what are your thoughts on allowing a bitch to go overdue for this length of time??

Thank you all in advance x

My last bitch went 5 days overdue without any problems.

I wouldn't even consider 10 days -it's too much. A week at times can happen (but that would be rare) but ten days? No way, not when there is a certain date of mating with no other possibilities. If pups weren't born ten days after the due date I'd be extremely worried.

Sounds like this particular bitch is due soon though by the sounds of it -so ignore the vet. :)

Ten days over is too much! Speak to another vet.

I thought this too Lois - I'll let my sister know, I've got very involved with this pregnancy as Lucy is one of my pups from Phoebe (who went to Rainbow Bridge a year and 4 months ago)

Thank you

Thank you Marianne - I'm sure they're on the way but she seems very reluctant to let them leave her....  She's been sleeping in the whelping box box all day but hasn't been nesting (e.g. digging and circling)

If over due date and it is unclear if bitch is in inertia you can use serum progestore tests . Progesterone of 2ng or less is indicative that labour should commence within 24hrs. If progesterones are still above 2ng I would be happy to wait n see

K

Thank you klb however serum progesterone tests have to be performed at the vets and I know my sister doesn't want to move Lucy at the moment unless it's urgent.

Should also add that I doubt the vet would perform the test as they've already said wait 10 days past the due date... :-)

Blimey!  If I had a bitch 10 days over I would have a nervous breakdown!

In my breeds, I've had maiden bitches whelp a week early with no problems, and once had a girl that was one day late (I was worried sick!)

I wouldn't be happy if my vet said never mind, we'll wait 10 days!

10 days is way too long.

thinking about it maybe she is only 5days over? even with 1 mating she may not of court till 5days later ?.....good luck i hope it all turns out well xx

I've had two ( boxer) bitches who routinely went 6 or 7 days late and all without problems and it wouldn't unduly worry me now but 10 days is rather too far I think before even beginning to investigate......
if it were a cavalier litter I'd have to have vet intervention after 2 or 3 days.

Horses for courses!

In my breed bitches rarely go over.  I have had one who went four days over past a single mating, but based on the signs following he prolonged season, and the vets view when she was palpated at 28 days that the pregnancy was not as far advanced as that, I was happy to let her go over, with monitoring. 

This was a third and last litter, she had been brought in season a bit early by her daughter preceding her, and had been desperate to be mated, as so often experienced bitches will stand sooner and longer than maidens.

Her first litter was five days early to a  single mating.

Boxers are funny little beggars!
They often go 10-12months between seasons,
often go far longer than 63 days in whelp and
even when they start whelping it can take an eternity to produce a whole litter.
I've commonly had pups as much as 12 hours older than their siblings.
Nerve wracking or what?

This is where knowing a breed and lien predisposition and the vet not having a one size fits all attitude comes in.

Also once your experienced you know if things are not right even if the amount of time is not excessive.

This is why a whelping bitch and owner need soemoen who is expereinced with whelping bitches at hand to spot a problem before it is critical.

I knew for instance the bitch I had on loan was not progressing with her whelping even though it had only been two hours since a pup was born.  It was obvious she was not behaving right.

The Vet tried with oxytocin, calcium etc, but in the end had to C section her.

She had a serious calcium deficiency at whelping due to chronic gastro problems just before I had her half way though pregnancy,a nd this was slow to clear up and her condition was poor at whelping, despite my best efforts to force nutrition into her at that stage.

My boxers seasons are usually yearly....... but I've never had one go more than a day after her due date (I think I must be very lucky there after reading the threads) and I've had 12 hours between the first pup arriving and the last :-)

She's still panting and having contractions but no pushing yet, I like to think I'm fairly experienced but was concerned that the vet advised waiting 10 days post delivery date!!

I feel so sorry for my sister, she hasn't slept for over 3 days now (I keep telling her that she'll know when Lucy is in full labour but cause it's her first litter she is obviously anxious) - I've told her that the sleepless nights will be needed when the pups finally arrive :-) and to get as much rest as possible now.

I had a friend over recently and we were discussing the time she asked to come and watch a whelping before she mated her rottweiler ( who seem to produce their pups like a string of sausages)

Haha....did she ever regret that.....in the end she went home it took sooooo long! Six flashy bitches though and she missed half of them :-)

> Six flashy bitches though and she missed half of them :-)

You lucky thing you.

I always dream of a litter of 4 bitches to choose from, and 2 dogs (if I have to have them LOL) when I want to keep a puppy. 

If I am being entirely selfish an all bitch litter would suit, but I am always thinking ahead and having males well placed where they may be used and have offspring I can come back to is useful to.

I'm pleased to say that Lucy has started -the pups are all coming very quickly.

Thank you for your responses x

thats wonderful news let us know how many she has :) xx

Yippee best news I have had all day whilst sitting at home watching the snow !!!

K

Any news? Really pleased for you all.

Lois

guess its a case of "no news is good news" hope things going well, please update us when u can

Sorry I haven't update you sooner I've been busy :-) just got back home.  9 pups one didn't make it :( looked like it had a cleft palate.  Other that that mum and pups are doing very well and my sister is doing an amazing job for a first time mum to pups :-)

Well done on your litter, sorry the little one didn't make it.

Enjoy them

Lois

so sorry about 1 that didnt make it :( but well done to you and your sister ...8 beautiful puppies to look after and no sleep for her :( (i know i she will be feeling ) x

> Also once your experienced you know if things are not right even if the amount of time is not excessive.
>
>

100% right with that statement.  I had a bitch go into labour, and wouldn't let her go more than an hour before I phoned the vet.  (Always at night isn't it?)  :-(

The vet asked if I was sure that she was having decent contractions.  Yes, most definitely.  But I just knew something wasn't right.  She had started to dilate, but no pup had come down low enough for things to proceed.  So oxytocin wasn't an option.

Vet wanted to X-ray, to find out if pups were too large.  They weren't.  Clear as can be, you could see two pups in one uterine horn.  Actually side by side, looking like Siamese twins.  It was obvious that one couldn't move down, to allow the second pup space to move.  They were jammed there.

My girl's contractions couldn't move the pups.  A C-section later, and we had 2 lovely little girls, who even weighed exactly the same.  Neither too big for my girl to whelp, they were just badly presented.  I am so glad that I followed my gut feeling, and didn't leave my girl to wear herself out.