Hi all

I was wondering what your experience is of pups being born early, and what is the earliest pups that pups can survive?

I have read the literature which suggests from 58 days onwards but wonder what actual experience is of this.

I am panicking a bit as my bitch is only on day 46 yet is absolutely huge and seems to be wheezing at times because everything is squashed up. She hasn't been this big before, at this stage with previous litters, and I can't imagine her going full term.

Tracey

The earliest a litter can be born and be considered viable is 56 days. I have had a litter of 12 born via c-section at that age and all were fine. If you are concerned about your bitch I would take her to the vet for a check up, for your peace of mind if nothing else. Sometimes though when a bitch is so full of puppies (which was the case for my above mentioned litter) the uterus is so stretched it cannot contract at all and therefore you have the problem of inertia. A c-section is the only way forward in that case.

My boy was apparently 9 days early. My friend has a bitch who is now nearly at her due date, but has been making her owner panic for a good 2 weeks with all her huffing and puffing!

:) My bitch is day 49 today and she has been huffing and puffing  too for a week cos everything is squashed up lol

I had a litter of 13 born last summer at 56 days. all were fine, one tiny one who is now a strapping 7 month old

Diane

Thank you all for your replies and advice, I feel reassured that 56 days is the earliest. I am of course hoping she hang on longer than that!

I will keep an eye out for the inertia situation, we had that last time because of a singleton....I think she's she's going to make this, her last litter count by having more pups!

Someone I know had a large litter by c-section 11 days early, only 2 are living at the mo and she lost one recently. They look very premmy. Hope she goes to term, risks include lack of milk also. Do you know approx how many she is having. Larger litters seem to come early, another litter I know of 14 came early and most died delivered again by c section. Yet I know if another litter if 14 gone to term and been fine. All my breed

My breed regularly whelps a week early, so I have had 56 day litters quite often.  No problems, and mums had milk, and reared just fine.  The earliest I had was 10 days early, and you knew that it wasn't viable (still tried, but in vain.)

Hi Louise, vet wouldn't state exact amount but we saw 4 on one screen, so at least 4!

She seemed to change shape a few days ago, thinner on the top (can feel her spine) and belly hanging lower. This change in shape seems to have made more room and her breathing is normal again.

She is day 50 today and looks enormous, boobs are filling up nicely but no milk, and is happy in herself so am really hoping we'll go to term or at least to day 56.

My daughter wants to xray her to see how many pups (She is a vet nurse) but I'm reluctant.