Hi All,it would appear that my Piper is losing her plug already, she is day 52 today - should i be worried?? No other signs apart from this, she is fine in herself.
Last year she had a litter of 13 on day 56, all were fine, big,chunky pups. I assume as she is losing it already that she will start early again this time, we know she is having another large litter (scanner thinks 11).
Soooo, should i be worried????

What specifically do you mean by losing her plug?  If you're seeing some strings of mucous when she goes this can be perfectly normal about this and not quite the same as losing the plug.

It is not like the normal discharge that they have, there is lots more of it and the other dogs are behaving differently towards her today too. The last time i saw this was the day before she had her pups last year.
She has taken herself into her box for most of the day today too and there is a lot of nesting going on.

Is it like stringy goo? If so then this is fine so early, so long as it is clear. I had one with 'string' for about a fortnight prior to whelping and had a normal, if maybe quick, birth.

I always think the stringy loss looks like egg white and sticks to the long hair.

I hope she hangs on for a few more days for you but with all those pups space must be at a premium. Maybe the pups are just getting lined up ready, has her shape changed alot in the last few days? With all the nesting does she appear to be contracting or just practicing her digging skills.

I would make sure someone is with her 24/7 from now on.

That is exactly what it looks like Rhodach. Her shape has changed over the last few days and she has dropped. Haven't noticed any contractions, she is digging a fair bit though. With her last litter she showed no signs of starting until her waters broke and then she started digging. She is not being left at all from now on, she is not due for another 10 days but am being extra vigilant as her last litter was born 8 days early.

Tell her to cross her legs!  :-)

I wouldn't want a litter 10 days early either.  I think the lungs need a bit more time.  Hope she hangs on for you.

Have told her to keep them crossed. Am starting to think she is starting in first stages of labour :-(   she is digging a lot, very restless and licking her vulva a lot, no signs of obvious contractions but it does look like she is starting, i am terrified. Just want her to hang on for another day or two, it is day 55 today. Her pups born at day day 56 last year were a nice weight and we had no problems but this is even earlier. I am assuming it is because she is again having a large litter and there is no room. Positive thoughts please.

Have everything crosed for you hope she hangs on another day or two :)

Just another day to wait based on last time so fingers crossed. 

With my most recent litter I had the bitch convincing me she was about to start for nearly a week.  In the end she whelped 65 days to first mating. 

She had been mated three times on alternate days to give maximum coverage due to going abroad for mating.

Am pretty confident she is in early stages, she was only mated once so am sure on dates etc. Have spoken to vets, who were no help at all, not sure what i expected them to say tbh. If she has them today what are their chances??

I am clearly going nuts, today is day 54,last years pups were born on day 55

As labour can go on for 24 hours lets hope they are viable.  To be honest there isn't anything the vet can do really.  They will eiether have lungs that can cope or not.  Good luck that things go OK.

Well she is definitely in labour :-(   am just hoping they are little fighters, my heart is breaking at the thought of losing them

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why Piper is having her litter early again? Is it likely to be just litter size or are there likely to be other factors. Not that it really matters but i am trying to occupy my brain rather than dwell on what is happening.
She is super fit, in great condition, fed a healthy diet etc etc, her mother didn't have early litters although did have large litters. We used the same stud again, just the one mating again.

Any thoughts???

Did last year's pups survive ok?  It could be possible that she doesn't mate until bang on when the eggs are ready making her several days after ovulation.  Then she maybe gives birth a few days early from ovulation.  Don't forget the 63 days is actually from ovulation, not from mating. One of my girls was 5 days early from first mating and 7 days early from 2nd mating (I know that is quite a lot safer than 8 days early). So clearly she was mated a few days after ovulation and then went a couple of days early from then.  Her pups were perfectly healthy and very good weights even for full term puppies.

Fingers crossed she hangs on a bit yet, as Brainless says 24 hours can make a massive difference at this stage.

Hi, yes last years pups were absolutely fine, their weights were fine considering they were so early. Pupa are definitely on their way, Piper is having contractions now :-(

Ooh blimey!  Good luck lucy!

Wishing you all the luck and fingers paws and toes crossed here :)

How are things going?

Like in humans some bitches just don't go full term, whether it is a mechanical or hormonal problem.

I hope you have Dopram V on hand to stimulate their breathing if any are struggling.

I hope all goes well.

if i remember from last year all pups were fine? if so im sure pups will be ok this time how are things going lucy??? xx

Any news? Hope all is well :)

First pup born at 4.35  she has had 5 so far, we have lost 1 (heart breaking) but the others are looking ok, although all needed a fair bit of rubbing and 2 needed Dopram to get going. She has lots more to come, weights are ok,most just on 1 lb or 15oz so not too bad. Wish us luck

Oh and they are all boys so far, just like last time .................

Sending all the best wishes your girl could ever have.  If there are lots more to come, it does sound pretty definite that she just didn't have enough room to hang on any longer.  I think you have your answer.

I'm sorry about the one that you lost.  Please do let us know the outcome when she's finished.  You are both going to be so tired.

Thanks for the update.

Sorry one pup didn't make it, hope the rest arrive safe and well.

Well done and thanks for updating..sorry for the litle one x

RIP sleeping baby. Congrats on the others though :)

I think we are done now, poor Piper is exhausted. We have 10 live babies and 2 that are forever sleeping :-( :-(  . Pups are all doing great considering how early they are, some were a bit slow to start with but seem fine now and all are feeding well.

That is such good news Lucy, shame about the 2 little ones though.  Did you get any girlies in the end?

Congrats and all the best with the babies. Shame about the stillborn ones but sadly it's sometimes the way with big litters. Hope you and Piper can get some rest.

Thanks all, i got 2 girls out of the 10, Piper certainly likes her boys!!  The stillborn experience is a new one for me and am utterly heartbroken but am concentrating on the 10 beautiful babies that are here and am grateful as it could all have been so different based on their prematurity.

Has she finished now? congratulations :)

What date was she mated, it seems incredible for pups to survive at only 54 days gestation, as it is generally accepted the earliest is 56/7 days?

If all goes well might be interesting two write up your experiences with both litters for academic purposes, those with an interest in canine reproduc tion wodulb e interested I am sure..

I agree Barbara.  I often get litters at 56 days, normal for my breed.  But I honestly thought that this litter would just not have lungs sufficiently developed. 

I once had a litter born at 53 days.  If anyone asked advice, I would have told them not to try, as it would only end in heartbreak.  Yes, easy to advise other people!  I tried for hours, but they just weren't viable, and it was so very sad.  Mum had too many pups for her size.  I do hope that the OP will consider that her bitch has done her bit now, and have her spayed.  Over 2 dozen pups in just 2 litters is huge!

Brainless, she was mated on 21st Dec, only the one mating exactly the same as last time. Today is day 55, also exactly the same as last time.

Jean, yes Piper is going to be spayed later this year, she always was going to be regardless of litter size.

I'm glad lucysmith.   :-)

I still cannot believe your luck!   You certainly had lucky stars shining for you.  I honestly thought you would lose more.  I am so very pleased for you and your girl.