Hello all. A proper question this time!

As instructed by other threads on here, I took my bitch's temp tonight as I intended to take it each morning and night over the next few days so I have reference for when the 'drop' happens. She's due on Wednesday (day 59 today) so I thought taking temps now would be a good start. However, her temp taken with a digital thermometer is 36.9! I know the normal should be about 37.7, so I am wondering now if this is a drop! She doesn't seem like she was last time, this pregnancy has been quite different from her last, with less digging. She's slowly drifting to sleep on my husband's lap, has been burying food a bit tonight and eating some too, and her puppies are still quite active and kicking about. She doesn't look like anything has dropped down at all or changed shape, either, but I do think she's been losing some plug as the hair around her vulva is crusty.

Any experience or advice appreciated, I know that judging by the threads I've read on here after putting 'temperature drop' into the search feature, some pay no attention to temp drops and some swear by them. She won't be left at all as I sleep right beside her now, but she certainly doesn't seem overly uncomfortable or ready to whelp.

Everything is ready but I'm a bit wary! My vet is a star and has offered to give me some oxytocin injections to administer if I need to but I've declined as I think through the snow I can get to him if she does go in.

I never have taken temperatures. Always gone by behaviour but a worrying time in case your missing anything. I have had a bitch start losing the plug up to a week before but all has proved to be normal. Digging also has gone on for quite a few days so time to follow her around.
I understood that Oxytocin should not be given until a puppy had been born as there is a danger in this and come hell or high water I would have her at my vets that I trust implicitly and not be giving any injections myself.
Good luck with everything. Hopefully it will all happen naturally in the next few days.

Yes that's what I've said to my vet, I would worry I'd be giving the injection for the wrong reason or at the wrong time, so would rather just bring her in than administer it myself! Thanks for the reply, I have been watching her like a hawk and though a little uncomfortable she doesn't seem to be displaying any tell tale signs she's going in.

Re oxytocin, I'd be seriously concerned about a vet giving injections to a client to self-administer to their bitch. I don't care what the circumstances are, as far as I'm concerned, this should be administered only by a qualified vet. Reason I'm so against it? If one of my bitches had been given this with her first litter nearly 2 years ago then should would have bled to death. No buts or wherefores, that is fact, death it would have been. So. Oxytocin, if it must be given, then only by a vet ... irrespective of weather conditions.

Re temperature drop. I've always found this to be extremely reliable. As has my breeder friend and mentor. However, you need to know what your bitches 'normal' temperature is. There's an accepted range of temperature for any dog, however, all individuals are just that, individuals, so their own temperature may be slightly out of the normal. You also need to realise that temperature will naturally fluctuate at different times of day. When looking for a temperature drop to indicate when whelping likely, you are looking for a consistent drop (a bitch will dip into the 36Cs and rise out again). However, the drop is not a permanent one, so if you are not taking temps 3-4 times a day you may very well miss it.

This http://www.debbiejensen.com/temp_chart.html explains quite nicely. Good luck, exciting times ahead :-)

Thanks Trialist. My vet was quite specific to letting me know when to administer it, but like you say, it could be the wrong thing to do which is why I declined and decided to just take her in if that happened.

Her temp has been as such; last night she was 6.9, 12pm today she was 6.6, and tonight she's been 6.1. She's peeing a bit more and has had a motion that's not quite as formed as her previous, and seems a bit unsettled. I've put her in her whelping nest with some balled up newspaper and some food so that if she wants to nest she can. Babies are still very active and kicking furiously. I think we may be looking at labour tomorrow but who knows! I'm ready but thought she might wait a bit later than day 60 to be honest.

>thought she might wait a bit later than day 60 to be honest.

Perfectly viable at day 60, so don't worry about it.  Mine often whelp on day 56, normal for my lot!

Thanks Jean, I know that with your toy breed it's normal to go much earlier than that so that brings me comfort, hopefully all the pups will be healthy and viable.

hi did you use the table to see hows to watch the drop?? did u get it right well if pups have been born that is :)

Hiya. I followed the table but I don't think it was very reliable as I'm still without any puppies. She's in first stages now I think, moving into second stages, shivering, digging, but still sleeping a fair bit!

sounds like shes not going to be long now looks like no sleep tonight then plz keep us posted. good luck :) the calm before the storm :) x

Hi WaggaMamma.... we're due on Wednesday too. So far we've had a bit of panting, then resting & the worst bowel clearout I've ever had to cope with :( No digging as such, just scrabbing at her bedding for a few seconds then laying down for a rest. Good luck...it looks like we're both in for sleepless nights soon :)

Sounds like you'll both have a busy night :)

Thanks. I am sure I will be in for a long night either way, can't seem to sleep with her being so close now, I get so worried I'll miss it even if she's only a few feet away! No panting here or much clearing out, is it wrong that I'm a bit jealous, Rockstar?!

Lol waggamama one of our girls didnt do anything she just moved and had a gush of water then 1st pup was born 20mins later that was it ...ive had 1 eat on the day she had her pups and was eating inbetween pups being born lol so not all go by the book ;) x

This is the 1st litter from my girl, so not sure what to expect in the way of signs, but my other girl who had a litter of 3 last year did hardly anything! In fact I'd just got settled on the sofa when she shoved her wet nose in my face...walked to the back of the whelping box & gushed waters everywhere. I guess they're all different, but I'm so scared of falling asleep, that I've got Hubby on a blow up mattress on the front room floor lol (he's handy for 'fetching stuff & recording birth weights/sex/colour etc...bless him) :)

yes i use my hubby for the same thing Lol...the cups of tea are the best but this time hes doing the whelping help as my back is not good at the mo but il manage the looking after :)x

Haha well she was the same last time, did a bit of digging, panted for about two minutes, and I thought 'Oh it's time to go then.' and then she stood up and there was the water bag! But this pregnancy has been much easier than last so I'm literally not leaving her side unattended for a minute at the moment just in case she decides to pop one out. Right now she's eating little and burying her food, she tends to do that, dig a little, and then sleep for a little while. I would really like them out tonight as I'm desperate to meet them!

WhiteLilly my hubby has just ferried in my Chinese dinner lol! I'm enjoying this part!

Oh great! I got eggs n chips hahaha

That's too culinary for mine, Chinese is all he can do lol.

She's just done a very runny poo, we might be in business tonight.

ooooh!! I'll be leaving the laptop on tonight looking for updates. Mine has refused food & totally zonked out :/

Good luck ladies, hope all goes well & look forward to reading the happy news :)

I hope all the pups arrive safely and dams are healthy.

We can keep eachother company and share matchsticks! :p

Good luck guys hope all goes well :) :) :)

LOL enjoy :) looks like you both will be keeping each other sane to night lol i love the breed you have waggamama :) wishing you both all the best with an easy whelp for your girls ...this will be me in 2 weeks :) lucky ladies relax and enjoy plz update cus il be checking too i dont sleep much lol x

Panting & rearranging bedding...that's all we've got here. I've had a nap, so I can stay awake later. How's things your end waggamamma?

Ooh good luck, my girl has a week to go so can sympathise!

Thanks WhiteLilly, nothing but trouble they are! ;)

Fast asleep this end, nothing new, sigh! I'd like a bit more action but it looks like she's going to wait till 4am...
No nap for me so OH is going to watch her in a bit whilst I kip a litlte bit in the arm chair.

Beth if hubby is watching have a proper nap in a bed, the difference an hours rest on your bed makes later is wonderful, adrenlin will get you going if anything starts to happen.

Good point, might make the most of it later on. Right now I think she might be close to getting started, she was fast asleep and then she woke up and got very excited and anxious to see me, started circling to lick herself a lot, and her pupils are dilated. Just gone for a wee so maybe I will get to bed earlier than I had hoped!

any news ladies?? x is today their 63rd day now??x

Day 63 for me today. So tired after staying up all night with her, but no babies so far.

today then did you progestrone your girl beth? x

No, so I am only hoping it's today lol!

Even if you had there are no guarantees as to when they will whelp, sounds like it shouldn't be long now.

Day 63 here. No testing, & the mating was at 8pm so I'm not even counting that day. My girl was on day 20 of her season. We had quite a peaceful night last night & she ate a small amount of breakfast & is now drooling & panting. Just checked the Canine Pregnancy guide & it's given me tomorrow as her due date....

drooling and panting is 1st stage they do that with pain sounds close now :) x

Yes & shorter periods of rest. I'm wondering how waggamamma is getting on :)

Dig dig rest. Dig dig rest. Wish she would hurry up a bit! How is your girl Rockstar?

Heartbreak then joy, so I'll be quick. We lost 2 pups, so now we have 4 live babies, all doing well. Just going to start a new thread x

Congrats on the new arrivals, sorry that 2 didn't make it, may they RIP

well done on the 4 live pups enjoy x

Congratulations on your four little ones, and I'm sorry about the two that weren't to be. We're still waiting around here!

may be she didnt take on her 1st mateing?? x

I would be really concerned if she hadn't because she only had one lol. ;)

ok Lol maybe she didnt have rippend eggs ready ?? :) or does your breed tend to go over their dates im be having kittens by now LOL x

Haha I am having kittens! I think it will be today, she spent all night digging and whinging at me before going to sleep. She was day 64 last time so maybe it's just her style.

today is the day then ;) all the best!! x