Hi All.  My girl is due in 3 days time (progesterone tested so we know ovulation date).  So far she is showing no signs of getting ready at all.  On her last litter, within the last 5/6 days, she would dig relatively regularly, her belly dropped right down (you know the half normal dog, half pregnant dog look), loads of mucous strings, lots of little poos, etc.  She had the puppies 24 hours or so before due date (again we knew ovulation date). This time, virtually nothing so far.  The tiniest hint of all of this maybe but really nothing else. I am taking her temperature to use as part of the picture so to speak.   This is my only bitch I have ever had a 2nd litter from, do many of you find that they are often a little less demonstrative with a 2nd litter? 

I had 2litters from same girl and they where so different 1st litter she went from lunch time to next morning 2nd litter from lunch time to 1st pup being born midnight and very quick 2h for 8 pups to be born and i only knew things were happening from the drop of temp at 94.somthing i remember ringing the vet as id never none such a low temp before...all the best im sure tomorrow thing will start to change for her :)

Thanks for the info Whitelilly.  Well still nothing today and temperature normal.  Lets hope I see something in the next day or so.  My girls have never gone over and only got to due day if there was a problem.  I hate this bit, waiting to see if everyone will be okay.

Is she eatinv drinking and acting the same way? If so dont worry to much BUT i always say listen to your gut instinct maybe if you think things arnt going how they should but if her temp hasnt changed yet i wouldnt worry x

Yep, eating drinking and acting the same (so far).  Hopefully may see a change later today :-)

Well I think we may be on our way.  She started getting restless yesterday evening then refused her tea last night which is unheard of.  Really unsettled all night and vomited bile half an hour ago. Temp this morning has dropped to 36.9 (she's been between 37.2 and 37.8 for the last week). 

There you go your girl read the book ....thats great news good luck :)

LOL, I hope so!  I will keep you updated, thanks Whitelilly.

Good;) i do keep coming back to check x

Ok lunchtime update!  Just taken temp at 1pm (last taken 6am at 36.9), its now 36.7 so its stayed down for 7 hours so far.  Is this a low enough drop?  When gauging my 24 hours from drop do I take that from the 6am temp?  She's been digging more frequently and is now starting to do small (15 mins) deep sleeps between the digging.  She doesn't want to eat or drink really, she has had a little goats milk/egg at 6am but nothing since so I have given her some nutridrops, just 1ml, she is a large breed (normal weight 30kg), can I give her 1ml every couple of hours?

I never give solid food to whelping bitches.
You NEVER know if they may need a general anaesthetic during the next 24 hrs.

Sounds like everything is progressing nicely.

Thanks for your reply. Would you give goats milk with glucose or just stick with nutridrops. I'm worried she may dehydrate as she won't drink anything.

Liquids are fine, they often vomit so be prepared. I offer water with a small amount of glucose often. Once the panting starts in ernest, she will get thirsty.
I don't think she needs any additional supplements during a normal whelping.
I know the American breeders like to give calcium rich products like ice cream or 'Tums' during later stages of whelping...I never have.

She's still alternating puffing n sleeping. Has washed herself a couple times and when I looked she was eating something black, only got a quick glance at it, should I worry?

Just to add have been checking for discharge and have only seen clear or white.

The very dark green substance produced by the break down of placental material can appear black as can the fluids which come into contact with it..very staining.
If you dab her vulva with a white tissue is there any of that staining?

I hope you're keeping your vet informed of progress. Your going into 'out of hours' service now...check availability of vet tonight.

She could of been eating the plug as she's cleaning herself x

I checked my girl n found black discharge so off to vets at 5pm. C section, lost 2 but we have 5, off to pick them up now.

Well done on responding so quickly to the worrying black discharge and sorry for the loss of the 2, but congratulations on the 5 and hope your bitch recovers very quickly

Yes well done on your swift action and congratulations on the new family.

Well done for reading the signs so well ...congratulations x

Thanks everyone. I dabbed her but no black showing. The black blob I saw bugged me though so donned my gloves n checked higher up. Thanks for all your advice today.