Hi, how long is it safe to leave your girl in stage 1 whelping? The books and every bit of info I've read offer such conflicting advice

I've never had true stage 1 go on for more than about 6 hours but the pre stage 1 restlessness and half hearted digging could go on for 2-3 days.

How is she acting and how long has she been doing it? What day are you on now?

As a general rule, unless she's actually pushing hard (strong contractions) it's usually best to leave her to get on with it but keep a close eye on things.   However, it is possible for her to go into secondary inertia (mine often did - ouch mum, shut down) in which case a shot to get things moving may be needed ...... bearing in mind so often a car ride can do exactly that so if you do decide to get her checked, you need to take your whelping gear with you, plus a box with a warm pad/towels and a friend to watch your bitch en route.   And be prepared to pull over.

I think 'how long' does depend on breed but again if she is actively pushing, don't leave this for much over 1 hour without seeing a puppy delivered - each delivery.   There's no point her getting exhausted if she's going to need a C.Section.

If she's just resting, it's probably fine.  If she's in obvious distress - time for a vet.   Basically.

She had her temp drop thurs evening and started intermittent panting/sleeping/digging about 4pm yesterday. From 10pm last night she's been taking short shallow breaths through her nose with the odd full on open mouthed pant. No more digging etc just laying there doing the short pants

Please, please, please be guided by breed SPECIFIC views.....I've bred this breed for nearly 40 years....never had primary inertia and LONG first stage is common.....very common.
The only C sections were for mal presented puppies.
Vigorous, incessant pushing or more than one hour requires vet help...
If you read the Book of the Bitch..,written by a boxer breeder BTW she mentions how long boxers take

Thanks Toolz, I know I was panicking, perhaps, unnecessarily this morning and I'm aware she's likely to be in stage 1 for a fair time having read and spoken to my breeder,  I think the lack of sleep got the better of me. She's not in any distress and I did have her checked by the vet this morning, both she and pups were showing no signs of distress and there's been no change to her demeanour or behaviours, a little more digging. She has been in the garden a couple of times and both wee'd and had a couple of tiny loose bowel movements so I feel more relaxed ATM thank you!! Toolz, I Dont recall a specific reference in the BOTB regarding my breed and length of stage 1, other than the table which states they're long whelpers and predisposed to primary/secondary inertia. Perhaps I should go back and read it again

Must have been Kay Whites other book :-) Doglopaedia?
She mentioned how Boxers don't appear to be doing much but internally they are.

Possibly I haven't read that..... Worth the read? Another Q if you don't mind, she's not very drooly as a rule but has started to be throughout the morning, I don't recall reading about that anywhere so I'm assuming it's nothing to be concerned about?

Not had a drooler, plenty of pukers though.
Perhaps feels very queasy, got any Tumms?

She's just been in the garden again, another www and a couple of tries at a number 2 so I definitely feel like we're moving in the right direction. Not tums, but Rennie? :)

Tumms are better, fruit flavoured and rich in Calcium

Any news Louise?

Hey Toolz, we had our first baby 2.30 Sunday afternoon, quickly followed by another 6. Unfortunately, 1 was a water baby and not alive. After several hours, one last pup was in n it's way but we lost her too

Sad to lose any I know but happy that you've got a nice size litter.
Congratulations!

Thank you I'm totally smitten with them all. I'm wondering if you could help me a bit more? My girl hasn't eaten very much since whelping but I'm hand feeding her as much as she'll take. 2 queries - on 2 occasions her mouth appears to tremor/shake for about 20 seconds or so - is this a warning sign that somethings not right? Also, she is still panting intermittently which I know can be normal but she seems to have a little cough which normally only occurs after she's cleaned up after the pups is this usual? Sorry for so many questions and thank you x

Congrats!! Lovely new babies.

Sorry about the ones that didn't make it.

My girl had hers on Saturday & we lost no4 at birth. She's panting on/off and still occasionally digging.

Get a bowl of ice cream and thaw slightly..let her lap it up.
If you're at all concerned or you think she looks more shakey, not quite focused ...tell your vet.

They get very sore mouths and their metabolism is haywire.
Keep up the hand feeding and don't forget to add a little honey or glucose powder to her water, nice and fresh each time
.hold it up to her and gently drape a towel over the pups as she drinks...saves them getting a soaking.

Try and get those Tumms.....give her one every four hours...

Just to ask whether it's possible she has retained birthing material?   Unless experienced, I'd always recommend the bitch (and her puppies) is checked by a vet and maybe given a shot to clear out anything that is retained.   The puppies should be checked for abnormalities that may have been missed.   If you don't want to disturb them all by taking them to your vet, perhaps he'll come out.

I don't know of many vets who do a 'clear out shot' these days. Mine certainly doesn't and never wants me to risk the pups in her surgery while young and vulnerable. Very upsetting for the bitch too.

All the thing 20 years ago.

Hey :) just to let you know I had her to the vets this morning - she's doing great - her calcium is erring towards high so I've been advised to just keep on with the puppy food and stop the calcium supplements. Her glucose is spot on too. I have been syringing glucose water into her mouth every few hours so I think I'm on the right track. Thanks for all your help it's been much appreciated, especially knowing you have experience of the breed x

Hey :) just to let you know I had her to the vets this morning - she's doing great - her calcium is erring towards high so I've been advised to just keep on with the puppy food and stop the calcium supplements. Her glucose is spot on too. I have been syringing glucose water into her mouth every few hours so I think I'm on the right track. Thanks for all your help it's been much appreciated, especially knowing you have experience of the breed x

> I've been advised to just keep on with the puppy food

Quite honestly I'd not use 'puppy food' for a nursing bitch.   Provided the food you normally use is a good quality one, that should be sufficient.   Puppy food is for ..... puppies.   And is often too rich for an adult.   Right now, when nursing, she needs a good quality food with maybe a bit of extra protein (chicken, mince even).   Glucose water?   Why?   Unless she's a tiny breed I don't think this is needed either.   Fresh water available (probably best outside the whelping box).

My vet will do a shot to make sure she is cleared out and I always have this done now since with my first litter a LIVE puppy was delivered about 24 hours later. The puppy was no problem but the whole situation caused a big problem at the time for MUM so no chances now.