Hi all,
I am looking for some assistance with my bitch, Coco. She was first bred on October 6th but my male did breed with her continuously throughout her fertile time. I thought she would be due 12/6-12/8 because of when she was first bred. However, she is still not going into labor or showing signs of labor. She is 3 years old and had one litter already when she was 2 without problems, 7 healthy pups. This time, I am worried that I am off on my dates or that something is wrong. Vet checked her and said all is well and that she can go up to 72 days and that he thinks my count is off and that she will deliver this week or weekend and if not to bring her in next week.
Just a little worried.
Cathy

> she can go up to 72 days

Woah!    No way did I let mine go over by a couple of days!!   However, I never did more than two matings - if you do more it makes it sooo difficult to know what the due date actually is.   And although I count from the first mating, conception may not have taken place immediately.

I'd let her go a couple of days over from the first mating, and then have your vet check what's going on -perhaps x-ray.   As any delay means the puppies keep growing meaning a C.Section is more likely to be needed, I'd ask for a C.Section to be done, depending on whether she's dilated, or showing any sign of being ready to whelp.   But your vet has checked her, so I suppose you can only be guided by him - other than this leave her for up to 72 days!!!!   No way would I be happy to go with that.

Over how many days did she mate with the stud? My girl stood for the male for 8 days, we took her to be scanned and the scanner said she will have taken from the last mating as pups were very small, so if we hadn't scanned then we would have been looking at due date a full 8 days early

The vet did an ultrasound and said we have 6 puppies. She was bred on the 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th. The stud is actually our male dog, in our house. We kept them separate during her heat cycle as much as possible and only let them breed every other day (as recommended by vet).
As an update, she has been going out to potty every hour and has acted like she needs to poo but hasn't been able to. I am going to take her to the vet on Wednesday if nothing happens today as the vet said I could call back Wednesday if I was still worried. She ate some of her dinner last night but not all of it. No panting, no fluid, or any other signs of labor. My male has been licking her like crazy though. I went ahead and separated them today so they can sleep apart.

Coco just had her puppies! 2 out so far! Guess when I tell her she is going to the vet she knows to start having those pups!
Question for experienced breeders.....what should I do if she doesn't chew the cord off the pup? She has one that she keeps letting flop around.

Cut them!!

Cut them!!

> No way did I let mine go over by a couple of days!!

Correction - I left out MORE THAN (a couple of days).    I'd let them go to day 64 but then headed off to the vet.

Thank you everyone for all your help! We had 7 puppies!!! 4 boys and 3 girls!
Off to the vet tomorrow for tails and dew claws!

If they are mated over 8 days though and bitch took from last mating she would only be day 55 from last mating when on day 63 from first