My girl is 58-59 days pregnant with her first litter, I've been waiting for a drop in temperature, hers has been around 99.5-100.1 yesterday morning it was 98.9 then 3 hours later 98.3, then by tea time back up to 99.5, talk about confusion haha, this morning it was 98.7 took it again an hour later and back up to 99.5!!! Not sure what it's doing, she's eaten this morning but not much at all, no shivering panting nothing,
THis is my first time using the temperature drop,
Help somebody please

I don't really set much score by temperature BUT generally, it's when the temperature goes down, and STAYS DOWN that whelping can be expected to begin within 24 - 48 hours.   Far better to go by the due date, imvho     While it's still fluctuating, you can expect her to hold onto these puppies for a few days yet - and she should really.

I've been on nervous melt down since day 50 when she started panting! I thought no no no way to early, I had her rescanned at 7 weeks just to check for any problems but none found thank god, this is the lowest it's been in hoping she holds on till the weekend when my house will be silent, she's not really eaten this morning either, I personally just think she's having me on haha

Right wrote the other day about temp drop, yesterday morning noticed a higher than normal temp 100.4, then as the day went on it dropped by 9.30pm it was 98.4, normally hers is low in the morning and goes up and down all day but yesterday it just kept dropping, took it again this morning and still low 98.6, she's eating and does not look like she's going into labor! Also I may have missed rock bottom as I went to bed when it was still dropping
What do you think?

I think the birth process will start almost immediately.

She's very sleepy this morning and keeps pawing me every time I stop touching her, she has no runny poop, she on day 59-60,

Anybody?!?! Got up this morning and temperature was 98.7 an hour later 97.9, she's fast off! Ate her food, she's driving me mad, hardly got any sleep last night worrying, on Wednesday I had a rise to 100.4 then drop to 98.4 by 10pm then yesterday morning 98.6 then back up at dinner 99.5 then by 4pm back to 98.8, then it's dropped this morning again as above! Arggggg! I haven't gone to work as I'm a nervous wreck to leave her with anyone haha

Never take temperature, saves me the stress LOL   they come when they are ready

In 40 plus dog years I have never, ever taken temps.  And if you kept shoving something up my bum as often as you are with your girl I would growl!   

As we are past day 56 you know for sure that pups are totally viable.  I would honestly say stop taking temperature.  You are a nervous wreck (your words) and that is no good for your bitch.  Let yourself unwind, there is not long to wait.  You will soon be letting us know that pups have arrived.

I always stay with my bitch and stay with her from a week before the due date.  I sleep close and make sure that someone is available to run errands for me.

Good Luck!

It's the weekend now so I'm more chilled out, my partner been working last 3 days and i also work (self employed) I just had the day off and sat with her in my bedroom all day, she now has the runs not really took her temperature again, I just wanted a rough idea of when to be ready a lot of people swear by it, over the last few days it's been up and down like a yoyo, lowest it's been was this morning so I've given in...lol had a few panting episodes after 3pm but nothing else, I'm on the ready for tonight got my films lined up, she looks absolutely knackered!!! Not be long I hope

My girl had the runs the day before she gave birth and she was 6 days early.

Good luck :)

Well no puppies last night, worried her temperature has been low now constant for 12 hours, 98.7, she's eating like she's never been fed before!! I'm giving up hope it will be this weekend haha

Sounds more and more like the premate was probably right and you mated early, so she isn't ready yet.

What's concerning is people swear by the temperature, they also state any temperature around 98 which Friday night till yesterday morning it was between 98.1-98-7 dropping to 98.1 at approx 9am yesterday states you should have pups within 24 hours if not there's a problem? I'm not actually bothered about premate etc my main concern is her and when everywhere I've read states 24 hours after otherwise contact a vet? So who's right? What's right? People saying don't take temperature? Book of the bitch? Her temperature finally went up yesterday to the warmest it's been in days 37.5, she may not be due till Tuesday but that's still within the time frame, I asked for advice as I was concerned how low her temperature has been for days and so far I've got none! Yes I've called a vet and spoken to them also, my vets aren't experienced with breeding dogs so yesterday I registered her with a vets who specialises in breeding.

Sorry can't advise, have never taken a temperature in over 20 years of breeding and 23 litters.

If she were mine eating well and happy I'd not be worrying.

> people swear by the temperature,

And many, many of extremely experienced breeders just will not take temps.  We can't all be wrong. 

I took temperature the 1st time but as she was only carrying a singleton - there wasn't  a significant drop and in the end I just had to go by the look on her face and her eyes in particular.

This time I didn't bother. Had to ask myself how much I'd enjoy a cold thing shoved up my chocolate starfish 3 to 4 times a day. She lost the plug (all over my duvet during the night iI might add!) and I just watched her carefully until things really became obvious. I followed her out side every time she needed to pee, she was very loose and had mustard coloured  mucus-y poo. SHe thought she needed to go and I obviously knew she didn't. When she started trying really hard, I brought her in and settled her in the big bed and let her shred the newspaper until she was ready to begin. A LOT less stressful for her, nerve wracking for me and less unsettled for the other dogs in the house who knew something was up but were kept in a different part of the house.

The best thing you can do for your girl is relax and let her tell you when she's ready :)

> I just had to go by the look on her face and her eyes in particular.

100% 
I've relied on this method for years and years.  You gradually start to pick up on it very quickly.  My bitches eyes look almost pleading.

any news?

Day 63 today, premate stated on first day I mated her ovulation imminent and not ready I will also add my vets have never used these tests before....saliva stated ovulating 2 days before first mate as I was getting a lot of ferning, so smack bang day 63 I have some signs! At last! Haha, been loosing mucus since last Wednesday, yesterday had an 18minute panting session then nothing, 3pm panting started again and been intermittent, pacing my bedroom wanting to get out, wouldn't go in her whelping box I've covered it and she's now underneath, she also keeps digging at her bed,
Only thing that's completely wrong is she has NOT refused food hmmmm....piggy, going outside a lot to pee and thick clear mucus now present, temperature taking to me has been useless, her temperature stayed low for 4 days around 36.8-37.1 eventually today it came back up to 37.6, she was booked in at the vets at 3.40pm today but I chose not to take her as I thought she was acting odd, if by any chance anything happens and I'm worried she's booked in at 9.30am tomorrow, I'm crossing all my fingers and toes this isn't false labour haha

Fingers crossed for you.  Though I must add that my girl had her 1st pup at 1.30pm and she had wolfed down her breakfast even after she spent the entire night losing her plug. Nothing is text book :)

She stopped after 7hours and went to sleep, been to the vets just and there checking her progesertrone will be back at 3.30pm, they said if it's 2 they may c-section, if it's 2 id prefer to hang on another 24hours to be honest, he said as she was showing all signs yesterday then nothing he's concerned she may be stuck in stage 1 argggggg! I'm praying for a level higher than 2.

Leaving another 24 hours would be dangerous if her problem is inertia.

Yes and I've thought this since Saturday when my vet refused to give her a progesterone test, would of took 48hours to get results anyway as there useless! I changed vets Saturday she was supposed to go yesterday but panting started, I'm worried she's as low as can be and no labour, they will c-section today if that's the case, one person told me to leave her but to be honest I'm not taking the risk, today she's being very aggressive towards strangers even ladies which is odd, only eaten half a tin on food to, I worry a lot! Most of the time my worrying hasnt been for nothing I was prepared for a c-section, ive sorted supply for work for as long as I need, just pray she doesn't reject them :(

Everything is crossed for you. I agree with Mamabas about the risk of waiting too long - especially as your girl has shown signs for more than a couple of days now. I don't know what breed  you have and whether her litter is large for her breed - it may be that she is just too full to push. A friend of mine had this issue with her daxi who had 5 wonderful pups by c-section last year and mum was really good with them after she came round.

Stay positive and please keep us posted :)

Her progesterone level is still 7 so should be ok, it needs to drop to below 2 for labour, that's why you get the temp drop, she's been panting on and off today, her temperature has been 36.8 for most of the day so maybe it's drop and progesterone is dropping, spoke to vet again they'll want to see her again tomorrow if she's still panting intermittently

I will be thinking of you - hopefully it won't be too long now. My girl went in to labour with her singleton after a drive up the motorway and back!

Reminds me of an old ex Army vet we once had. When I phoned to say that my bitch was not making much progress in whelping, he told me to get a lead on her, take her for a short brisk walk, and ring back in an hour. It did work, and an hour later I rang him to say she had just had the first one.

The vet did say he's expects her to go in anytime, i keep taking her on the garden she's also following me up and down the stairs, one minute I think yes she's going then it all stops hahaha! I'm ready and waiting!! Got everything ready incase if c-section and the vet is on stand by, I just want to meet these puppies now :) the vet did say sometimes a car journey triggers it but nope it didn't!

Not holding me breathe but.....her temp is now 36.5 not gone over 36.8 all day, I've just given her some food she was licking her lips then hid it in her bed didn't even have a quick lick, good signs! Temp drop, bit of the runny poops and Hiden food! Do I sleep? Haha she's been tricking me for days, I'm hoping and crossing everything this is it!

Any news today?

Been in stage 1 labour since 5.45am, called vet after 9 hours of panting and they said bring her down we can c-section? Ay?! She's only panting no straining no fluid no green discharge? Don't understand why mad rush to c-section give her a chance this can last 24 hours I'm sure, how long have others found stage 1 can last?

Our girl started stage 1 at around 3am digging in her whelping box and panting heavily. She kept herself to herself all day, when normally she follows me around everywhere. At 6:30pm she delivered her first pup after straining for around 15 minutes. I have only had the one litter,  and am very inexperienced so I would wait to here what the more experienced breeders on here think. Try to remain calm, if I hadn't have had my mentor down the phone I would have panicked big time as I felt so helpless for my girl. Agree what others have said - her face will say it all. Good luck.

I've got 1 very experienced breeder I'm speaking to and she said hold off on the c-section, another who has the same breed is agreeing, I feel like rushing to c-section is for ease at the moment, at 17.45 panting been going on 12hours yours obviously went on for longer, I just want reassurance I'm not holding off and wrong, it's not about the money it's a major op and if she can do it herself I'd rather wait....you've reassured me anyone! Thank you

As I wrote somewhere today (I also find it difficult to follow your story on several different threads), my female went 22 hours from the onset of first stage labor to the first visible contraction.  Then she delivered 5 pups in 90 minutes.  Please check the heart-beat frequencies of the puppies (with ultrasound).  If they are OK, you can still wait.

I'll close this thread now as you have another thread running which can be updated when there is further news