Hi everyone,  So this is my first litter and my bitch's first litter also. She is on day 64 ( confirmed by the vet ) and we have a few things different today, could anyone tell me what this means?
Panting on and off before sleeping for long periods
A little loss of clear fluid
Next to no appetite where she would normally lick her bowl clean.
Also should I be worried that she hasn't had anything yet? Thanks.

You should be having puppies soon, I find food refusal the most definite sign of whelping unless it occurs with a rise in temperature or a stinky discharge which could mean infection. I assume you have her whelping box ready, I usually have towels, scissors, thread, a small box in case you need to temporarily separate the puppies and spare pieces of vetbed plus newspaper to refresh the box if needed.  You will need to keep your eyes on her from now until delivery, take her out for a wee regularly as this can encourage labour but take a torch if it's dark as she may disappear under bushes and start digging holes.  Having an experienced friend on standby is a great help and will keep you calm if you need it, most bitches whelp easily so try not to worry but if your gut feeling tells you there is a problem then get help.  Good luck with your puppies and keep the forum up to date.

Thank you. Ive had the whelping box ready for 3 weeks now. I have the whelping kit with the aspirator , scissors etc. I haven't been able to check her temp today though as every time I've tried she's got too stressed. Ive checked for smells etc with the discharge but all is normal, colour is clear and quite thin still.

It means she will be having these puppies within the next 24- 48 hours.   Stop stressing - I know the waiting is stressful, but she needs you to be calm.    I'd not let her go beyond 2 days over however without hving your vet check and possibly proceed, probably just with a shot to get things moving if he feels it appropriate, or do a C.Section.   All I urge is once she does start having strong contractions, pushing hard, and you don't see a puppy delivered within about one houir (each delivery), get veterinary help.   There's no point leaving her to struggle and getting exhausted if a C.Section is going to be inevitable.

But do try to keep calm!!!   Oh and now is the time to call on your mentor - to hold your hand, not your bitch's paw!!!

Thank you so much. I have the vet on emergency stand by just incase. You're right, I am a bit stressed. My best friend is also an ex vet nurse so she'll be my rock throughout.

I personally don't take temperatures but would if I was concerned about an unusual discharge or if the bitch looked off colour, happy landings with your babies.

Thank you.

> I personally don't take temperatures but would if I was concerned about an unusual discharge or if the bitch looked off colour, happy landings with your babies.

Totally endorse this comment.   Taking the temperature is a guide, but only that.   I always went more by the due date, and for sure, how the bitch is generally.   It's worrying but again grab your friend to be with you through this!!   Great to have an ex vet nurse who should know her business!!  Once she's safely delivered, you 'll forget all about the waiting

Well just to give you an update she's been really settled, lots of sleeping however in the last fews hours she's panting quite a lot and temp has gone from 37.7 last night to 36.7 just now.

Morning everyone. Just wondering if this is looking right to everyone so far? Change in temp around late afternoon yesterday, at around 7pm last night she began heavily panting and had episodes of shaking. She keeps rearranging her bed and then she sleeps for a while before getting up and wandering again, she's been doing this all night and is still the same now.

Sounds as if she is behaving normally, breeds and individuals vary in their whelpings, some get straight on with it and others seem to spend hours and hours in the preparation phase, she should be getting down to the serious part quite soon I hope

I have had this stage from virtually no time to 36 hours, average 12 hours. 

Get a good book make yourself comfortable and watch unobtrusively, an wait. 

She will be more realized if you are.

Any news? Seems a very long 1st stage....

Hoping she's busy with pups

Be nice to hear what's happened