Looking for some advise as this is the first time my girl (small breed) has had a litter. She had about 4 successful ties from 08/12/16 -10-12-16. So I am basing due date on day 64 which was 10-02-17. On all forums it states between day 58 to day 64. Vet confirmed at least 5 pups by ultrasound and I should expect delivery +/- 7 days from day 63. I genuinely don't know if I should be concerned at day 65 or if I should wait another few days before going to vets. Her temp is around 37.1, she is very lethargic through the day and only eating small amounts. Each night since sunday 05-02-17 she is restless and tries to shred her bedding but this only lasts about 5 mins. This is 1st time breeding  so I am just concerned there is something wrong.

As a rule of thumb, I let mine go 2 days beyond their due date, counting from the first mating and if nothing had happened, involved the vet.   My line tended to go into secondary inertia (ouch mum - you put them in there, you get them out!).   Obviously if there were other signs of distress, nasty discharge for eg., I'd be at the vet sooner rather than later and I'd not let mine go anywhere near 7 days over.

You can wait, but just know for every extra day, the puppies will be growing bigger making a C.Section more likely to be needed.   Be advised by your vet would be my answer.

Personally, if this is a small breed, I wouldn't wait much longer. My friend has just had to have her small daxi go through a c-section due to the fact that first one lined up to whelp was too big, got stuck and stopped labour from progressing. She lost that pup but the vet managed to save the remaining 3 (all spoken for Admin). As it all kicked off  during out of hours last Sunday, the cost was just over £1500....not worth the risk and unless your vet is a breeder, they are unlikely to be aware of the fact that most small breeds whelp before 63 days.

If your gut is telling you something isn't right - push your vet. YOU pay for the service so have the right to demand what is best for your girl.

ETA: The recently sectioned bitch was on day 59

How small is the breed? If it is a very small breed around 3 kilos or so, mine tend to give birth around day 58 -pretty much always before day 60. Earliest I'd had was day 55. I'd be very worried if one of mine went that long, but it really depends on what is normal for the breed. If it was my larger breed I'd not be as worried, although they too tend to be before day 60.

+7 days from day 63 I'd never accept for any breed.

I would never wait till 7 days from 63!! I progesterone test partly for this reason,  so if they go over I know when they ovulate and know the puppies are cooked ready. There is the reverse progesterone testing that can be done at this point to see of labour should be progressing. I do not know what and how as ha e never had to use it ( all mine have gone 63 from ovulation or -1 day!)

No way would I let my breed go to day 64!  I have perfectly viable litters born on day 56.  What does your mentor advise?  And would you recognise inertia?

Thanks for the advise everyone, I took my girl too the emergency vets earlier tonight as she is a smaller breed  weighing around 5kg. I was getting worried as she had some brown crusty mucus stuck to her. They done a full internal check and checked her over, confirmed that she had already started to dilate and that there were no pups stuck in the cervix. She had told me originally that going over to day 70 isn't unusual but I advised of all the comments from the forum and she decided to give her a shot of oxytocin. Her breathing has quickened and she is a lot more restless so I'm hoping pups will be here within the next 24hrs. I'll let u know in the morning if pups have arrived.

she should not have been given oxytocin before delivery of 1st pup unless she was fully dilated and under vet supervision

Please watch her through the night and if she starts pushing but nothing appears within the hour = go back and demand a section. Please do not wait.

Agree that oxytocin shouldn't really be given if no pups and if they have sent you home....

Oxytocin should never be given unless the cervix is known to be fully dilated, preferably proven by the birth of a puppy. From the datasheet: "When Oxytocin-S is used as an aid to parturition, cervical dilation must be confirmed prior to administration to prevent the risk of foetal death and possible uterine rupture."

How is she this morning?

No pups yet, restless all night, shredding and eating drinking a lot.  I'm going to phone the vets again.

I have had vets give oxytocin before the first puppy was delivered BUT they were always 'fully dilated' - and in secondary inertia (the labour wasn't progressing).   One vet, the last before returning to the UK, gave me two shots of oxytocin after checking my bitch, sending me home to give the shots.   I gave one, but when nothing happened and I wasn't happy about doing this myself by any means, took her straight back and they went ahead with a C.Section.   Because of the distances involved out there, things were far more hands on for owners, than in the UK, not that that was relevant with this litter as we were 5 minutes from the Surgery.

Confirmed that the cervix was dilated prior to getting the injection. Getting checked over to make sure everything OK, can still feel pups movement.  I'm just a worrier but would never forgive myself if something happened and I could have prevented

I am usually one of the people councilling waiting but I am concerned that she has had oxytocin before there is a puppy in the "pipeline" and she is dilated and also that the vet sent you home, I do know breeders that are very competent to deal with this but most people should have vet supervision, not very impressed with your vet services so far!  I hope all goes well for you and your bitch.

Apparently there is a pup stuck so she is in for a c-section just now. I'm pacing the floor waiting for news. Vet seemed to think that they will be able to save the pups as there was no distress or green mucus. I'm at their mercy now as I just want my girl and her pups to be OK. I'm glad I went with my instincts and took her down this morning.

> I do know breeders that are very competent to deal with this but most people should have vet supervision, not very impressed with your vet services so far!

100% in agreement.  I'm pretty experienced in dealing with most delivery problems, but I'm surprised that this bitch is still alive.  Appalling vet who knows nothing about breeding.

> confirmed that she had already started to dilate

> she decided to give her a shot of oxytocin

Horrified.  She had started to dilate.  Read the recommendations of the manufacturer of oxytocin.  Wonder if the vet knows a bitch should be fully dilated.

This has been handled so badly that I weep for that poor bitch.

Everything is fine with my girl. 7 pups born 1 really small that may not survive but 6 healthy. Turns out part of her anus and womb are fused together so she would never have been able to push the pups out herself. Told vet to spay her as I don't want to put her through that again.
On my way to go and collect them all the now. Thanks for all the advise as it has probably saved all their little lives xxx

Agree,  we tend to go for multiple matings with my breed,  but none of mine have gone more than 4 days over 63 days from first mating.

My vet usually gives me 2 very small doses of oxytocin to have at home.  Ive used it twice.  Once when i knew there was still another one and she had went 2 1/2 hours since last pup. Puppy was born about 10 minutes later.
Second time after my small breed had her two pups but only 1 placenta and sure enough out it came after shot but in the case of a bitch who had not even had her first pup even if fully dialated my understanding was only in presence of the vet as might need instantly c sectioned.

I think in this case the OP has been extremely lucky as could have had a horrific outcome

So happy that you had a successful outcome and hopefully all the puppies will thrive

Phew, glad she and puppies are ok, hope they all thrive. I'm only a novice breeder but even I know (thanks to James Herriot :-D ) that you shouldn't give oxytocin until fully dilated!

So happy for you and so glad you went with your instincts instead of listening to the 'expert' advice of the vet :)