Star is day 60 today. She is huge. She is panting a bit but her temp is 98.6 which it has been most mornings for the last few days. She is so big that any physical effort must be uncomfortable. I am unsure whether the panting is just cos she is out of puff or first signs. Any thoughts?
Sue

HI, its so hard to judge from a post!! I would think she's in the first stages, though if the house is very warm it could be that. Is she "bed making" as well? If one of mine stayed in the first stage (panting and bed making) for more than 48 hours I would ask the vets advice. Trust your instincts, you know her best. Just make sure you are around so that you know when she has her first real pushing contraction, if there are no puppies within 1 1/2 hours ring the vet and be ready to take her in if there are still none by 2 hours after. Best of luck, its a real nail biting time.

You were right. First stages. She had her first at 4.45 and we now have 6. There is a tiny one tho weighing only 6 oz.Largest is nearly 17oz!!!
Sue

I had a six ounce pup in my first klitter where the others were 12, 13 and 14, she was about a pound behind in weight by 8 weeks, but by 10 months was a perfectly normal average size.

If it is a big litter make sure you plug that one in more often when the others are asleep, as it won't be able to take as much in one go as the others. this will be especially true once she starts getting out of the wheloing box to lie beside it, afterthe first week. When I have had a wee one, I used to put it on a piece of vetbed by the bitch for extra nursing seesions!