Hi everyone, so Holly is Day 61. She started digging continuously yesterday. Hasn’t eaten in over 24 hours with the exception of a few pieces of beef out my hand. Wants to be in the bushes in the garden. She’s heavy panting this morning but no contractions yet. It’s our second litter & I my memory is atrocious. How long do we usually see panting before contractions start? I’ve spoken to the vet as she seems to have black tar like stools. The last full meal she ate was liver with her puppy mix. So I wonder if it’s because of that. The vet said not to worry at this point she is likely to be emptying her bowels or it’s possibly due to the liver. Has anyone else experienced black stools before labour? She’s in her whelping box in the dining room where it’s quiet & dark. Me & the hubby took turns sitting up with her last night. Last litter arrived on day 62 so it could be very soon! Xx

Panting etc (Stage 1 labour) can go on for 6-36 hours, rarely up to 48hrs. 

I can't comment on the black stools but liver does have a laxative effect if fed in any quantity, so that could account for the consistency.  Generally, everything is all over the place in terms of her hormones and what her body is doing, so I wouldn't be alarmed by one episode of dark stools....

Thanks for your reply. She’s flat out sleeping at the mo. Panting / digging seems to have stopped for now. Just keeping a close eye on her.

Doesn't change anything now, but I find that it helps a LOT to keep detailed records of every litter you breed, noting down anything that may be useful for another time. I.e. everything from mating took place on such and such a day, behaviour changes in the bitch, the whelping process, to the pups being born and growing up, weights, and any problems. What type of wormer used, when you first gave solids, if you saw the vet for anything, which vet, if any treatment was given etc etc. It's so easy to forget. Even if the same bitch is not bred from again, it's all useful information to look back on.

That’s a really good idea. Suppose I could keep notes for this labour etc. Although not sure if we’ll ever do it again. My memory is terrible these days. Anyway, update is she seems to be quite settled for now. The panting & digging seems to have stopped. She’s been sleeping on and off. And occasionally wandering in the garden bushes. She’s had a bit of clear stringy discharge but apart from that not much else is going on right now. I thought we were all set to go this morn. Does this sound normal?

> Panting etc (Stage 1 labour) can go on for 6-36 hours, rarely up to 48hrs

Ditto my experience also.

Most of what you say is normal with the caution that all bitches can be 'different' even with the same bitch but different litters.

The fact you fed liver could well account for the colour, if not the consistency of her stool output.   Why the 'puppy mix'?    That's for PUPPIES, not for mums.   The puppies will take what they need - both pre and post whelping and there's no need to be vastly altering what mum has, at least not until you see how many puppies she has to cater for, when you up her intake, or not.   Again all our bitches had their normal food throughout pregnancy and beyond, perhaps cutting back on the bulk (kibble) as the unborn puppies grew bigger, in favour of just meat.   I'd avoid liver.

Once the demands of her puppies, when born, increase - into the second week, then you up her nourishment, again or not, depending on how many puppies.

She'll produce these puppies when she's good and ready .... it's all too easy to become overly stressed during these final hours     Just don't leave her much over 62 days without anything happening.   Your stress won't help her!

Thanks everyone for your input & advice, it’s very much appreciated. Holly produced five beautiful pups this morn by c-section. The black tar stools were due to a small internal rupture and blood was getting into the bowel. But she’s recovering well & we are keeping an extra close eye on her. We have three girls & two boys. The pups are suckling well & sleeping quietly & Holly is a lovely Mam despite having an op this morn. Holly is feeding from our hands in her whelping box & keeping them very clean. Me & my hubby have had very little sleep the last two nights so time to put some shifts in to supervise. I should really get my head down for a nap but I just want to watch them all. My nerves are shot though. How you do this time & time again is beyond me. I feel 20 years older but it’s worth it. My children are going to have a lovely surprise when they get home from school! Now the fun begins. Thanks for putting my mind at ease these past few days. Xx

I'm so glad you reacted re the stool colour!   Nice number and split (gender).   If mum continues to be okay and do her job, you should be able to have some rest before weaning begins and YOUR work really starts