She still hasn’t given birth! This is her second litter and last but I’m getting so nervous. Because one moment her temp was at 99.0 then she’s at 100.0. One moment she won’t eat then she will. Today she refused her vitamins and only wants to drink water and lick her vulva. Which is swollen by the way.
Any suggestions?
Yesterday she was panting like crazy
Today not so much. But she’s been nesting

Vet?????

Been to the vet and they gave me till Tuesday. If not then they will give her oxytocin. To help stimulate her contractions

Your vet is going to give a bitch oxytocin that isnt dilated ??? According to NOAH oxytocin shouldn't be used on a bitch whose cervix hadn't started to dilate & that is from the manufacturer advice leaflet !

Goodness, I agree with Tommee.

Please see another vet which is more experienced in reproduction.  Giving a bitch oxytocin is potentially a very dangerous thing.  It results in all the placentas detaching and the clock is then ticking in terms of whether the puppies can make it out before they die.  Usually a placenta detaches at a time, and that puppy is whelped.  Giving oxytocin at the start of labour would mean inevitably losing almost all puppies, because there's no way that many puppies would make it out.

These days, oxytocin is usually used as a clear out shot, when there are NO puppies left inside and to help the gubbins and any remaining placentas to be expelled.  Not to see puppies born. 

You really need to either 1) know a lot yourself, enough to be able to guide a vet in what you want done (which it doesn't sound like you do or 2) an excellent repro vet.  I would start looking pronto for the latter....

Well what my vet said if she goes past 68 days they will give her something that will help her give birth. Because it helps to induce labor for weak to no contractions. So that’s what I was told. Technically her first mating was Oct 7th and then another on Oct 8th. So it all will depend on her progress. She’s been at 99.0 degrees then back at 100.0 and it keeps flopping. She doesn’t act like she’s pregnant. She does nest. Sometimes she even tries to nest me if that makes sense. She keeps moving the blanket on me nudging it to me and the nesting around etc. I don’t know what else to do. I’m only asking for advice and not judgment or anyone being rude etc. I just want to help my baby have a healthy delivery

Well having lost ewes/lambs in the past due to inexperienced vets giving oxytocin to INDUCE labour I would advise against it. The birthing process needs to have started in order to use oxytocin safely. Why would manufacturers & NOAH(National Office for Animal Health, UK, the FDA in the US)advise it's use only in females that are already dilated ?

No one on here is being rude .the people.giving advice are very knowledgeable and concerned .if it is oxytocin and her cervix hasn't definitely dilated u would be well advised to consider another opinion .these people do  know  what they are  talking about.maybe your vet has another idea and wires have got crossed

Well I have already told them I prefer as natural as possible. That was their recommendations. I’ve already read up on it. I was just asking advice in regards to other options what things can I do.

I’ve done the rubbing her stomach, I’ve done the walks. I’ve massaged her nipples etc. so I’m just asking advice if anyone else has ideas that could work. Not harm my dog. I simply was sharing the situation of my dog and that’s all. As well as what the vet was telling me.

So this is what I want to ask.

If my dog mated both on the 7th & 8th of oct her 63 days would have been yesterday or today. But isn’t it true that we can’t assume that’s exactly when the males sperm got her pregnant since it can last up to 7days inside her?

Also what’s the longest a dog has been pregnant till birth. I ask all these because I’m curious and am trying to think of nature taking it’s course rather then a vet taking the course.

Wouldn’t the pups be calm before the birth? Or do they stilll move around because I can still feel them moving in her stomach.

Can you not get an xray/scan to see whats going on? Check heart beats and position of them. The vet can then tell whether a natural birth is possible or not.
I wouldn't let this go on for too long and oxytocin is certainly not suitable until the cervix is open and at least one pup is born and then its time critical to get the other pups out otherwise they will die.
I would opt for an xray and check heart beats and go from there. If a C section is needed do it.

We have one scheduled today at 1:45pm

Would you recognise uterine inertia?  Because you could potentially lose your bitch if this is the case.

She’s fine. She’s given birth to 4boys and 4girls today :)

Thanks for letting us all know.  Congratulations. 

Actually she gave birth to 9 babies :) last one was a surprise! Thanks everyone:) any pointers on how to keep her milk flowing and full for her babies?

The first "milk" is actually colostrum & is vital for all new borns as it supplies antibodies needed for their immune system. Colostrum & later milk are produced on demand by the puppies suckling & the mother needs to drink water for her body to produce them. Nothing you can feed will really increase the flow apart from water or other suitable fluids. I know some breeders will encourage their bitches to drink by adding various energy supplying stuff like honey, glucose etc.  Your bitch will also need to have quality food to sustain her body enabling her to supply milk to the puppies

Just to add (well done both) - newborn puppies do not need lashings of milk - in fact if you do anything to encourage too much lactation early days she could run into mastitis as the puppies can't draw off the milk fast enough.   As said, nursing encourages lactation so all you need to do for now, is make sure the puppies are gaining daily and are content - ie, not unduly noisy other than maybe when nursing as the teats 'run out'.    Obviously as the days pass, and with 9 puppies, she will need a lot of good quality food, probably little and often so you don't overload her tummy.  Again your clue re the pups getting enough is a quiet litter and daily weight gaining.   Keep an eye on any smaller puppies and latch them onto the middle teats ahead of the bigger ones!

Did you have your vet check her for any retained birthing material, and to check the puppies for any abnormalities you might have missed.   With a novice, it's worth having done.   This is when she'd benefit from a shot to clear her out!

>Because it helps to induce labor for weak to no contractions. So that’s what I was told.

Oxytocin should never be given until the cervix is fully dilated (ideally proven by the birth of at least one puppy). This is because it makes the uterus contract strongly, and unless the exit is fully open there's no way the whelps can be born - basically the uterus will rupture.

>any pointers on how to keep her milk flowing and full for her babies?

Let the puppies suckle all the time - in the early days they'll be suckling almost 24/7 with only brief periods for rest. This is when they're getting the essential colostrum, and triggering the supply of the proper milk. The more they suck, the more milk will be produced in response. Make sure your bitch has plenty of easily digestible food and loads of fluid to drink.

Congratulations, by the way!

It might take a day or so for her milk to come in, and sometimes the pups might look unhappy or unsatisfied at this point but that's ok - don't interfere - the milk will come in. It is normal for them to lose weight in the first 24hours, but after day 2 they should start to put weight on steadily. 

The first milk is colostrum, it is not nutritionally as high calorie as normal milk (which is why they may be unsatisfied by it) but it is very important that they get it for the antibodies it provides - they can only absorb it now and it will have a lifelong impact on their immune system and health. Don't supplement (unless an emergency), since you need them to get this colostrum and other proteins will cause the colostrum not to be absorbed by their guts.

>> It might take a day or so for her milk to come in, and sometimes the pups might look unhappy or unsatisfied at this point but that's ok - don't interfere - the milk will come in. It is normal for them to lose weight in the first 24hours, but after day 2 they should start to put weight on steadily.  <br />

From my experience, with both, it's more usual for the milk delay to be seen after a C.Section than a natural birth, which can be alarming, but again provided the puppies all get onto the teats and nurse, the delay should only be very temporary.  Ditto for weight loss for the first 24 hours, if at all.

My bitch didn't have a c-section and last time we had some very disgruntled puppies until the milk came in a day later...