Hello experienced breeders,
I have a bitch who is 4yrs, planned littered fed accordingly and regularly at vets for check ups. They counted 7 puppies in there.
She is now 66 days. At day 63 behaviour change, even more clingy  and relentless panting/restless. Yesterday day 65 her waters broke, I checked in with the vet throughout the day and was told not to worry about lack of progression.
Anyway, having been awake for quite some time now the only progression I have seen is tearing up her bedding, moving from place to place (now on sofa) panting sitting up, followed by lying down rapid breathing heavy and light. She's been like this for 24 hours now, I'm feeding her little bits, watering, bowels moved and urine passed.
I suppose my question is should I be patient? I'd welcome any experiences of what the vet calls a 'slow starter'. Thanks.

You are aware that each puppy has it's own amniotic sac & that it isn't linked to the other puppies' amniotic sacs aren't you ? There are multiple losses of amniotic fluid during delivery of multiple puppies

The appearance means the bitch is stage 2 of delivery & usually signals an imminent birth.

Is your vet a specialist in breeding dogs & whelping ? as I am surprised that he/she has allowed your bitch to go 24 hours + after seeing amniotic fluid.

There are others who no doubt have mire practical experience of whelping their bitches than me, but loss of amniotic fluid does usually signal imminent birth in my friend's bitches.

Are you sure it was amniotic fluid you saw ?

I don't want to alarm you, but my first litter, one pup got wedged firmly with his back up against the exit, and they had to be delivered via emergency c-section.  I would be wanting to make sure something like this hasn't happened, so you can get on with having the litter and not worry.  My bitch lost the mucous plug on Friday evening, and she had 8 pups delivered by emergency c-section on Sunday morning; I had a lot of experienced breeders questioning whether she'd actually lost the mucous plug, whether I'd given her enough time/too much time, that I could have manouvred the stuck puppy and let her give birth naturally, and so on.  I've still got the x-ray showing the bundle of skulls and spines, and that one puppy wedged firmly where we couldn't actually reach in to maniuplate him in any way, or externally.  So what you have to do is go with your gut feeling as well, I knew something wasn't right, and in the end it was the best option for my bitch.  I still have her, and a daughter I kept back from that litter, and now a granddaughter as well, she will be 14 on Tuesday and is still going strong.  Good luck with your litter, I hope you and your girl come through good, and any pups as well.

We took her to the vets at 8am, they scanned, all good and heart rates good. They gave her a moderate dose of oxytocin, no change as yet. Spoken to vet who says give her another hour then she will do another scan and more oxytocin. Then 30 mins after if no change a csection.
I too was surprised they let her go that long after first fluids. But I feel better that she's been scanned. I don't like oxytocin but I have to do what's best in the vets eyes. It's been a very long time for her to be breathing so rapidly.
Still passing urine and bowel movements, and so am I!

So her cervix is dilated as Oxytocin should only be used if the cervix is dilated.

> They gave her a moderate dose of oxytocin, no change as yet.

I assume she was examined internally to confirm her cervix is fully dilated? Very risky to use oxytocin otherwise (as it says on the datasheet). You don't want the uterus to be contracting when the puppies' exit route is still closed!

> They gave her a moderate dose of oxytocin, no change as yet

Oh my goodness, no oxytocin should be given until at least one puppy is out... The risk is that all the puppies will now detach from their sites and many of them will suffocate/die before being able to get out. (Since they are not detaching one at a time.)

I'm sorry to say but vets know absolutely S**T about breeding. If you lose any puppies, you should sue your vet. And personally, I would be going right back there and demanding a c-section now - not waiting for a natural birth where you might lose all the pups...

It was premature to get a vet check - the first stage of labour can last 6-36 hours. Unless you reach that point, no reason to get a vet check yet if all seems well...

As above, no oxytocin unless she is fully dilated, I hope the vet told you this?

I had all on to persuade my vet to give a dose of oxytocin, I’m not sure why they’re either averse to it at all even when the bitch has had a few pups and just needs boost, or they resort to it straight away before they should, I’ve yet to meet one who is happy to use it to give a bitch a boost if she’s got tired having pups. My last litter she had three lots, but then she had 11 chunky pups and got tired after struggling for a while with a fully breech pup, they kept trying to persuade me to section her as if it’s a minor operation. Thankfully I stuck to my guns and all 11 were delivered safely, and thrived.

This vet knows nothing about breeding.  I would be changing my vet pronto before I lost my bitch.

Yes she had internal and scan. Before both doses. I was very anti oxytocin and it was ineffective in the end anyway. The second dose we kept her at the vets in my boot to see if she'd start contracting but nothing so c-section.

We chose to get the vet to check as she'd been showing signs of first stage for over 4 days with nothing to show other than a constantly panting dog sitting up or lying down grunting. She had no rest and I felt it was time to have a scan to check all was well.

We had a litter of 7 very healthy pups. Mum very attentive. Albeit a bit too attentive. The second dose did nothing so the vet said straight into csection. Surprised they did second one as they hadn't even entered canal. They seemed hugw though. Which we weren't expecting as she was off her food more than on. Ranged from 340-400g. Vet asked what we'd crossed her with as they were so big, she had a short sharp response of damn good beagle! No crossing.  I think we were unlucky as the hospital has about 12 different vets and the three I know well and have checked her all along the way weren't in typically! I know the director will be surprised she had a section as he was happy having 7 that they wouldn't get too big.
I'm very lucky her breeder gave us the confidence to follow our gut. Esp as the heart rates went down after oxytocin - which was the reason I didn't want it in the first place.
Thank you all for your words of wisdom and support.

Glad you've had such a good result. Congratulations on your litter!

Yes - glad they did go in and get them out.  I didn't leave mine for more than 2 days past due date.   I have had mine given oxytocin before a puppy had been delivered.  With our final litter out in Canada, when things weren't progressing (mine did tend to go to secondary inertia) I took her in and they gave her oxytocin and more to bring home with me to give her if nothing happened.  This was in a very rural area with loads of farmer clients!!   As nothing happened, and I didn't feel confident enough to give the second dose myself, I took her back and they agreed - C.Section.   This was on a Christmas Eve!!   So we had a quiet Christmas with her 9 lovely puppies, and snow/ice on the ground outside.

Good luck with your litter.

Phew, glad they all arrived ok - but for next time - you don't need to go to the vet if she's been in stage 1 labour for just 24 hours, that's not quite long enough. Give it a bit longer... if all seems well otherwise.

Taking the dog for a car ride or walk around the garden often helps too...

I'm not sure why they gave the second dose to be honest, but the best outcome for you and your girl, and of course the pups. 

I can't remember how many times I've run a bitch up and down the street with a towel waiting to see if a pup popped out, I've had pups born in back of cars and hidden under vet bedding but thankfully all turned out right in the end.

Excellent reply to your vet!