I have a bitch in whelp at the moment.
For the last 3 weeks she has been a very picky eater and not eating much at all.
Yesterday at 1 o'clock her temp. dropped.
Have stayed with her through the night. She started to pant but stopped herself!
She has been sleeping through the night just heavy breathing. She has since been eating like a pig!!! She has not started nesting.
When she seems to be having a contraction whilst sitting up she lays down to try to avoid the contraction.
I have never had experienced anything like this with other litters.
It just goes to show they don't all follow the book!
This one is writing her own :D
Any way if no signs by 1 o'clock today it is a trip to the vet for me.
Any ideas to move things along without oxytocin???

An acupunturist told me to rub/press my thumbs down the side of the spine - hard enough to split a grape but not squash it (work that one out). I can't remember the exact spot as I have found that my bitches like this and I tend to use thumb and forefinger to massage down their backs from neck to tail when pregnant

Good luck and she has picked a bank holiday for you of course

Christine

Thanks Christine
I'll go and try that.
We forgot it was bank holiday as my husband has gone to work, and me with no sleep you know how the brain goes with lack of sleep!
Since my last post she has been out and has had diahorria (sp), so she may be clearing the way - fingers crossed.

Hi guys,

I was going to ask a question about this also.

I took my bitches temp tea time yesterday is was 37.2c/99f and it has been that this morning also. She is not due for a week but in the 2 books I have suggests this to be a drop in temperature. these are my first and only readings so far. it is a new digital one I bought this week. I took mine to test and it appears normal. ( I think :-) ) She is happy in herself. A bit of panting but hey I am over weight and pant to sometimes.

Any thoughts or comments

Pam

Pam, I had a bitch that always went 4 days early, and in a first litter, yes, they can go early. Will keep fingers and toes crossed that you have a good welping and lovely healthy puppies, mine are due end next week beg of following, so the stress levels will be up as well!!!!!!. Please let me know how things go for you and what you have. Has she started the shivering , shaking yet? if not still a long way to go.- Irene

Thanks Irene,

I am excited and scared.

My Hubby says the spare room that has nothing but doggy stuff in it looks like a 5 * Hilton Doggy hotel.

Will let you know. Good luck with yours.

Pam

Any news yet?

Hi Gwen
Well after no sleep as such from Thursday night....
She had a c-section yesterday at 3.30pm as she was suffering from inertia. All the signs and symptoms of labour but no contractions. Tried a calcium drip and oxytocin. She opened fully but no contractions to push.
We had to leave the bitch there till late last night as due to not contracting was bleeding heavily so had to be kept on oxytocin drip :-(
Brought pups home and tube fed them their first meal.
When mom came home she did not know which instinct to follow, maternal or terrier!!
We held her head whilst they fed throughout the night every 2 hours and mom was in her crate watching the pups "safely" when not feeding.
Thankfully at this mornings feed one fell on her head and she was fine so we let them stay in her bed feeding. A couple of hours later she actually started to toilet them.
We are watching them closely but think at last the maternal urge has won through!
Oh by the way she had 2 dogs and 3 bitches - smallest 12 and 3 quarter oz x 2, 1 @ 13oz and 2@ 13 and 1 quarter oz. Good sized pups.
Talk soon

Many congrats on the pups , sorry the bitch had such a rough time though

Melody :)

Thanks Melody
She is becoming more like herself today. Vet called this morning and gave me some synulux.
He had to do the main c-section cut and two others on either side as two of the pups had not moved round and to save him having to massage them down he chose to cut to get them quicker as so far up.

hi anne-marie glad all ended well cant wait to see photos of pups. 3 1/2 weeks left for me to go wth lottie you should see her shes got 2 really big nipples dont think i would be able to get them in my mouth never mind the pups im going to take a photo of them will post it to you speak soon gwen

Hi Staffie

Well done on the pups, give mum a hug from us - she sure has earned it. We had a young Cavalier bitch who reacted with absolute fear when she was introduced to her babies after a c-section. We bathed her own mum (a wonderful maternal creature) and let her in to see what happened. Jenny took over and instructed Paige on what to do as regards washing and cleaning up. She then lay down with Paige and all bar produce milk showed Paige how to feed. Two hours later and Paige was feeding a very happy and sleek litter. Jenny stayed with her until the puppies were weaned and to this day displays maternal feelings to the one who stayed. Incidentally Jenny is herself nursing a beautiful litter of five (now almost six weeks old). Hope your babies do well, it is hard work but is very much rewarding.