Hello,
I have a bitch. She is 56 days today. I took her tem this am. It was 100.8, I took it again a few hours later and it was 99.5. I just took it for the 3rd time and it was 100.2. Is this normal? I know that when the temp drops that means possible labor. How long will it stay down? She is acting funny, like eating plants and trying to get out of her whelping box. All she wants is for me to be in there with her. She isn't panting at all, she has shredded her papers in her bed. She hasnt really eating in 2 days. She will eat a few bites and that is all. Please any info will help. I have a lab that lost her puppies a few months ago.

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Hi there,

Confessing to only just having one litter so not really qualified to give too much advice but I have just said to another poster that the temp is what I wwnt with and it kept me right,

Quoting for hte Book of the bitch , which was my circumstance also .

The temp for the week before is normally lower than the 101.5 it can stit at 99.5 -100 for a good week. Generally when it drops below 99 as low as 97 labour usually is within 24 hours.

My girl had hers within a couple hours of droping th 97 , no real physical signs such as digging, she was a bit clingy and looked a little lost for an hours or so.

They are so different. The temp checking for me was my biggest guide.

good luck, fingers crossed and keep us posted.

Pam

I took it again 98.6. How long will this go on for? She wants me right there with her 24.7. She still hasn't started panting, she isn't nesting either. As soon as I let her out to potty she goes and eats plants. She looks very sad. Thank you for the reply. I have the book of the bitch also. I have read over it 20 times to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Thanks So Much!!
Donelle

Hi Donelle,
I have never taken a bitch's temperature at any time, let alone to tell when they are going to whelp! I go by the bitch's behaviour. If she wants you to stay with her, then stay with her. If whelping is imminent (within the next 48 hours ) she will subconciously know it, and be nervous, especially if it is her first litter.

This stage could go on for 2 or 3 days, so put your own life on hold. Have you alerted your vet as to what's happening?

Yes, my vet knows. He has told me to stay close and just watch. I took her potty and she went nuts. Digging very fast and then running like a crazy animal. then she would dig some more and run some more. she wants to love on me and for me to do the same. I guess now it is just a waiting game. I'm going nuts, I can't imagine what she is feeling like. When I get into her box she bites me, not hard just a lil and tries to dig under me. When i get out she goes nuts.

Thanks
Donelle :0)

Jeanjeanie,

You know I think nearly every person I spoke to ( except Val from here) said not to bother with temp and watch behaviour but it just shows they are all different because if I had not be temp taking I would have been doing my shopping on a sunday afternoon. Her temp dropped, she showed no signs whatsoever and out popped a pup and another 5 mins later, not a peep no yelp nothing, no shaking, ne digging nothing , The temps I took from Day 56 and she went at day 58 , 5 days early. The first reading was 98.5 and first I thought it was my new themometer lol but thought best to watch incase, sure as fate it was right.

This was my first litter so used the Book of the bitch as a bible and it did me good.

Guess they are like us all different

Pam

Hi everyone I have found the tempreture method useful but It is advisable to only take the tempreture once a day (at the same time)
The other things to bear in mind is a dog that is under a heat lamp will have a higher temperature and a dog whos just come in from the garden will of course hav a lower temp.
Use the tempreture only as a guide line it just gives you the fore warning that you need to watch the bitch a little bit more closley it is much better to what for the other signs of whelping such as off he food, bed shredding and lathargic or clingey.
I once relied on the tempreture method although my lab was showing other signs of bein close to whelping her temp was normal 20 mins later she dropped a pup in the middle of lawn luckily I was out there with her!!
In addition please only take a bitches tempreture if she is happy for you to do so she will be under enough stress with out you following her round sticking things up her bum!!
Try not to worry im sure everything will work out fine for you
:) :)

I used temperature taking for my three litters and there was a drop in each case, I think you need to do it twice a day as my understanding is it rises again before delivery so just once a day could lead you to miss the drop which is what may have happened to you. I agree it should not be done if either you or your bitch are not happy about it :)

Thank you guys so much for all the info. Nothing yet. She still seems unhappy. I haven't taken her temp this am. When I get in her box her puts her head under my legs and tries to dig. She took her food dish and made a mess. She isn't eating still. I will keep you posted.
Thanks
Donelle :0)