Quick question. I have a bitch due on the 10th. Her temp has been holding steady at 100.5-100.7f. Last night, it was 101.4 and this morning it was 99.2f. Do you think is THE temp drop, or could she just be fluctuating. She is maiden, so I have no whelping history on her to go by. Thanks for any help!

Hmmmm, it's hard to say, but this close it very well could be :) Is she showing any other signs? i.e. scratching, panting, nesting and so on?? What breed is she?? Some are prone to come early. Is she happy in her whelping box?? Good luck, :).
RudyandMum

She is a borzoi. Not reallly any nesting activity going on, just a little scratching. She is panting, but she has been doing that for two weeks because of her size. She is off her food some, she only ate a couple of bites. She does have milk, and her rear end is swollen. Hopefully they will come soon.

Sounds like you're in for a long night, :). Good luck. Do you have all the supplies ready? Give you're vet a ring ahead of tim, so that he knows incase of emergency. Get your supplies and put them beside the box. Give her lots of water, as much as she'll drink, has she been on puppy food? Take her for a few walks, it will induce labour, and it is good for her to be out of the house. Okay, other than that I wish you all the best, did you get a scan?? Although they are nitorious for not being correct, sometimes a rough estimate is good.
RudyandMum

The scan said at least 7. Still no real activity from her. The vet is on alert, and all supplies are gathered, now we wait <G>. I have not had her on puppy food, as I don't feed kibble at all. All of my dogs eat a raw diet. She has been getting extra liver, heart, tripe and plenty of chicken, turkey and beef. So, I know she is healthy, but not overweight. It is now just a waiting game. Her first due date is the 10th, last due date is the 14th. Thanks for the great wishes!

Sherita

Have you been writing her temps down since you started taking them? You should be taking them either every 8 hours or every 12 hours. What is her normal temp? The temp will come down a little from the normal temp close to the end of the pregnancy but flutter up and down. The drop will be a good drop of 1 - 2 degrees then jump right back up in the 8 - 12 hour cycle. The bitch should then start whelping within the next 24 - 48 hours.

Patience! Patience! Patience!

That's what whelping a litter is all about.

Margaret :)

Oh yes, we have been tracking her temp since last Thursday. Looks like it was a false drop.....so we are still watching and waiting. I certainly hope she has them soon, as I could use some cheering up. I have lost two of my old furkids, one last Monday, Smokey, and one of my cats this morning, Herschell. Pretty big empty spots in my heart right now.

Poor you. :(
A litter will certainly give you something else to think about. Good luck.
:)

Well, D-day is here. She started at 10:15 this morning, and so far we have six. Five girls, one boy. Lots of color. Will keep you posted.