My Bitch is 61 days and i was woke up this morning by her crying and i had to take her out of her whelping box and let her sleep with me. I of course did not get to sleep because she profusely cried and panted. Now She is panting and crying every 10 minutes or so. Earlier today i couldn't find her. She was at the bottom of my walk in wardrobe in the corner surrounded by shoes and clothes. That was the first time she had ever been in there and she was reluctant to get out. I have just put her back in her whelping box and she scratched at her vetbedding. By the way i am the daughter of Andi20 and my mam has just left for Chester on holiday til Tuesday (Holly's due date). I am 13 and my nana is coming to assist has anyone got any advice coz this is our 1st litter.Are the puppies coming soon???

Hi Andi's daughter,
Yes, your bitch is in the first stage of labour. This often lasts about 24 hours, but is often quicker. Stay with her for reassurance, and get your nan there as soon as you can to give you reassurance! Phone your vet to warn him that labour has started, and then sit tight and try not to worry (easy to say!). Someone will be around here to 'hold your hand' over the net.
Good luck, and don't panic.
:)

Thank the lord i found her before she had them in my wardrobe. Does the panting have to be all the time because she is stopping and starting.

No, it will stop and start. A lot of it is caused by nervousness as she will be having pains in her tummy. However she will get very thirsty, so offer her drinks quite frequently, though not a huge amount at a time. My bitches have always liked water with a little milk in it.

If you need any help I would say ring the vet.
Better safe than sorry.
If you see her pushing its like she needs a poo :) then the pups are on the way and you will need some clean bedding a water bottle and a box with a towel into put the pups while she has another pup,make sure its nice and warm for the pups as they need to be kept warm or they can die.
Dont let her push for more than 1 and 1/2 hours with out a pup being born get her to the vet straight away if that happens.
If youneed any info there are tons of people on here all the time so just ask it doesnt matter how silly you think it is honestly
Its brill that you have asked for help and best of luck
where in the country are you?

North East- Sunderland. I don't know what equipment i might need. I don't have round-nosed scissors or dental floss or a hot water bottle.

No need to panic, any pair of scissors will do in an emergency just run them under or place them in boiling water first. To make a temporary hot water bottle fill up an old plastic bottle (milk, lemonade) with warm water (not boiling) and place it in a towel. You can use cotton just make sure it is sterilised by placing in boiling water.
Probably best to let your Nan take care of that part.

Jesse

Thanx great tips. i've put Holly in her whelping box and closed the door on her pen so she has everything she needs. My mam didn't want to leave her but she had no choice!

[link]http://www.chowchow.org/site/pages/html/info/whelping.html[link]

Hope this link works.Have a look at the site i have mentioned above that may help you

Would your mom be annoyed if you took the dog to the vet for them to deliver the pups ? then you know the bitch would be safe and you wouldnt have to worry about a thing.
If you were nearer i would get in the car and come help you.

no but it wouldn't matter anyway coz i know more about it than she does.

http://www.chowchow.org/site/pages/html/info/whelping.html

:D

Don't worry - I've never used any of those things either! Lots and lots of newspaper for her to scratch up is good.

What I've found happens is that, after sevral hours, the bitch's behaviour changes from being very restless, scratching the bedding and panting, she will start to brace herself almost as if she is going to poo. She may well whimper and look round and snap at her sides. If it's her first litter this will probably worry her, as she will think she's going to poo in her nice bed, and may well jump out of the box. This is a sign that the first puppy is well on the way, and you'll see the waterbag appearing and disappearing a few times. Just sit with her and keep an eye on things.

If you are at all worried call the vet.

Do you think a shoebox lined with towels is ok to keep the puppie in while she is having another one?

Yes you can do that but make sure you have the hot water bottle in there too. You can dry puppies with the towel too, rub them firmly while laying in your hand back and fore along their backs - this warms and dries them and gets them going. If it upsets her, leave the puppies with her, just move them away from her back end as she is producing another.

HI, how's it going? One thing - if she wants to go outside- put her on a lead. She may try to make a nest/dig a hole to have them and will be difficult to move once she has made a place.

Take her out every couple of hours or so for a wee but she musn't be allowed out without a lead on and inspect the place where she does anything- carefully - as first timers often think they are having a poo when the first puppy is coming and if well house trained are sometimes desperate to get outside but have a puppy instead of a poo - hence another reason for the lead.

Dont leave a collar on her once she has had any puppies. Hope that your granny arrives soon, I know its a bit frightening but many whelpings go completely normally and be aware that very often not all the puppies survive, regardless of what you do/how experienced you are. Thats why dogs and other animals have many babies in one pregnancy, because not all survive every time. Try your best to stay calm - not easy I know- but just pretend, and she will be calmer too.

We knew that could happen and Holly is trained to go outside and is still trained to use the paper so we have put paper in her pen. She also hasn't had a drink in a while.

Some bitches dont want to drink -some do. some will have a drink and then bring it back up - thats normal. I would offer her a small bowl of water with a little milk in it - if she doesn't want it thats fine dont worry

Any puppies yet?

no she's stopped panting maybe it was a fluke!?! Completely and utterly confused now.

They do stop and start - has she had any big pushes yet?

no but she does keep on crying

Can I ask what breed the bitch is please it may help knowing roughly what size litter you can expect

shes a bichon frise Her litter will only be 3 or 4

WHAT THE HELL IS BETADINE!!!!!!!

Some do - its called keening - does it sound like a high pitched whine?

haven't got a clue!! Did you ring the vet to let them know she is whelping?

Yes it is high pitched and no i haven't phoned the vets what happens if i am wrong?

Wrong about what?

is there a chance she might not be whelping because she seems alright now. She still hasn't eaten or drank anything though.

It definately sounds like she is in labour - but it could take ages yet. How long will your nan be?

Some of that site you will have to ignore as it American but the birthing process is the same world over.

if your wrong it doesnt matter you have taken steps to sort out what could be a big problem if your right you have done the best thing and your mom will understand.

I think its time to ring the vet and ask them to come out to check evrything is going ok - it almost certainly is but I think you should now. Just tell them what you have told us. Labour can take a long time (its not called labour for nothing- its hard work) and stopping and strating is normal in the early stages but I would feel happier now if you had vets advice. It wont matter if you are wrong - but I'm sure you are not!!

Then log back on when you come off the phone - if you have to disconnect - I'll be here for another hour at least

Hello
You have said you are 13 and your mom has gone away. You are "waiting" for your nan to come round. Is there not another adult staying there with you while your mom is away?

I dont think so Staffie - please dont frighten him/her away?? No offence intended. :-)

I hope this isn't a wind up - I am suposed to be somwehere else - on the way to a lovely Sunday lunch - but i cant leave him /her on their own with this.

Andi 20 - are you still there? PLease let me know how its going?

I think you are being a star westie lover - andi no mobile phone access to your mum?

I'm just too b....y gullable thats my problem. If it is a wind up I think its really mean. I have better things to do with my precious weekends. Last chance Andi 20 - or I'm off for lunch before my husband has to leave on his own.

i'm back my nan has come and holly is sitting on my knee panting she is definatly contracting cos her back muscle are "pinched" in. thanx 4 all your help i'll post back when we have puppies!

Phew - sorry, I just thought it was a wind up!! we do get them here sometimes!! Glad your nans there, has she whelped bithes before?

No she has Hollys brother and he has sired before and she has seen a birth. Holly is pacing up and down and having too many wees!!

Westie Lover
Well done for sticking in there with this one, you are a star :-)
I was just concerned for a child being left on their own - especially with the responsibility of a bitch in whelp :-(
I know nan was on the way but it seemed to take a while for her to get there :-(

My mam just left this morning.What woz that supposed to mean! I don't like your comments.

My comments?

not yours Staffies

Thats a relief, did you ring the vet. I only want to know if you are ok without me now?

No but everything fine now. when holly went for her booster (she didn't have it) the vet wrote down the date so he should know. we have to be extra careful coz holly has a heart murmur.

ok, I'm going then. all I can suggest is that if your nan has no/little whelping experience that you do ring the vet to at least let them know she is in labour. Then whoever is on duty can read up her notes re the heart murmur and history BEFORE you need any help, which hopefully you wont. A phone call to them is really worth it - especially re the heart condition. Now your nan is there there is no problem re you being on your own - good luck - I hope when I come back tonight you have a lovely basket full of puppies. I would definately get the vet out when she has finished to check all is well. I cant really do any more - I hope you follow my advice. Write down the time of the first proper push and if there is no puppy within 1 1/2 hours then you MUST ring the vet. If she has a weak heart she may not be up to a long labour. You must keep the puppies warm -min 75 degrees in the room/box. Dont risk losing her/the puppies because you dont want to ring the vet. Byeee.

ok then thanx bye