My Roxy is due her pups in about 10 days going by first mating. But she is really restless and definately not her usual self. She has suddenly ballooned over the last couple of days and her ribcage appears to be huge. I am starting to get worried as her breathing has become quite deep. She is still eating ok. This is my first pregnancy so not sure what to expect. Is this pretty normal? Her eyes are bloodshot but she has not been sleeping at night too good but happily sleeps all day. I have been letting her out to the toilet at about 3am fot the last 3 weeks. If I did not know when she was due I would have thought she was getting close now but perhaps it gets worse than this. How early could she safely have these pups? She has just got so huge so quickly. She was so trim and I was doubting the pregnancy up till a couple of days ago. Some re-assurance please.

You have probably read a zillion books and know all the signs to look for, but it is never the same in reality is it? From what you describe it all sounds pretty normal, a bitches breathing can become deep, she has pups pressing on her remember, she will be uncomfortable and blood shot eyes are quite common. And yes, bitches can suddenly turn into elephants, I can understand your worry being her first litter.  Apart from starting to pant one of the very first signs within 24 hours of the pups coming will be her loss of appetite, when she refuses her food, you know the time is very close. Have you got her whelping box or den ready? In my experience my bitches have acted very similar to yours, then they seem to buck up again in the last week, becoming radiant and looking very well, until 24 hours before whelping.  You will see the difference when it happens.

She will want to go out to the garden lot (to clear herslef out) and pace up and down when the time is getting close.  Just a tip take a torch with you when she goes in the garden on an evening, so you can check on what she is leaving behind. (Even a pup) The first pup she is likely to drop anywhere, pop it in the whelping area and she will have the remaining in the same place.

Being her first litter, she may need you to help show her what to do, with the first and even second pup, then she will get the hang of it, or she may be a natural mother.

Everything sounds normal, but if you should become worried you can always pop her over to your vets for a check up to put your mind at rest, I have and always will say, go by your instincts, you know your bitch, trust in your feelings.

And good luck when the happy event finally happens. :-)

P.S. If the worst comes to the worst and your fears were correct the pups would survive if a week early.

Hi

My bitch has got 1 week to go and had been behaving like yours a few days ago, today she is more relaxed and also now eating small amounts, (did'nt eat for 2 days) she is also very big and can't sleep properly. 

Tracy

Thank you for your replies. She actually seems a bit happier at mo. And yes I have read so much about it but it has not prepared me for the reality.I have taken on board all you have said and will look out for the signs. Thank you.Tracy good luck with your pups

Good luck to both of you, hope we'll be there one day! :-)

Have you kept a record of her temp. at all? They usual whelp with in 24hrs once the temp. drops... My bitch always whelped within the 24hrs I took her temp at 8 - 12 - 4 - 8 everyday.

Im sure dogs are just like us 2 never the same. With my last baby I was dues middle of Feb at Christmas I thought there is no way this baby will go that long inside me, it will be early. My due date came and went she was born 2 weeks after my date and then only after I was started off.

i know what you mean my sister in law was due in mid january she first went into labout mid november and every couple of days she would go into labour. They would end up stopping it until dec 26 when she went into labour and the hospital just said stuff it we will let her go seens she only had less then a month left. So after all that trouble she finally gave birth on the 26 to an 8 pound 4 ounce baby boy could you imagine how big he would have been if they had let her go those extra couple of weeks anyway . Now he is happy very chubby and healthy and everyone is so relieved he is finally here and there are no more late night trips to the hospital every couple of days.

anyway i hope all goes well with the pups keep us up to date and try and get alot of sleep until its whelping time