Good morning, I was woken at about 2 by Roxy heavy panting. I let her out to the loo and she seemed to settle for an hour or so. She is now really heavy panting and shaking which I know are the signs for labour but when its happening it seems so much worse than you read and hear about. I am beginning to panic worried that I will not do the right thing by her. She will not touch her water. She now keeps going outside to the loo. I have been watching her but she does not like it when I watch. How long will this panting last. She seems to be very tired with it all. She has been sick a couple of times. She will not go downstairs in her whelping box but insists on laying on my daughters bed who has now got into mine. should I let her stay there as thats obviously where she feels safe and comfortable. Can't believe it's finally happening but I seem to constantly be expecting things to go wrong. Does all this sound normal?

Yes, sounds as though she's nearly there. Just be there for her, watching and reassuring - don't turn your back for a minute! I trust all goes well, my very best wishes for safe deliveries.

Try to stay calm,I know its easier said than done but if your panicing she will stress too.

The panting and shaking are signs of going into labour,it shouldnt be long now.
Try and get her in the whelping box with some newspaper so she can shred it and make nests :)
Get your vets number by the phone (in case you need it).
I wouldnt let her whelp on the bed, its very messy and will stain everything.

Good luck and if you need us were here.

Thank you. I feel a bit calmer just knowing that it all sounds normal. Just need to try and get her downstairs now. Chicken can not even entice her and I definately can't carry her. Sure she will go down when she thinks she needs the loo. Just need to keep her down there. Thanks again for your kind words and I will keep in touch no doubt with more fears. Louise

When she does go down for the loo please be sure to check that she doesnt deliver a puppy thinking its a wee or poo,if she does open the sack,making sure the puppies head is cleared first and wipe dry,keep puppies warm.

I presume you have some sort of heat source for the pups?What ever it is put it on now so your ready.

Good luck.

yes heat lamp is on but the room is really quite warm as its in the utility room and there is a radiator and the boiler is also in there. I will keep an eye on the temperature as it may get too warm. She has now got onto my bed. I shut the door but she can open them and has. Can she give birth at anytime now or should I notice her change. Does the panting last the whole labour or just until the first one is born.

This could go on for hours yet. Don't leave her alone at all.

It can go on for hours but still offer her something to drink.
What breed is she?

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Hi lottielou :)

I am so excited for you :)
The whole experience is fantastic (if things go according to plan that is ;))
Is this your first litter?
Hope your girl is okay and that things run smooth for you both.I will keep popping back on all day now to check on her progress :D
The most important thing I think,is to stay calm and let your girl know you are calm as I think they feel insecure if they sense that you are.
When my girl had her litter in September,I was on my own with her as I shipped the kids off to grandma's and OH was already out.I had my breeder friends and my vet on standby though but fortunately she was fine.Have you let your vet know in advance that she is in labour?If not I would advise you do so so that they too can be prepared if you should need them.
I made Callah some lactol up for her to drink during whelping as she too wouldn't touch her water.
She woke me up 4 o'clock that morning panting heavily and this continued all day.The first puppy was delivered at 7.35pm and the last 1 (no 8) was delivered at 10.15pm,so she was pretty quick.I cried as every puppy emerged and my girl was an absolute natural and needed no help at all.

Good luck and keep us updated. :)

Hi

as already said this could go on for hours.   Cant stress enough how horrible it would be if she delivered on your bed. You cant appreciate the mess until you have seen it.

Dont be afraid to move her. Calmly put her on her lead and take her down stairs.

If the room is to warm. switch of the heaters and have a hot water bottle in a box instead. Mums doesnt want to be to hot while delivering but it is important the pups are warm, She wont really take much notice of the babies until she has finished delivering them all. Once born she will wash it and. I normally give it the first rub with a towel and then hand it back. Mum is useually tending to her self at this point and then will take a interest in the pup. Once another one is on the way she will lose interest and concentrate on giving birth again. This is a good time to put it in the box to keep warm and prevent it getting squashed.

Remember to check that all the planentas are delivered to. Most of the time the pup are born in the sac with the cord still attached. This is great as everything is out at once. Mum may want to eat the placentas. I normally let them have a few but not to many as it can cause a upset tum. But make sure you do count them.

Do you have lots of towels, newspapers and a pair of clean sharp sissors ready. Dont worry about having nice blankets in the bed until she has finished. Newpaper will do for the start, she can wrip this up and make a mess and it can go straight in the bucket and be replaced with every pup.If it is slighly damp put some try ontop and sort it all out when she has finished

Good luck. My bitch is due next weekend and although I have delivered loads of pup I am starting to get nervous again.

Most important dont panic and enjoy it

Wendy

Hi, thanks for all your replies. She is now in her whelping bed but nothing has changed really. She is still panting quite heavily but it seems that nothing is changing. I understand that this can go on for hours but I want her to have them now Do you think I should take her for a short walk or is that too risky.

She'll have them when they're ready, not you! ;) If you rush things you could cause problems. A short walk on the lead around the garden every couple of hours shouldn't do too much harm. She may not have them till tonight or tomorrow ...

Have you put your Vet on standby?, ie, told them that things have started to happen.  Don't forget that although everyone is rooting for you and will advise as much as possible, if you have any concerns, speak to your Vet (they are the experts).
Good Luck, I'm sure everything will be fine.

Is ther any way you can move the whelping box into the bedroom.  She obviously feels it is a safer quieter place than you have chosen.

Bitches need peace and quiet at this tiem and wil not want to ahve the pups in a busy area.

This panting stage may last 24 hours or more, or may quickly go to second stage, just like it does with women.

Hi

Any news??????

This is worse than waiting for my own pups to be born

Wendy

No, sorry she is still panting but has managed to doze a bit, it does seem to be getting a bit more intense though. Think I am loosing the plot now not really knowing what is progression. I presume it will happen in her own good time but I just feel for her as there is nothing I can do for her except be there I suppose. Will keep you posted. Thank you for being concerned it's really thoughtful. Louise

Ahhh good luck, hope all goes well.

Hi, Roxy's waters broke about an hour and a half ago but she is still not showing signs of pushing. I have phoned the vet and he says to bring her down if she is not pushing by about ten to six and he will give her some oxytocin. She has not started pushing yet but is panting loads. But trying to sleep. Think I will soon be off to the vets. This would put my mind at rest as at least he can check her over aswell as its been a long day for her. Louise

Hi I have been "with" you all day today. I hope all goes well. Please keep us posted. Best wishes to you all.
Jane

ake sure that someone is with you as very often a car journey can bring the labour on and quickly

good luck hope everything goes ok :)
sarah

this thread is more exciting than the book I was trying to read . Keep us all posted and good luck

What's the phrase?  Just as well we're all different? :(

first pup born at 18 30 in the car!! outside vets its a boy doing well feedin with mum atm jst waiting for next one. thanks for all the support keep you posted on rest.

Well Done!  Hope everything goes okay. Like others, have been with you all day.

Might have known it was a boy holding up the proceedings.  Jostling to be at the front then not knowing what to do about it!!!!!

Congrats
At last!!! I expect you feel exhausted already. How exciting new babies. I hope everything goes okay. Will be thinking of you and keeping a close eye on this thread for up dates.
Good Luck
Jane

Hi, I now have three boys. mum doing a very good job. Just waiting to see if anymore. Thank you all for your concerns.

So glad all's OK.  Keep us posted when you've got time :d

Hi, I have just got back from picking Roxy up from vets sadly she needed a c-section as the fourth pup had got stuck. They did not manage to save it but saved the following five. When I took her the vet thought that they had all died so I had come home very very sad but she phoned about two hours after op and informed that they had saved five of the six. I was absolutely amazed and so very very grateful she had done a remarkable job. Roxy is a bit shaky and very skinny. The pups had definately had their share of her. The vet said that all the pups are a very good size averaging about 400g. There are now four girls and four boys. They are all feeding and fairly quiet at mo. Roxy is doing a tremendous job and how she has coped is beyond me. she will be getting everything she wants over the coming weeks. I am now so relieved it is all over and I am fit to drop so I am going to go and lie with Roxy and her babes for a bit. Thank you for all your kind words. Louise

Oh Louise , what a night you have had. So sorry about the pup that didn't make it and that you can find some comfort in caring for the pups and knowing that Roxy is ok.Glad  the other pups are doing well. It has been quite an emotional rollercoaster for you hasn't it? I expect you are all exhausted. I hope you can get a bit of rest now. Please let us now how she and her babies are. Sending you lots of good wishes.
Jane

Well Done Roxy.  She has done tremendously well, some bitches can be awfully funny after a C-section, but luckily she has the few before it.  Give her lots of nourishment and she will fill out again.  So glad everything okay.
Best wishes

I am going to go and lie with Roxy and her babes for a bit

You need to make sure that they are not left unattended for the next 10 days, staying with them night and day to make sure that Roxy doesn't accidentally squash the pups.

congratulations Roxy& Louise !! :)  you must be shattered so sad you lost a pup , but fantastic that other pups are all ok .:)

Huge congrats to Roxy and you of course Louise :-)  Sorry to hear about the lost little one but both of you are doing a brilliant job.  It's been lovely to keep up with whats been happening.

Hi

O what a night youve had. Congrats on the babies that is a nice even litter. Sorry to hear about the dead one but it cant be helped at times.

Im sure you will be but keep a extra close eye on Roxys milk. I had a bitch that had a section once and the op effected her milk and we had to bottle feed. Could of been a coincidence first and last litter so dont know if she would of been dry anyway.

Take care and let us know how they are getting on.

Wendy

Well done you, you've had a hard night and sounds like you did everything exactly right. Sorry you lost one, but well done on all the other little ones! As others have said, keep an eye on her so she doesn't squash them by mistake, and I hope all goes well - keep us posted! :-)

Hi all. Finding it hard keeping my eyes open now. I have just got one problem with one of the pups. He is the one that the vet said to be a bit rattley and the hardest one to revive. It seems to be having trouble feeding and is the weekest so never seems to get to a teet. I have tried to place him on to the teet but he does not latch on. The vet said that she had checked them for cleft. Do you think he could have suffered brain damage or something. I have fed him with the bottle and he does not seem to suck but I did manage to get some milk into him. Roxy does seem to be cleaning him so far but he is always slightly left out. Your thoughts please.

try putting him on the smallest softest teat weak ones always have trouble on the large teats maybe even move the other pups away while he has a feed.
This is very common with larger litters and also c sections just keep trying to put him on her teat as he really needs the colostrum

To start with must make it clear that I know nothing about breeding or new puppies.

However, when I had my son he was 'rattly' and he wouldn't feed.  A nurse and I had a bit of an argument as she kept telling me he needed to feed but I kept telling her he wasn't really interested.  In the end the Paediatrician was called and he diagnosed that my son had swallowed a fair amount of 'gunk' while being born.  They gave him a tummy wash and put some milk down and he was fine after that.

Just an idea.  Don't give up he might need some time to work something through his system.

Please be sure the pup is kept warm,dont even try to feed the pup if he cold
they simply cant digest the milk.

Keep trying in the back teat,gently express a little from mom and put the teat in
his mouth and gently keep him on it.

Good luck and I am so pleased your babies are here,Bless em.

Success, put him on smallest teet and eventually he got the idea, theres no stopping him now. I am so relieved. I was really getting worried about him which I could do without right now. He is in there with the rest now. They and I are now really content. Nice to see them all mixed together and no one left out. I am so proud of Roxy she is doing a great job. She still has not left their side though and been out to the loo. Is this normal? I have tried opening back door and enticing her but no joy.

You'll probably need to put her on the lead and physically force her out to relieve herself. It's absolutely vital that she goes three or four times a day. As soon as she's weed and pooed you can let her off to run back to her family.

Congratulations! Sorry you lost one and ended up with a c-section but glad to hear all else seems fine now. :)

Sorry to hear you lost a pup

Congratulations on the rest of them :-)

Well all I can say is good luck. Its awafull losing a pup. WE have new litters at the same time. Enjoy the pups. Hope we can keep intouch as the pups grow.

Hi and well done, boy you are going to have your hands full.  My girl didnt go out without me dragging her for nearly 3 days.  She didnt go out at all for the first day and she wouldn't eat or drink either.  Well done for getting the little lad to drink eventually.  Good luck and try to enjoy this time.
Take care
Janet

I have always fed mine in the whelping box at least 4 times a day.  If feeding a complete I soak it in as mcuh water as it will take as fluid intake is vital.  they often won't eat the dry food as their mouths get sore from all the cleaning.

Also it is normal for them not to want to budge for the first 3 days at least and you do have to force them out on lead, otherwise ylu will either get an accident or the bitch could get an infection from holding on too long.

Congratulations on your babies :)
Katie

Congratulations on all your lovely pups!

Diane