I took Callie to the vet today for her x-ray. They saw 8, possibly 9. He also said she should deliver within a few days. I am so nervous, espcially now that I know it is such a large litter. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. I read the other post about the mom eating the puppies. This one is an American Bulldog/Boxer mix, are they known to do this??? Oh my I am so nervous. Hopefully things will go well. Thanks for listening.
Liz

Oh Liz...can't offer any constructive advice as I don't breed...but you are going to have your hands full !!! Good luck..

Natasha

Well I don't breed either that is the problem. Callie is a foster dog who was found pregnant. I have read up alot on this subjuct but seems no matter how much I think I know I will never be fully prepared for what's in store. I just took her temp and it's 98.6 so looks like I am going to get some "hands on training" real soon.
Liz

Under 99 is normally the mark Liz. Good luck.

What general part of the country are you? Maybe there is someone not too far away who can give you support.

I actually live in the US, in Florida. I just stumbled upon this board and everyone seemed so helpful and nice. Her temp is still down below 99 but no other signs yet, she's just sleeping away. I will post tonight to give an update.
Liz

Hi Liz,
My niece and nephew have just moved with their mother outside of Jacksonville -- They've lived in the city most of their lives. I've been to Florida a couple of times. Pretty, but muggy and too flat for my tastes. No high ground for when the hurricanes hit :rolleyes:
good luck with the 'birthin'
Sara

Sara, I live like 40 miles from Jacksonville, what a small world. You are right about it being muggy and flat I hate it.

Oh bless. I'll be right over from Berkshire, England to give you a hand!!

That also explains why you were sending messages when I was up in the middle of the night!! :D

Ok Val, can you hurry? I have a question, once the temp drops will it stay down the whole time or does it go back up? It has gone up to 99.1. Still no other signs just lying around not moving. I think I saw a contraction earlier, her tummy was hard as a rock and there were 3 lumps. Also, if there were 8 or 9 on the x-ray, do you think there will be too much more and if so how many is too many for her to handle without me hand feeding?
Thanks, Liz

I'm on my way! I haven't been over that side of the pond for a while, but I'm sure I can find my way!
But in the meantime it's quite usual for the temperature to fluctuate within a degree or so. There's no need for concern unless it goes up to 101.5 again.
You'll know if you see a contraction. They tend to hunch their back and ripple down the spine.
Vet's are notoriously wrong when it comes to numbers so don't worry about that until you know how many you have. While things are quiet, count how many nipples your girl has.
When things get going, try to remember that you need an afterbirth for each puppy. Doesn't always come out together - maybe with the next contraction. Then you'll know that she's clean inside.

Thanks, I think this is going to take a while. No real signs of labor yet. Guess I better stock up on the coffee, or are you going to bring some when you come :D Wine would be good also for afterwards :) Anyway, I will post if there are any changes.
Liz

I'll bring a bottle!
My Didgy had 9 in January and reared them all herself. I just plugged in the little ones when the others were asleep to make sure they were getting enough.

remember and give your bitch a drinkof "doggy milk" we an get it here in cans called Welpi or another brand is Lactol, dont know about the states though, if you can get this I always put in some Calcidee liquid or crushed up calcium tablets, I always give this when they have finished welping as it stops pre-eclampsia, I always take the mum and pups to get vet checked the day after they are born just to make sure everything is o.k, with pups and mum i.e. no cleft palates etc. Good luck with the welping im glad my breed don't have as many as 9 what a handfull, you will probably be "stressed out" by the time its all over. |Please keep us posted and if you have any problems post a message or phone your vet. we will try and help as best we all can.

I had 9 malamute puppies 7 weeks ago and that many are a handful. I didn't take Jasmines temp but I knew she was in first stage labour by the way she was acting. Lots of panting and very restless. I stayed up with her all night but she didn't move into the second stage until one o clock the following afternoon. As soon as she started the second stage I gave her some calcium tabs and continued with these every day while she was feeding them. the birth was pretty straightforward and she had the whole 9 in four and a half hours. You may find you have to supplement the feeds if she does not have enough milk. Jasmine was a bit short and the vet said to give extra feeds twice a day. This is where you wish you had not quite so many :D I also did a head count every so often because with having such a lot you can easily miss one and find it under the bitch. Once they get out of that vulnerable stage you can relax a bit and 9 does not seem so many except that you feel you are walking on dogs, its like the floor is moving under your feet!! Of course 9 are very noisy and very mischeivious but now I have got to know them all individually I would not have missed out on any of them. Good luck:)

Congrats on your babies. Thnks for the advice, sounds like I am in for tons of fun :)

My Norwegian elkhound bitch, who is at the lower end of the scale size wise, whelped 9 large pups in under 3 hours nearly 3 years ago, and all her babies are bigger than she!

She was a marvelous Mum, though I did start the weaning at two weeks, giving puppy milk with a tiny bit of soaked puppy food, to make a thin porridge when they first started.

Oh it is so wonderful to hear a good story. I have heard all the bad ones. Thanks :)

We had a litter of 15 Irish Wolfhound pups and they all survived, with a lot of extra help for mum. (I dont believe in culling) With a big litter its the first two weeks that are the hardest, but I promise its all worth it in the end. Best of luck with your forthcoming pups and hope mum does well xx

I am taking her to the vet after whelping and he is going to give her a shot to clean her out and some antibiotics as a precaution. Thanks for the advice. I will post as things progress.
Liz

Hi, best of luck with then whelping. Could you get the vet to visit you after the whelping, instead of taking her to him/her? Its best to avoid travelling the bitch so soon after delivering unless its really needed, they hate being disturbed,though of course things may be done differently where you are.

Hi, I was think the same as WL & also the vets clinic is where an awful lot of germs can be picked up.
Christine2

Housecalls in the US by a vet???? .... surely thou jests :D :D :D :D
There are a few, but very rare for small animals and considered either 'traditional' or 'unconventional'. How ever can it be both, I just don't understand


This is sad but true. Also, I don't have much choice because I am fostering this dog for a rescue and they have their own vet and I have to use him.
This morning she went potty and there was a long string of mucus that came out, now she is resting in her whelping box. Maybe today is the day??

Boxers are notorious slow whelpers. (Although there are exceptions to the rule). My girl went 4 hours between the first and 2nd pup (I had the vet out twice to make sure she was ok etc, the 2nd pup born 2 mins before the vet came for the second time, he gave me homeopathic remedy which
seemed to help speed things up alittle and the pups came nearly evey hour
after that)
Not sure on the American Bulldogs.........
Hope your bitch has an easy time of it.
I had my first litter of Boxer pups last year it was hard work.
But they've all bought lots of joy to their new families and the one
I kept well she keeps me on my toes :)
Best Of Luck
Kirstine