My girl is due to whelp in 3 days but theres something thats confusing me, shes very restless, scratching up her bed and has gone off her food, now to me thats signs that shes getting ready but i have been told by a couple of people to check her for milk well iv done that and she has none so they have said not to worry as her milk will come through about 24 hours before she whelps, but then other people are telling me thats not always the case and some bitchs milk come in whilst they are in labour. i am now very confused and dont know what to think can some one please help.

Sometimes the milk comes through before whelping, sometimes during labour and sometimes not until whelping is finished. It doesn't come through properly with humans till about 3 or 4 days after birth, so relax!

I guess only time will tell, i dont think she will go till tuesday shes very restless wants lots of cuddles, shes in and out of her box and scratching up her bed, shes panting abit but nothing major yet but that could be to do with the weather, i will just keep a close eye on her. we are all ready so when ever it starts we are well prepared. Thanks you very much for your quick response.

You mention on another board that this is not her first litter. I expect she will produce milk at the same point again.

Yes thats right its her 2nd, with her 1st litter i noticed the milk in the afternoon and by 9 that night she was in labour.

I have never found mine scratching up their beds until less than 24 hours before whelping, and usually not until first stage labour starts as it isn't so much nesting as reaction to the pain.

full term pups may be born as much as a week before the due date, and most of mine have whelped from 4 days before to a day before, rarely going to date or over, but then my girls tend not to mate until  after ovulation, usually when the eggs have ripened, and not at or just before ovulation as many bitches will.

To explain, the times I have had my bitches premate tested they have ovulated around day 12, but not been mated until two or three days later.

the later in the fertile period they are mated generally the shorter the pregnancy will seem.

Shes not excessivly digging up her bed just every now and then, well i have her in the room with me in her box so i will keep a close eye on her.

Please don't start a new thread unless the topic is completely new

Thanks