Hi, hoping for some advice please?  I've whelped several litters but I've not encountered such a prolonged first stage of labour i.e. heavy panting, digging, restlessness.  My bitch has been like this just over 18 hours now with no signs of contractions.  She has lost the stringy, mucousy plug over the last couple of days.  Should I be concerned at all or have any of you had experience of longer labours than this?  Any advice gratefully recieved :-)

Yes 24 hours or so, and I know in some breeds this is common.  If all seems well and there is no green discharge signalling placental detachment, and there are no contractions (a pup should be born within an hour or so of expelling contractions) then I would not worry too much.

The panting and digging stage I think depends on how much your bitch reacts to the discomfort.  The ones who just go straight into whelping have obviously had first stage, but not shown much evidence whereas some will make a meal of it.

Of course there is always the chance of inertia where the cervix is open but expelling contractions fail to happen, so a Vet visit may be useful if she goes more than 24 hours.  They should be able to monitor for foetal distress.

Thank you very much for your help, she has whelped normally before but not taken this length of time to move between the stages.  There's no unusual discharge and as yet no contractions!!  I think I will get her checked over before the vet closes this afternoon if she doesn't go on to deliver any pups before hand.  Thanks again

I had this happen with a third and last litter of one of my girls, she just didn't get going after 36 hours or so and we had a C section.  Her previous litter had been 3 years earlier.

One of my bitches had two litters, both of which she was in first stages for ages. The first litter, she started during the Monday night , went through Tuesday day and night, Wednesday and eventually gave birth around 2am Thursday morning. I had her to the Vets twice and he just said she just was taking a long time to progress and wasn't concerned over her. She then whelped as though she were shelling peas, absolutely no problems and very relaxed about it. So I would have her checked out at the Vets and if he isn't concerned then don't panic.

My bitch had her first litter at the end of last year (my first too) and started labour earlyish Monday morning, with some panting and restles behaviour, then her waters broke at 3.30pm the next day, and she had her first pup at 7.10pm on the Tuesday. I do think a lot of people wouldn't have noticed she was in labour. I even rang the vet at one point, who said she wasn't in labour.

She was fine, and delivered 9 pups within 4 1/2 hours. Although, as you obviously know, it doesn't hurt to get the vet to check if you're not sure.

This is where the real art and experience comes into play how to tell the difference between slow but no problems and when things are taking dangerously long.

I don't think anyone should breed a first litter (or even a couple) without an experienced person to help.

Thank you for all your replies, two puppies so far, one boy and one girl.  More to come :-)

I'm glad she had some!  Let us know the final outcome :-)

I don't think anyone should breed a first litter (or even a couple) without an experienced person to help

I absolutely agree. However, if I had listened to my experienced person, (15 years of breeding my breed, plenty of litters in that time) instead of using my common sense, I would have had her to the vets by Monday afternoon, then again when she hadn't delivered a pup 2 1/2 hours after her waters breaking, despite her still having no contractions. I also found my own way of doing things, as my bitches breeder likes to cut the cords herself and would not allow her bitches to eat the placentas, as she learnt from her mentor, years ago, that they were 'muck' and would get into the pups milk. I found very quickly that allowing my bitch to deal with the pups herself (once I had cleared their airways and popped them in front of her) and eat (most of) the placentas was easier, nicer for my bitch, and more effective than me.

I think some people naturally have more of an afinity to animals, and more common sense, than others, and I certainly took the time to read up as much as I could possibly get my hands on, and also spoke to as many people experienced in breeding as possible.

Anymore news Fran?

Thank you all for your advice and good wishes.  The final head count is 9.  5 girls and 4 boys.  Mum and babies doing well :-)

Awww, that is going to be great fun for you....
Congratulations

Karen :-)

lovely.  now the sleep deprevation starts :-)