Hello,

Just looking for some advice, our little bitch was due on monday with her first litter...its now friday and still no sign of pups!! the vet is happy to let her continue as she in in no distress.....however i have just checked on her and she has creamy discharge coming from her, is this a sign that she has started???

She has been off colour for a few days now and temp down, but no scratching or anything, but very sleepy....ekkkkk

Any thoughts would be helpful!

Thanks

If she is off colour and not having contractions, I would want to rule out inertia.  Wouldn't hurt for him to see her again.  And I have never had a girl go this much overdue, so wouldn't be happy about it if it were one of mine.  

Everyone will give you a different opinion but from last mating (I only ever do two for this reason) I would never let a bitch go past 48 hours. That is me though some others will disagree.

When you say her temp has been done, what was the temp? when was it down ? and how long for?

I have always been advised that you can wait comfortably for 7 days past due date without worrying. If she is showing no signs of digging or contractions or heavy panting then it sounds as if you have a bit longer to wait. Keep checking the temperature.

If she is comfortable at the vets it wouldn't hurt to have her checked over again, but I wouldn't cause unnessasary stress at this stage if she is scared of vets.

I think a creamy whitish discharge is just an indication of late stages of pregnancy. (my bitch had a whitish discharge for the 3 weeks leading up to whelp)

Good luck and keep us posted

A lot depends on breed and lines.  My breed often go early by 2 to 5 dyas, so waotong 7 days past due woudl be too long.

I agree it depends on the breed. Contact the stud dog owner for advice, or the breeder that you got your bitch from. They will know what to expect.

I have always been advised that you can wait comfortably for 7 days past due date without worrying.
Definately not in my breed.   Mine always go early or at the latest to their date.

It may also depend on how many puppies she has... as the whelping process is triggered by the fact that there is no more space left for the puppies. If she has one or two puppies then they may be a bit later.

If she has one or two puppies then they may be a bit later

Again varies from breed to breed that is why it is difficult to say. My breed has between 2-5 average  most of mine have been 3 to 4 still always early.   Think the only one who went to the 63 days was a litter of 3.

gundoggal , dont' think I am disagreeing with your advice at all, I am 1005 not it is just I am putting a different breed to it and I know your breed and mine will vary greatly on numbers, dates etc etc so it is worth mentioning.   If it were my breed most breeders would be straight to the vet a day or two max after the due date of not sooner.

Same with ideal age large breeds and some smaller breeds do well with their first litter at 3 where my breed seems to do better at 2.

No not at all, blue I didnt get that impression in any way!!
Its good that the poster gets different opinions so they can make an informed opinion. Everyone has different experiences with whelping =].. I tend to be more laid back with the process, probably because my breed tend to be easy whelpers. :)

I would have thought that by now either the poster is too busy with puppies to come and respond! haha!

My previous vet also wouldn't do anything until the 70th day as this is an acceptable birthing time as long as pups could still be felt moving and the bitch was fine.  I wouldn't be going in there on the 64th day myself when all signs were fine.