Hi everyone my large toy breed girl is due to whelp on 19th Dec exactly 63 days from first tie and 61 from second tie. Ovulation tests predicted that she was ovulating on the same day as first tie and then i know it would be 2 days before egg was mature     I would like to ask all the breeders going by experiance when would you predict her whelp to start. I have heard some people say that toy breeds can be slightly early. Yhis is my very first litter . She was scanned showing 5 pups and i was wondering whether to have her x rayed just to confirm the exact number or would it be a waste of time. Welcome all help and advice

Hello and congratulations on your forthcoming puppies. No one can predict when a bitch will whelp although temperature is supposed to be a good indication when it drops to 98f apparantly whelping will start in 24 hours, although to be honest none of my toy breed have ever had the drop in temperature and I have never had a bitch carry till 63 days latest was 60. So id expect puppies from the 12th wouldn't think she'd whelp then but who knows? Certainly stay with her from the 12th, sleep by the whelping box and keep a close eye on your bitch.

Good Luck

P.s my vet was very reluctent to give an xray unless their is an actual problem. He said the stress levels could be depremnetal to the foetues. is very common in the us however/

My toy breed often gives birth a week early, perfectly normal, and nothing to worry about.  But just be ready!  :-)

I don't agree that x-rays cause any problems, unless you have an easily stressed bitch.  One of my girls was x-rayed with no problems.  The vet just asked me to move away from her for a few seconds.  They are the same as humans.  Having an x-ray close to giving birth causes no harm.