Hello
My dog showing 1st stage for 16 hours already.
As there is a lot of different informations available about time that 1st stage can take.
Some owners saying that took 36 hours for their dogs (first litter G R)
But other saying 12 hours.
She looks bit tired already and breading very fast - but no other worrying signs.
We giving her some Ice cream + water with glucose to keep her energy level up as she refused any other food which is normal.
As this is the most informative and with most experienced forum members I believe that someone is able to confirm the correct information.
How can I know if it is the time to take my dog to the vet for c-section.
Thanks
Peter

Sorry for my English - it's not my first language.

Yes some can go on for more than 24 hours some show little signs in first stage.

Is there a chance that after so many hours she can be too tired to give birth natural way?
And late decision with c-section can increase risk of complications.

Thanks

Boxers can take far longer than this in 1st stage, my Cavaliers can mess around for more than 12 hours but I don't know about your breed. S
If active contractions start then futter away to nothing then I'd seek vet advice.

She MAY be weary but her uterus will still be just fine. The mechanical action of the internal muscles won't be affected by her weariness but can become depleted in a long and protracted 2nd stage.

She shown first stage @23.00 now is almost 18.00 so 19 hours gone and nothing changed.
So does anyone think that it's a good idea to take her to my vet now to be checked as they are open for 1 more hour ?
or  Should I wait 24 hours and then take her to be checked @ out of hours clinic? or wait until tomorrow morning and see my vet @ 9.00 ?
I know that is common for golden that first stage 24-36 hours but my partner is very stressed.

Thanks

My bitch started her 1st stage at 8pm last night and we are still waiting for her to proceed to active labour.  She is progressing steadily although slowly, but isn't stressed and is eating well.  So we'll just sit it out.

My bitch looks bit stressed and she don't want to eat, breathing very fast, had no sleep overnight so I'm bit  worried. ;)
She adopted teddy bear already. ;)

Is she scratching the newspaper in the whelping box a LOT and pacing about? If not, I'd just wait.

She is not scratching newspapers, laying flat and changing the position after a while, she started digging in the garden when she was out, she looks tired and breathing fast all the time.
She had no sleep overnight so must be very tired.
So she is trying to sleep now, but she will wakeup in few minutes again.

She's not in active labour then I'd say, so it's a waiting game. I've had 36 hrs.

She sounds like she is having a normal first stage.

If she is actually straining and getting nowhere then don't leave her for more than an hour and if at any time you see a green or black discharge BEFORE any pups are born then get to vet. You will see this green discharge INBETWEEN  puppies being born but this is normal.

Really I would let her be and try to relax so she will also relax

Most bitches DONT eat at this stage so don't worry, just continue to offer high calorie drinks.
In fact it's best not to give food at this point in case a C section is needed later.

With her only being day 58 I seriously doubt this is Inertia just a bitch showing discomfort of early labour.

She is huge and when she was scanned, Scan showed minimum 8 pups, but we think it will be more than 8
so we are worry that her uterine can be overstretched it may not contract.
She showed when she was 4.5 weeks pregnant, she was eating small portions only as litter is taking lot of space.
She stopped eating dry food about week ago but we feed her meat, eggs etc....I know that we need bit more patience.
I will post any updates asap.
Thanks

This is the most nerve wracking stage

Stay calm for her and just hold your nerve.As Brainless said this is the most nervewracking time....once a puppy is out and she is on her way you will feel better.

Don't worry about her being so tight around her belly.I've had litters of twelve with huge tight bellies and they manage just fine.

Thank you all for your support, We are really appreciate that
We feel so much better with all your help and advice.
Our mentors has failed at most important time and they promised to be on hand, so without your help we would already have a heart attack.
And thanks to you we can handle this stressful time much better.

THANKS !!!!

I will post any updates asap

Any news?

My last litter, I was very like you, on edge, waiting! 1st stage labour lasted 36hrs, she went on to deliver 11 puppies

No news
no difference.
now 22.5 hours.

WAITING .........

I HOPE IT WILL FINISH SOON...
PLEASE....PLEASE....PLEASE

Whew!  I hate to disagree with experienced breeders but I would be taking my bitch to the vet NOW whether out of hours or not.

So now I'm not so sure what to do...
23 hours in 10 min

Should I wait or not???

If she was mine I would already be in the car.

Just contacted out of hours and they reassured me that it is not unusual and it can take 36 hours in some cases.
I have given all details and feel better again.
If There will be any change I will update info again.

THANKS

Jean this is a large breed and she is only day 58.

Is she trembling or shaking?

Jean...if I rushed to the vet at this stage in every whelping I've done over nearly 40 years...I'd be bankrupt.
Tiny toys are different. This is just getting started for many larger breeds....

White 27...take a deep breath and describe exactly what shes doing....how her abdomen looks, her vulva...the look in her eyes

My bitch recently had an emergency c section after no progression from a 33 hour labour. She was scanned and the puppies were getting distressed. Vets advised me to wait 48 hours, I wasn't having that at all... I just knew something was wrong, her labour was very atypical (and on day 63-64), so I went for a scan to a specialised scanner... Saw what I needed to and we decided on a section. The last thing I wanted to do.... but I didn't want my bitch to have to mourn the loss of an entire litter.

When labour is imminent I notice a shift of the puppies almost into a 'rubber ring' look in the abdomen, caused by the whelps getting into birthing position

No, she is not shaking.
Sometimes she can manage to get a nap, but she still have a fast heavy breath.
She doesn't want to leave her whelping box at all, just laying flat there.

Sounds all good to me.
Really laboured breathing in a large breed in full labour sounds like someone sawing wood....once heard never forgotten.

Hope all goes well...use white or light coloured bedding to check for the colour of any leaking fluids,
Keep detailed notes for use by the vet if need be,
If you take her out, take a torch and a towel,
Get a washing basket ready lined with a soft towel and one to drape over to ferry pups to ( or home from) vet if necessary,
Hot water bottle at the ready for same reason,
Make sure you have fuel,
Phone charged up,

Good luck, hoping for a good outcome for you.

When she wakes up she is looking @ me but her eyes looks dull and tired. She is trying to nurse her teddy bear

Enough fuel
phone battery charged
all equipment ready.
only problem is my patience...... ;)

Dull and tired isn't a worry...
Anxious and scared...maybe
Far away look like she's contemplating what's going on inside...good!

Whelping IS an exhausting business so don't worry...adrenaline kicks in with serious contractions.
Off to sleep now I'm afraid as I have a very tiny premmie litter I'm watching 24/7.....
Exhausting!

Good luck again

Any news? I have had up to 48 hours if you include what seemed like all the signs with a false alarm then started again. Fortunate never to have needed a c section although just once, after the event when I lost a couple of puppies, I questioned whether I should have done. This is the most stressful stage for you when you know the puppies have been carried to term and now you just want them out and alive. If you continue to be worried you may have to push your vet into action as they can be very relaxed while things could be going wrong.
Hopefully you are now helping with nursing the puppies.

Everything is the same !!!
except now is 33 hours of first stage.
We decided to see my vet, they will be OPEN @ 9.00 .
Will update asap.

THANKS

This is exactly what happened with my giant breed 8 days ago.... her 1st stage just didn't progress. .. We were no further in labour at 33 hours as to what we was at 2 hours. ... except by this point we were in day 64

We have visited our vet and after check she stayed for c section.
We are waiting now for any news from the vet.
Asked to ring them @11.30.
So most stressful time now.

What was the reason for the vet wanting to carry out a section?

> What was the reason for the vet wanting to carry out a section?

I wondered that assuming it's only day 60 since first mating.

His decision was based on the scan and internal examination. She is dilated but it seems that her uterine is overstretched and there is no signs of any contractions after manual stimulation. He said that even if she will progress to stage 2 her uterine contractions could be too weak to deliver all of them (large number). So after careful consideration he recommend c section now to avoid grater risk later. So now we only can wait.

Good luck

Hope it all goes well and you get a nice litter.

Good news:
Mum is very tired after c section but she is recovering.
There is a 10 little babies around her @ the minute as she is sleeping now 7 girls + 3 boys
Bad news is:
She is confused after anaesthetic and scared of pups she doesn't stay with them in a box.
She is apprehensive when she see them.
When she laid down on a carpet away from box we put one of them next to the buffet and she accepted it, than second, third etc....
Now all of them have a lunch.
Problem is that she recognising teddy bear as her real puppy and when it makes a noise she is distressed.
(she had a phantom pregnancy in the past and looked after him)

I hope that she will realise which are the real babies ( teddy is now away).

So again big thank you for all your help and advice.
I hope that my post can be helpful to someone in the same situation.
It is a good example that "murphy's law" is true.
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
So expect the worse and if everything goes well be very happy.
It is better to have a nice surprise than bad disappointment.
So we are very pleased with current result.
We know that is not the end of the problems but we are trying to deal with it.
So I believe that next nights will be very busy for us and I'm more than happy to be busy.
I'm sure that all staff looked at me when I had a tears in my eyes not an usual view to see the guy 190cm tall 150kg crying.
But I have a tears even now while I'm writing  this post now I'm so happy.

I will work hard to help my girl to accept babies but any idea will be appreciated.

Thank You again

That's a lot of puppies. It's very normal for an animal that has had a caesarean to not really want their babies to start with -I've never had a section in a dog but have had it with cats. Sounds like you've done well so far with putting the pups to her. Just make sure she's not left alone with the pups as she won't be feeling herself for a while yet. Does sound like you are on the right track though, good luck.

Sorry to hear you had to have a c section for your bitch but happy to hear about the pups. It will be stressful for a while until you are happy they are all putting on weight and Mum is recovering, it is c section or not. You will eventually be able to enjoy your little bundles!!!

Don't worry too much if she takes time to accept her puppies, as long as they don't become dehydrated they can manage without suckling for a while. My bitch whelped easily (her first) but didn't want anything to do with her puppies until the third was born 4 hours later--it took her most of a day to feed them and to this day she prefers her squeaky toys. In fact she only became interested in the puppies once they started squeaking :-)

Good luck with your litter and well done!