Hi all,

My bitch is day 56 and carrying a singleton puppy. Yesterday she was very restless and passed what looked to be her plug, today she vomited six or seven times and was still restless. She's not gone off her food and her temp has stayed between 37-38 c so the drop hasn't happened.

I've read differing things about the vomiting, wondering if it's the first stage? Should I sleep with her tonight to keep an eye on her?

Thank you in advance!

I wouldn't let her out of my sight, hope all goes smoothly.

You've got a cross between two breeds known to be difficult whelpers -and at least one of them known to be early. Add a singleton to this and I'd be very, very cautious indeed as the risk is big that she will need a caesarian sooner rather than later.

Thanks for your feedback. Slept downstairs with her last night and there were no signs of contractions or anything. Will give the vet another ring today and keep monitoring her temperature but I haven't noticed the drop yet.

> Should I sleep with her tonight to keep an eye on her?

Yes!!   In fact we slept with our bitches from a week before whelping.  Mentor?   It's usually better to have somebody experienced there to examine and advise - I'm not for necessarily rushing a pregnant b itch to a vet before the due date + a couple of days, but as she's not doing so well, and perhaps you did see something that indicated she'd gone into first stage labour, you should?   The problem with small litters/singleton puppies, whelping might be delayed and they just sit.   But if she is only on day 56, unless she is in trouble, it's to be hoped she'll hold onto the pregnancy for a few days yet.

We've had her temperature drop, it's now 36 degrees so should be 12-24 hours? Mentor has been really helpful, says she looks and feels how she should be. Keeping a close eye on her tonight and have the vets number on hand should there be any problems!

Good luck!

Would you recognise inertia?  I have a toy breed who only go to day 56 as a rule, so I sleep with them pretty early on.  My biggest worry would be that she is carrying one pup so making it unlikely that she would release oxytocin.  If it's inertia you have a pretty short window to get her help.  It will show in her eyes.  My girls always beg me for help with their eyes.

And in 40 plus years I have never ever relied on temperature.

Spoke to the vet on call this evening. Told us what to look out for in terms of inertia. She's got a scan booked in tomorrow morning and if he doesn't like what he sees then she'll have a c section tomorrow afternoon. Thanks again for all your replies!

Good luck X

So my bitch Roxy had her singleton pup via c section this afternoon as she wasn't progressing onto stage two. Both mum and pup are doing well, Roxy is very groggy from the anesthetic which is to be expected.

The pup has been feeding off the different teets all afternoon and she's stayed in the whelping box with the pup. No issues so far.

Should I stay up through the night and watch the pup, or would you normally check every couple of hours?

Roxy also hasn't shown much interest in licking the puppy is there anything I should do or do you think it might be the best effect of the anesthetic?

They will need supervision 24/7 for the first few weeks

Even without a C section I would not leave unsupervised (and mines are very natural mothering breed not known for clumsiness) for the first 7 days minimum  with a maiden, with a proven good mother who was obviously being careful at least 4 days, as you need to keep making sure all pups are feeding well, get the smaller ones on more often,  then I would relax a bit after their eyes are open..

With a C section this is even more important as they can be very out of it and when she finally comes around properly the pup may be a shock, and I the meantime she will be more clumsy.

Make sure the pup is rotated to all the teats so that mastitis is avoided when one or two are not being used and get overfull once the milk comes in with a vengeance after about 3 days.

> Should I stay up through the night and watch the pup, or would you normally check every couple of hours?

We always sleep with our bitches and their litters, at least until by around 3 weeks, we move them from the quiet room in the house where they are at first, to the kitchen.    If your bitch had a C.Section, I believe, especially that you need to be there if only to watch her for problems.   She will be groggy after the anaesthetic (which in a way is good as the puppy can have a good go at the teats, colostrum, without her reacting badly) and for that reason alone, I'd need to be there (or as in our case, hubby there) just in case.

Too bad about needing a C.Section for one ........   we had that once.

ps   What is a Chug?   And good point about rotating the singleton puppy on the teats, to avoid mastitis.   You'll still have to keep a good eye on that possibility.

It'll be a chihuahua x pug. I agree you need to be there 24/7 for a couple of weeks, or she could easily lie on the puppy and smother it.

It'll be a chihuahua x pug  Really!!

Stayed up with them last night, hb had to take over as she always feels that she has to protect me. She's taken to the pup really well today, the only issue we have is she doesn't like her whelping box and wants the puppy on the sofa with her but she's doing everything she should do which is good!

I agree with others, and with a toy breed of this size you need to be extra vigilant.  Please stay with her until pup is on her feet.

You need to have her spayed around 12 weeks after section.

> It'll be a chihuahua x pug.

    I was being naughty with that 'what is a Chug' comment.   I know, and I'm not impressed that a mix-bred bitch (and she's NOT 'a breed') has been mated.  Sorry.   This shouldn't happen, especially given the problems that might happen with the Chi -half of this bitch.