Hi all :)

I read some where ages ago that it was adviseable for any one to take the temp of the dog apart from a very experienced person/vet as the thermometer could snap off inside the dog (not sure how much of that is due)

I now alot of people take their bitches temp during the last few days of pregnancy but for some reason I am interested in how you do it? Do you use some vaseline or KY jelly to lubricate it? how far do you stick the thermo up the bum :O :O :O how long do you leave it in for? etc etc

Heidi :O

I use a digital thermonitor (spelling) I smear a little vasaline on it and insert it
it then flashes till it has got the final reading,dead easy :)

Probably the wisest thing is to ask the vet to explain (and give a demonstration! )

Got to admit we use the a Mercury in Glass Thermometer... and KY jelly or equivilent water soluble lubricant. Taking the temperature is a fairly straight forward process if the dog/bitch is fairly docile and you can keep them still for the required length of time for the thermometer to react.

The only time a real problem can occur is if the dog is allowed to escape your grip during the process ... The majority of the dog in the vacinity of their bum is fairly soft and the thermometers aren't all that delicate so if you hold the thermometer gently rather than in a vice type grip you should be OK even if you do lose grip if the dog moves suddenly no damage will be done! but if you are concerned the digital ones would be the best bet.

Never having taken a dog's temperature, even after all these years!!!:o I've heard that the 'business end' has to touch the wall of the rectum for the most accurate reading - is this true?

I've got a digital thermometer too and smear a little KY on it first.
Jeangenie the dogs anus tends to clamp around it first and then tries to expel it as with any foreign body so the walls of the rectum would probably be touching it anyway. I haven't heard that as a rule - but it may explain how some people come to snap them off if they are inserting them and then twisting them trying to ensure the rectum wall is touched!
I've never had a problem with any accuracy just popping it in straight :)
Lara x

I have to confess, I have never taken a dogs temperature either, just never felt confident enough to do it. With my eyesight it is difficult to read a thrmomenter, and have never got on with the digi ones!

Wow, I'd thought I was a wimp that up until January last year I'd never dared take a dogs temperature, i.e. in 20 or so years of owning dogs. However, as I thought I was alone in my worries, got my vet to demonstrate (she did say keep it pressed lightly to the side), and have not had any problems, touch wood.

Found it an absolute boon when Lil was expecting, as taking temperature twice a day did give me a very good idea when the action was going to start - rather than worrying for a week as I'd done with the previous litter. Have also found it very useful since, if I'm not sure whether a dog is 'off colour'.

Digital vs. mercury? - digital's easier, but I found the one I had inaccurate, and my vet agreed, so I've stuck to the mercury.

M.

Hi Guys,

I am pleased I can contribute to this for a change :-)

Being as my first litter and was terrifed to say the least , I went by the book.

I started the temp checks from day 55 , I bought a digital one £ 6.99 from Denbars.

I very little smear of vasiline and did this 2 times a day. I only put it in about 1 -1.5 cms and got accurate readings. ( ear readings also worked for me)

I am so glad I did it as I would honestly have being doing my shopping or something as she was 5 days before her date and not one sign at all, and I watched her like a hawk, Her temp dropped over 3 days and she had the pups a couple hours after the last reading. When I saw her temp being low I thought " no she is not ready" but I went with the temp and never left her for a second boy am I am glad.

BFN Pam

I'm glad I'm not the only one a bit scared of taking a temperature, :( how did you find the ear readings ? I haven't heard of that before more info please????

Inca,

I didn't want to use a traditional them myself on the bottom, I know other do successfully but I was scared. the digital one is very good.

The ear temp taking is just putting themometer in the ear but not far in , I guess like you would do with a cotton bud. ( don't know if that helps or not) :-)

I did Holly's temp over 3-4 days both bottom and ear and they were always the same.

I was really makinf sure my themometer was working ok as her temp seemed low as she didn't show any signs but when they appeared shortly after I knew the themometer was right :-)

Just thought I would mention ear incase someone really doesn't like to do bottom.

I found with my bitch she is small so I stood her on my bed but kept my arm gentle under her body at the back, ( underneath her) just so she would not sit down.

BFN Pam

The temperature taking is not always reliable.Your bitches behavior is the best indication of when she's close to whelping.Nesting etc.,

Hi. my bitch has just welped last night, and if I had not taken her into the bed and noticed she had started to shiver, I would not have known she was ready to have the pups, when I put her into her welping room, she did not shred any paper at all, I went and made a cuppa, came back and their was one pup just delivered, what a shock I got, she then went on to produce another 6 pups, just like shelling peas, never, ever had a bitch act like this. but got a super litter and a brill bitch. where she hid all these pups I dont know as I though she had no more than 4. She was not due her pups until the 29th. So it does not always go the way it should, any other bitch ive had over the years have all shown classic signs , scraping about a few days before, and shredding bedding etc. Ive never taken temps either, a bit scared to!!!!!

Hi
Congratulations on your new litter.
Looks like you too have a bitch that does not "follow the book" too!
I had a litter last week from a bitch that did not follow too!!!! :-)
She ended up with a c-section though.