By scarlettwynter Date 11.08.06 12:55 BST
HI,

What is it a sign of if the temp goes up to this? Please excuse my ignorance

Hope it's OK to answer this after the other thread has been locked?
This bitch's temperature had stayed too low for too long, which is indicative that the pups were ready to be born and the bitch would need help.  It was not for me to disagree after all the other posters and the Vet had said that she was ok!   Had her temperature risen sharply then it would have meant that the pups needed to be got out immediately or they would perish.  As it was, thankfully the Vet gave Oxytocin in time, which was what she needed for inertia.

Thanks for getting back to me....it all makes sense now.

I don't know why people dismiss it so much.

I have done the temp check with every litter. Different bitch each time and it has been 100% bang on everytime. 

It happens for a reason. I think when people get it wrong they are not taking it enough and not and the same time each day and recording it properly.

I have my readings from my first litter still. My first litter arrived one week early , I was just about to nip to the shop when I thought I would take her temp first. Lucky I did , she had her first puppy a couple hours later.

It was one of the most useful peices of information I ever got ..  funnily enough it was Val that gave me it :-)

Does the temp have to be taken rectally or is one of the aural [ear] probes just as accurate?  I will be looking into getting one or other next year,don't want to waste my money.

Rhona

Like everything else Blue, you need to understand the readings and what is 'normal', including the normal fluctuations. :)  If you take the trouble to learn, it works very well, and is especially good at warning of potential problems. :D

I've only ever used rectal thermometers, although I have progressed from mercury to digital.  Got to keep up with the times - sometimes! :D

I've only ever used rectal thermometers
Ditto.  Mine never bother at all.