My bitch is due tuesday (They are all sold)

A question - I have noticed today around her 'back end' she has some crusty bits stuck to her fur (sorry dont know how else to say it)

Could this be the discharge they get before whelping?

This is only my 2nd litter on my own & my first one I saw the discharge but it did not stick to her fur?

She has done no digging etc & is still eating / drinking but she is a little quiter today (not ill just not as bouncy)

I have looked in the book of the bitch but would like real peoples opinions on this please

So - could I be in for a long night, or is it just wishfull thinking?

Thankyou

Jo
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sounds like she hasnt cleaned herself up- perhaps she cant reach? the discharge is usually like jelly and can hang in strings. i would wait for the panting once that starts your in business although they can pant for 36 hours first!

Dont think she can reach she is sooo big poor thing.

This was dried on so not sure what it was like before, when her mum had her it was just hanging out of her bits , but she was cleaning it up.

No panting yet but my mum has had a few dogs that just had pups with no signs before whelping &  a couple of yrs ago she went out for 5 mins to buy a pint of milk from the shop 3 doors down, & came back to find the first puppy!

These were yorkies so could be different.

I will just have to keep my eyes open

Jo
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It could be the mucus plug dried on. Like your Mum I've had two bitches (giant breed) produce puppies without a sign of digging or panting. So it's not just a yorkie thing. All you can do is wtch and wait. Best of luck for a safe delivery whenever it happens. :)

Yes its it!

Just checked her again & she is all stringy - how long to wait now before anything else happening?

Her mum had a c-section (too many pups to get contractions going) so I want to be prepared

Jo
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Good Luck! my bitch didn't show any signs the first time, until the first water bag and puppy appeared within 5 minutes, luckily I was prepared. This time she had a 1st stage that lasted for 26 hours she didn't stop eating though as a lot of bitches do. I hope you don't have too long a wait ;-)

Wooohooooo I hope all goes well, good luck to you!
Karen

Still nothing is this OK?

The stringy discharge can appear days before labour starts.

Thankyou - I have never know this to happen days before & wanted to make sure it was OK.

Jo
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What day is she on? I saw stringy discharge about a week before my bitch whelped.

Day 63 - My last litter was 3 days early.

She is fine in herself, a bit fed up but still playing / eating ok.

Would it be worth a vet visit?  I dont like to use the vets unless I have him.

How long would it be OK to leave after the due date. My previous litter was early & the ones me & my parents have had were never past the date I am not sure how long past is OK.

Jo
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Hi,

My bitch whelped exactly on day 63, she too had a stringy discharge for several days beforehand, and when she eventually did start, she was in the 1st stage of labour for 27 hours
Have you been taking her temp?

Not done her temp as I tried it last time & could not get a correct reading (human errer I think!)

Any way I am taking her to the vets at 11 as the dogs are in joint ownership with my mum & she would like to get her checked out.

I think she is fine as no digging, panting, pushing ect so not worried but I know my mum does not like them to go more than 1 day past their date any way (who am I to argue - she has had dogs since she was 19 so lots of expereance!)

I will let you know when I get back from the vets

Jo
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Back from the vets - puppies fine, mums fine but they offered a c-section?

I said I would wait as everything was OK but they advised to leave it no longer than tomorrow then bring her back for a section.

So we will have to wait & see tonight

Jo
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My last litter was born naturally and healthy on day 68 from the first mating (66 from second mating), if that's any help. They obviously weren't ready to be born sooner. Needless to say I had the vet examine the bitch regularly to make sure there was nothing wrong.

I would imagine that labour would start naturally when they are ready? my bitch whelped on day 62 last time and day 64 last time (one mating). As long as she isn't distressed or pushing I would play it by ear with the belssing of your vets.
Good luck whatever you decide ;-)

Take her temperature.  That will tell you if you need to unzip her or not.

If she's only due today I wouldn't go with a c-section yet.  What time was she mated at?

Had them last night by c-section

1 got stuck & would not move. I knew it was dead as it had a little blue tongue hanging out :-(

Vet could not remove it manually either so a c-section it was. All other puppies OK which is good.

She did not take well to them at first & tried to eat one & he now has a couple of marks on his head, she is now feeding well under my watchfull eye but she is not yet cleaning them so they toilet, I was going to put some honey on them to encorage her but would that tempt her to try & eat them again?

The good thing is I have had all the right sexes & if no one pulls out they have all got homes to go to - the bad thing is I did not get the blue girl I was hoping for but never mind as long as they are all OK.

Off to bed now!

Jo
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Congratulations on your new arrivals :)