How soon is too soon?

MOOSE · Post by **MOOSE** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:52 pm

I have been doing a lot of reading about whelping as my female is almost 8 weeks along. How soon is too soon for pups to be born. I have read it is safe after day 50 and I have also read it is safe anytime after day 58.

My other questions is she is at day 53 and I started to do temps today. I am using a digital thermometor made for humans. I took temp at noon and it was 98.1 and then again at 2:45 and it was 97.5. This seems too soon to have it drop like that. She isn't showing any other signes of possible whelping. Eating like nomal and acting totaly normal. Maybe I should get a new thermometor?

Post by **kninebirddog** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:07 pm

Are you inserting it in the rear and at least an inch in for an internal temp if not then your not getting a decent reading

and as for whelping any time after day 57 is better

For a dog exch week in the womb is about equvilant to a month for a human

MOOSE · Post by **MOOSE** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:25 pm

I took her into the vet and they got a 98 reading as well. They said that there is no way she is ready yet. So she must just be a dog that has a low body temp. Thanks for the reply.

Post by **kninebirddog** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:50 pm

better safe then sorry

good luck
keep us posted and you know your going to have to post puppy pics

when they get here

TrueBlu Shorthairs · Post by **TrueBlu Shorthairs** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:50 pm

You are jumping the gun by about a week, depending on how close you are to the date of conception. 58 to 63 days is whelp time. Far too early to check temps.

You will see a drop from 98 to 92 or 93 when she is within 24 hours of whelping.

Remember, mama dogs have been doing this for centuries, it'll be fine. First litter is scary though.

MOOSE · Post by **MOOSE** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:32 pm

I figured it would be good to figure out her normal temp now instead of later.

If I had waited a week then I would think she was with in hours of having the pups. I think that is kind of smart really but hey I think a little out of the box sometimes!:-)

I also am trying to make sense of all the different stuff I have read. Thanks again!

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:15 pm

You will know when it is time. The dog will be totally restless and weird acting on the day. You will know don't worry.

GSP 4 me · Post by **GSP 4 me** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:02 pm

Best of luck with your upcoming litter and be sure to post some pics on the forum.

CherrystoneWeims · Post by **CherrystoneWeims** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:23 pm

You will see a slight lowering of the temp about a week before she is due. Then the temp will go back up again. When you see the dramatic drop in temp then you will know pups will arrive in about 24 hrs.

Is she nesting?

MOOSE · Post by **MOOSE** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:23 pm

Thank you all for your insight. I appreciate it. No matter how much reading I do I know I will still have questions. Just like with foaling a horse out! Something is always a bit different. I am getting very excited as I can feel the pups move in her belly.

I know I know I am a crazy first time puppy mom.

MOOSE · Post by **MOOSE** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:06 pm

I don't want to be the paranoid first time whelping mom and be calling the vet with every little odd thing.

My girl is at 58 days now and there was a little spot bleeding on some bedding in her whelping box tonight. Should I be concerned and make the vet call or at this point is that something that can be expected?

Thanks soooo much everyone for all the help you have given!

Post by **ezzy333** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:43 pm

My best advice would be to relax and find something to do that will keep your mind busy. Your female will know what to do and when. And you will know its time. I have never called a vet unless I could tell the female was struggling, and that was once in many litters over the years. I am of the opinion that the less you interfere the better things will turn out. I think young females get nervous when they see you are. and will try to be with you rather than taking care of their business.

I always made it a point to not be in the room unless again there is some reason to be. I know you and many won't agree but there are some things that the dogs can do better than we can. So check on her every hour or two, see that she isn't laboring too hard and then sit back and see what happens. Like I said, calling a vet was done one time when a female i knew had a history as she got older of having some difficulty with the last pups in a big litter and we did give her a shot and we ended up with 9 healthy pups. But I never bred her again. And we never lost a litter. I think 1 pup out of a litter is the most we ever lost except when my Uno Chief daughter had 17 and we only raised 9 of them but several were awfully small and had some problems.

Ezzy

markj · Post by **markj** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:04 am

You are close. Keep an eye on her, the first pup sometimes comes out backwards so watch for this, if it happens softly pull it out. The natural reaction of that pup is to crawl so they can become stuck which is bad.

Let her do what she needs to do, dont get to busy around her, sit quitely and watch. Help when needed, she will take over and do it all. Make sure pups feed right away, some moms first time dont get that and may try to push pup away.

I feed mine a mix of beef entrals boiled (hearts, livers etc stuff I dont eat) then add rice so it absorbs the juices. Feed her a small amount twice a day to help her not drop weight. Keep em warm and as dry as possible. Not a huge thing to do, try to not worry so much, mom nature is alive and well