Whelping signs?

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joeanne

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Ok by my calculations (63 days after known mating) we are just over a week away from D Day.
Its been a long time since we had puppies and this is our bitches 1st (and last!) litter.
Just need to be reminded of signs the pups are "en-route" so to speak.
And how long should dad be kept away from mum and the puppies?
Oh and is lactol beneficial to a pregnant bitch? if so when should it be given?
Sorry for the 1001 questions, but i am getting a wee bit hot under the collar with the worry of it all!
 
With my girl on her first litter it was a lot of mooching around day and night (with me following her every move for days!!) She panted alot for 48 hours beforethe day, then started digging holes in the garden and generally nesting getting anything to make a bed. She came to me alot as if trying to tell me then eventually started whelping in a bag under my bed at 4 in the morning!! i let her have the first one there then moved them to the whelping box. My other JRT ( male but not dad) watched in amazement as they were born but he never tried to get too close in the first few days, then after that she was ok for him to look in but not touch, just be guided by her behaviour. Good luck hope it goes well and hope you manage to see them born, wonderfull!!!
 
I also go along with what magicmadge says also she should have a show of clear jelly like substance coming from her rear if I'm right in thinking so.
smile.gif
 
Temperature is the key sign, take it three times a day to pinpoint the drop. Normal dogs temp is at 101.5 (38.6), a bitch that is due to whelp is always naturally lower in the last stages but the sign that she'll whelp within the next 48 hours is when it gets as low as 97-99 (36.1 - 37.2). You'll see the pups moving alot in the last stages, give lots of newspaper in her whelping box to shred. She'll become restless a few hours before and won't settle easily, most likely be off food (do not feed her until she's finished whelping, we always put glucose in the water) and then she'll start the panting.
 
My bitch had the stringy discharge for a couple of days before she went into whelp.
I took her temp religiously and it did drop but went up again.
The most obvious sign for me was that she started whinging which quickly became a full blown howl. First puppy was born 30 mins after she started crying.
Good luck with yours, hopefully she has had them safely now. Ours had them on day 60 but she did have 12!
 
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