My female is 56 days pregnant by counting the days on a calender. She is laying around a lot today, and not really wanting to eat anything. It looks like she is starting to sag in the nipple area I am assuming from the milk filling in. She has a soft pet bed that is for her and our male to sleep in during the day. She has nudged it around and is making circles in the bed and then laying back down. She has done this about 10 times in the past hour. She isn’t breathing heavy and her stomach isn’t contracting. I have made her a whelping box that she has been sleeping in for the past 2 weeks. She gets very protective over the bed and has jumped on our male dog for getting close to it. Now she has no interest in that bed, just the soft pet bed that’s in the living room. I have never been around a dog that is birthing puppies so this will be a new experience. Our male is now fixed so no more little accidents like this happen again. I have the vets number taped to the fridge in case I need to get her in ASAP.. He said when she starts going into labor to call him and he will wait for updates through out the day/night, and will be there ready if we need to bring her in for any emergency that may arise during this whole process. My question for everyone out there.. Is my female going into labor? The vet told me 57-63 days is 56 days to soon? I know for a fact my dogs have only tied once on the 18th of March. It was an accident that was my fault for not locking on up before letting the other outside during there restroom trips.
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
little accidents??? I think a dog having an unwanted pregnancy is a big accident. Realize the impact and spay your female dog when the vet says you’re able to.
I don’t know much about breeding but I know 56 days is a little too early as your vet said but by all means call your vet and ask him.
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
She’s not necessarily, no. But keep a very close eye on her just in case.
She’ll likely begin nesting behaviour some days prior.
Please keep your male away from her starting now during whelping and while the pups are there.
I’m glad your vet is on hand for you, and that you have your dog neutered now. I hope that you’re planning to have her spayed too, as she should have been some time ago (either before or during this pregnancy), to prevent this exact scenario.
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
I dont breed my dogs, so I cant help you with the delivery
but let me ask you this….if you have no freaking clue about dog pregnancy, delivery, etc…and it was an accident..
Why didnt you have an emergency spay done on the bitch and saved her and yourself a whole lot of trouble>?
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
56 days is too soon, with little chance of survival for the pups. A couple of days can make a huge difference, but it doesn’t sound like she’s in labor at all. Now is an ideal time to assemble your whelping supplies & start getting her used to the whelping box, which needs to be placed in a quiet, warm area of your home & she can be confined to. She’d probably prefer one of those soft beds, but it’s very dangerous for the pups. Keep an eye out for nesting behavior, shivering & panting, which is the time to confine her to the whelping box, keeping your male far away at all times until the litter is at the least weaned
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
I believe it’s a little too soon, it also depends on what kind of dog u have as well, My dogs when they would give birth it was always 60 or more days. Be careful, she might try to make a bed of her own, watch her closely, and lock her in the whelping box at night. Have plenty of warm towels, and warm water bottles for the new arrivals. You’ll notice she’s in labor when, her water breaks, and her belly starts contracting, she’ll start wanting to go outside more, so wath her carefully outside. Labor can last for quite awhile with dogs, depending on how many puupies she’s carrying.
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
This is really a question to call a animal hospital. NOT asking people on yahoo. Even emergency animal hospitals in your area would be more than happy to answer your questions if its after hours. Please ask your vet hospital these questions because if for some reason she really was in trouble it may be too late waiting for answers on here that may not be the best answers.
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
PLEASE KEEP THE MALE DOG FAR AWAY FROM THE PUPPIES! HE WILL EAT THEM! I know this sounds weird and gross but it is just something they do. PLEASE do not leave those little pups alone with the male. Also, put some old blankets and towels in the whelping box. She will move them around so don’t worry about how nicely they are in there. She if she likes the box then. And once she moves the blankets, leave them there.
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
call your vet to check in with him, but the first stage of labor can last 24 hours. http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/whelping.html
May 20th, 2010 - 11:14 am
Just be sure you keep the male completely away form the female and the puppies while she is nursing them. She could start a very serious fight protecting the puppies and may inadvertently harm them.
Males do not eat puppies. They may kill them though by grabbing them to see what they are.