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EXHAUSTING BUT
REWARDING
Restless,
Nesting, Panting, Vomiting, and Crying during each
contraction.
LABOR CAN
LAST 4 - 24 HOURS
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Now that we did all of our homework and fed
mommy appropriately with plenty of protein, the puppies grew
and grew
and grew!
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The
first sign that the new puppy-family is on the way usually is
signaled by the bitch's lack of interest in food about twenty-four
hours before whelping. Then you may notice she will lick at
her vulva and have slight abdominal cramping. Then the
abdominal contractions become more frequent...about every half
hour. All of a sudden you may notice a shiny, grayish sac
drooping through the vulva; it looks like a gray water
balloon. The bitch may walk around with this hanging out and
will often open the "water sac" and a clear fluid will run
out. The pup's on the way! In most cases the pup will be
delivered within an hour of this sac being presented for your
viewing pleasure since now the pup is surely in the pelvic
canal. The first pup often is the
most difficult for the bitch to pass, and she may strain quite hard
and even moan a bit.
As time grew near, I took Cookie's rectal
temperature, she didn't mind as much as I imagined she would.
I used a digital rubber thermometer, it was easy to hear the beep
when it was ready.
Most dogs experience delivery without complications;
however, first-time mothers should be attended by their owners until
at least one or two puppies are born. If these are born quickly and
without assistance, further attendance may not be necessary,
although it is desirable. If the owner elects to leave, care should
be taken so that the dog does not try to follow and leave the
whelping box.
 
The signs
of impending labor generally include nervousness, nesting and
panting. The dog will often quit eating during the last 24 hours
before labor. She will also usually have a drop in rectal
temperature below 100ºF (37.8ºC). The temperature drop may occur
intermittently for several days prior to delivery, but it will
usually be constant for the last 24 hours.
 
Then it happened, her
temperature dropped! I got excited. Wait a minute she is
still eating......
I called out of work for two days. Thank goodness I
was schedule to return to work two days after that. I was
exhausted. After the pups were born, Cookie still did not want
me to leave her side. From the first contraction until the
puppies are born is not as fast as one would think. Although,
all dogs are different. That was Cookie's
experience.
However, she was still eating. She looked
fine. She acted fine. I watched her closely. So
close, I knew when she had her first ping of labor. I knew
something was going to happen within the next 36
hours. She became uncomfortable on a Friday night,
recognizably restless by Saturday morning. I faithfully
started recording time, length and durations of contractions at
08:00 a.m. Saturday.
As the contractions got closer and
closer, she became restless, nesting, panting,
vomiting, and crying during each contraction. By four
o'clock in the afternoon, watching my baby girl go through all of
this, I was crying with her. I was getting exhausted
too. Neither of us got any sleep the night before nor were we
to get any sleep for the next 36 hours. I could not take any
chances. I knew it was a possibility that I might have to rush
her to the vet.
CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN
IF:
 Continue to the next page
Whelping (Delivery)
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