labor in GSD - Page 1

My girl is in her 58th day of pregnancy-This is her first litter and mine also. She stopped eating yesterday. I took her temp and it was 98.3. However she was not having any more of that. Any suggestions as to what to look for to know if the pups are on the way? I have been up with her for the last day and I'm wondering if she is in the first stage? Shes a very special girl to me and I want to know all that I can to help her and settle my nerves a bit. Thanks!!

I just went thru this not long ago and everything went wrong that could.I started thinking that too at that time but alas she went on day 63. if she wont take water,try broth. Have lots of supplies on hand.towels, alcohol,clean sharp scissors,a heat lamp,all vet phone numbers you can think of even if its not yours.you need empty water jugs in case you need to have a heat source if you have to travel , Have you watched any whelping video's?know how to recussitate a pup if you need to? to answer your question, I doubt it's early labor yet but dont go on any road trips my bitch ran a low temp the whole time

thanks gsdlvr2 I have every supply, vet on call, towels, hemostats, iodine, you name it and I'm prepared. Shes been in her whelping box for a week to get used to it. No whelping videos, but I do know how to resuscitate. Lots of breeder friends at hand but I wanted to see what I could find out from y'all. Is there something to do other than swing, gently, the puppy upside down and use suction to clear them out? What went wrong for you?

Micheal10, Thanks for your comment and she has been digging in her whelping box around the sides like shes looking for her favorite legbone to chew on. However, the bone is right there and she continues to scratch at the sides. Could this be her way of nesting?

to resusitate puppy is rightside up, held face away from you,craddled in your hands with neck support and not too gently drop the pup...swing downward sort of...and bring it back up. I would stay away from the buld syringe but others opinions may differ. What went wrong for me was the mom did NOTHING. this happened over a year ago but I remember it well. She didn't dry them,lick them ,cut cords..things moms should do.I had some get stuck,some came out 2 at once, I had some to resussitate. it was like she was clueless. yes,she probably is nesting,mine did for a few days,digging as well. I kept her on a leash outside during that time

Sounds like she has gone off her food and is nesting. Puppies pending, or so it seems. I would monitor temp and look for contractions. If she tries to contract and results in no pup, I would take her to the vet, as the first pup may be too large to move through the birth canal. I would not wait too much longer after 24 hrs of going off food, before I got my vet involved. Could be normal for this female, each is different. The overall condition of this female could be a factor. Is she fit, or was she not conditioned, even before the breeding. Until I had a baseline to go from(you nor the female have done this before), I would not leave it all to "nature". Just an opinion. There are many scenario possibilities here and no one can tell you exactly what to do, from the keyboard, that is why I would get a vet involved. Stephen

I've also heard not to cut the cord but to let mom tear it or use your fingertips to crush and tear the cord. Also, was that the first litter for that particular bitch? I'm sure that it was the only if she was that clueless.

Thank you Stephen. That is probably the best idea Cole

I was told she had previous litters but it was my first with her and to me I think it was her first litter. about cords onlt if mom doesn't do it take an alcohol swab,apply pressure with it for a little time then cut the cord a few inches from puppy body which is the same place you squeeze to clamp the cord. I agree with Stephen. Check with your vet. I did

I was told she had previous litters but it was my first with her and to me I think it was her first litter. about cords onlt if mom doesn't do it take an alcohol swab,apply pressure with it for a little time then cut the cord a few inches from puppy body which is the same place you squeeze to clamp the cord. I agree with Stephen. Check with your vet. I did