Question about preganant female. Very important if anyone can help! - Page 1

I have a pregnant 4 yr old gsd that is at day 53 today. Yesterday I noticed that she started bleeding and licking herself a lot. I brought her to an emergency vet clinic that did an xray to see that she has 5 pups. The vet told me that she heard for sure 3 heartbeats the other 2 she couldn't say for sure. Is it possible that she is miscarring or one or more of te puppies are dying an if so does this put the other puppies in danger? Has anyone experienced this before?? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am so stressed out now!! Thanks Jen

Hello Jen, While it is common to loose the "mucus plug" from now until birth, I don't ever recall seeing blood with it. What did the vet say about your questions? If 1 or more is dead then yes it will put the other pups in danger. This mostly due to the fact that the extra bacteria from decomposition. Usually it only effects 1 horn so the others might be OK. That's about all I can tell you other than you can gently rub her belly with one hand on each side and then wait to feel movement. Movement is always a good sign.
Don't know how much that helped but not being there make it hard for  anyone to truly help. Maybe someone else has direct experience that can help more.
Hope all turns out well,
Debby

...yes, the "mucus plug" can contain blood streaks...what did your vet say about that? I would consider slight spotting normal at the end of the pregnancy...well you got almost 10 more days...slight "false or practice contractions" can at times make the female feel unwell, but she should be stressed...there is not much you can do at this point I believe, just keep an eye on her...good luck!

did your vet put her on any antibiotics?
if there's a dead puppy, then this could help to save the rest of them.

Ok thanks guys. Just one other question, what do you think about putting her on a low dose of antibiotics??

I asked and she said no I don't need to. But I was thinking of insisting for them, and see what happens.....But it is not 100% sure that there are dead pups. 3 big ones and 2 smaller

Get an ultrasound from a vet with an up to date machine and it will see the heartbeats plus any other abnormalities if there are any. 
Judy

Ask the Vet to get  USG examination done so the viability of puppies will be clear better option than the X-ray.It can also show if there is placental seperation and you can give her antibiotics and some progesterone for 3-4 days so that you rescue live pups.Hope this helps.

jen,
blood is not unusual, I have seen this before.
Anti-biotic's are not a good idea just incase, there is either a need or there is not.
Relax, you cannot change what's happening, give it a chance and do not add to your dogs stress.
Moons.

Just been there with my friend's bitch. We lost the whole damn litter, and the bitch had to be spayed. :(

GET AN ULTRSOUND ASAP!!  If there is a dead pup or two in there, you need to decide what to do NOW, or you are liable to lose both the pups and possibly the bitch as well, if she gets a major infection.

How much blood is there? In Story's case, she was passing large drops of blackish-brown blood. She aborted some of the dead pups, and we tried to keep the live ones going until it was safe to deliver them. Three days before he due date, the remaining pups were swimming in pus, and we had to do an emergency spay. Two of the pups were saved, but died within 24 hours.