Dog in labor? Her temp went down to 98.7 then back to 100.6 twice?

She has 3 more days till her due date and I know she can go any day but, is it normal for her temp to go down then back to normal more than once? The vet said at 5 PM tonight it was normal for her temp to go down then back to normal but it dropped again down to 98.7 and is once again back up to her "normal" temp. twice over a 45 hr period. (Her vet said to check her temp every 2 hr's ) The vet office is closed and I am just wondering... THANKS!
Please only respond if you have a real answer and not just saying I am a back yard breeder

bump...

Double BUMP Bump...

What kind of behavior is your bitch exhibiting now? Is she panting? Looking for a place to nest? Is she pacing up and down?

Doesn't your vet office have an on-call 24-hour Emergency Service available for this kind of situation? Please use this service as you may need to have your vet come to your house.

Instead of checking her tempature every 2 hours I would make it every hour.

In case if anything happens let your local emergency vet know about the situation, and possibly take her there as a safe caution. She will most likey need to have an ultrasound done to her once shes finish to make sure that she doesn't have anymore puppies inside of her.

Theoretically the temperature is supposed to go down and not go up again until just before the birth, and I have been told that if the temperature increases again but no birth within 12-24 hours of the initial decrease then this is serious and a C section may be necessary.  However I have had a few cases similar to what you describe when it can fluctuate down, up and down again, to the point that am am never sure whether it is a good idea or not to take the temp too frequently.  I would rely on other signs too, like is she off her food, panting, digging, pacing etc. though these can sometimes happen quite suddenly too...and the food one not always.

Good luck with the birth, I hope all goes well.

I've had them go down to 99 and back up to 100 quite a few times. Usually it's a day or so before their due date. Expect it to drop to 98.

When it drops to a solid 98. Start the clock.

I made a video of Zambi when she was a couple of hours away of delivering her kids. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to6WlXadinE I recorded her behaviors. If your bitch is acting the same way as Zambi was then shes almost ready to deliver.

After giving birth to her kids I had taken her to my vets office, and the vet did an ultrasound on her and found 1 more puppy inside of her, and unfoftunetely it was a stillbron. The vet did told me that her tempature was high... 104F. You might want to take her to the emergency room just on the safe side.

Also another thing to look for is to see if your bitch is excessively licking her private area, and see if theirs any liquid coming out as it's indicate that her water just broke.

I'd stop taking her temp so often.  Too much fussing and fiddling around can put a bitch off giving birth (especially if it's a first litter).  Let her be for a few hours and just watch her quietly.

Sorry folks .. temp should drop to low 98degree range, but then it goes back up when labor actually starts
 .. the change in temp is due to the changing hormonal levels

I take temp 3x a day.... for about a week before due date not every 2 hours.... I'd bite you if you were nagging me that much!!

Your calculated due date is based on what??? Ovulation date or ?? Although for years we have counted off the first breeding the bitch and her body actually start the count from date of ovulation which can be as much as 5 days before a breeding and if you don't progesterone test, you never know??
that's probably why most books tell you 58-63 days from first breeding.....

Is she eating?? Most girls will back off on food just before but som eo f mine have eaten 2 hours before their water broke.. so its not a hard and fast rule
How is she acting otherwise?

Feel free to email kiahaus@aol.com as I don't check this list often

Wait until it gets closer to 98 degrees to start the clock.  And at this stage, I'd take it 2-3x/day, every 2 hrs is just too much.  I wouldn't worry unless the temp gets high (above 103) or if she's exhibiting straining, pushing or acting "off" without any reason.  When she starts frantic digging, turning, nesting then you'll have pups within a day.