Pregnant German Shepherd - Page 1

Hello all,

my my pregnant bitch is 60 days from the first tie today. We had her x-rayed on day 58 to make sure none were blocking the canal and to get a semi-accurate head count. We can clearly see 7 on the x Ray, but there could be more. Furthermore, it seems that the saying "a watched bitch never whelps" has proven true. Her temperature has fluctuated between 99-100 for the past three days. She has been nesting in her room I provided her. The whelping box has been set up for a week now for her to get accustomed to. I know the average is 63 days, but some say that is from the first tie and some say that is from ovulation. We did not progesterone test so we cannot pinpoint her day of ovulation. Anyway, averages aside, I would very much appreciate to know when YOUR bitch whelped. Also, how low did her temperature drop? 

Thanks in advance!

Forget all the technical stuff. It will drive you bannanas. Check her temp. every 8 hours. Just relax and wait for her temperature to drop to 98. She will deliver that day. Usually that night.

All sounds very normal, WAIT and WATCH NOW.   Agree with Dog1, take temp AM/PM.  When she quits eating can be  a sign;  but take her for short walks around your area near home to relieve herself and can help to stimulate whelp;  be sure to give plenty of water.  Here's also a mama dog's cocktail for you to give her.  Some sort of broth, chicken, beef, even vegi, no salt preferred, add egg yolk, kyro syrup (a drop only).  Can a little goats milk if you want (raw preferred) serve room temperature to help with production of milk and keep up her energy.  Give about a cup or so 3 times per day is OK. 

Good luck, I know it's a stressful time but get as much rest as you can as you are going to need it.  Until she keeps you up all night, or maybe even 2 nights, she isn't ready.    Nan

Try not to stress over it. She'll whelp when she's ready. And remember 63 days is the AVERAGE. Some go shorter, some longer. My friend's bitch who started whelping on Valentine's Day typically only went about 60 days with all 3 of her litters.

Dog1 is right on. 

In fact, the only breeding I've ever totally missed was the only one we did progesterone on. Science only gets you so far with dog breeding :) RELAX. Temp will go up and down for days before the final drop in many cases. And some bitches never miss a meal. I knew my foundation female was going to whelp when her water broke, no joke. It'll happen. Take a shower, and maybe a nap...;)

I always say the best thing is..."Two Beers and a Valuim" or is it "A Beer and Two Valium"...I forget...

The best thing is to Relax and be patient...They'll tell you when it's time...

~Bob~

My girl just whelped two weeks ago. She had one tie so I knew exactly when her 63 days was. Started temp checks a week before. She went to 67 days, her temp less than an hour before her water broke was 100.7. My first clue was she was tearing up her whelping box, more than digging, she was pulling at the towels with her teeth. So I went to grab a drink, came back and she was on my bed :-/ and when I told her to get off, her water broke (joy) so my girl was like Jenni78's girl, I only knew she was having the pups when the water broke. No temp drop, no food decrease, she was super active that afternoon. She just tore bedding and her water broke and an hour later a pup came :)

Good luck!

Sneaky girls, helps to know what they did in a prior whelp but if you don't have that info then watch and wait.  GL  Nan

Gestation is from ovulation, not dates of ties. So, unless you know the day they ovulated, you cannot accurately know based just on ties. There is a range of "normal" regardless.