Pregnancy day 52, 5 or 6 pups by x-ray, 9 puppies on day 65

[KingstonTodd]

It's getting close to the big day. Hershey was bred Nov. 1st, making tonight day 50! She is really showing in her belly and nipples, and she is kinda uncomfortable tonight, moving around in different positions. I'm just petting her and talking softly trying to comfort her. We see the vet on monday for an x-ray to try and count puppies and get some final advice.

Update: We had the xray today, guess it was a little early. no skulls calcified so he had to try and count spines. His "best guess" was 5, with potentially 1 or 2 more. We are happy with that, not too overwhelming for our first litter. If we had a dozen I dont know how we would have handled it. I guess we should have waited until day 55 or more, but we were so excited to know. Moral of the story for next time I guess.

Congrats and good luck Hershey and family!!! Now you know once those babies are cleaned off we need pics!!!

[Jac]

Oh, Todd, what a very special time for you! Gosh, maybe she will deliver New Year babies!!!
Wouldn't that be funny to have half of the litter born December 31, 2008 and the other half (or even one) on January 1, 2009?
No matter when they are born, I am very happy for you and hope for a easy, healthy delivery!

[MaxandMe]

KTODD.......i can't wait for the day to come when you're announcing your first litter of puppies being born!!!
this is sooooooooo exciting!! you've only got wha tabout week and half to go?
yeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa

[blueteal]

Very exciting !!!!!!!!!!!!
Christmas puppies...............

[gene]

Better keep that camera charged and handy!! Can't wait for pictures!!

[cocoandjane]

Oh!!! I am so thrilled for you!!!
I can't believe it is already day 50!!!
You have a few more to go....so be sure you have your checklist
and everything gathered for whelping!
I am so excited for you to be finally having your first litter.
I envy you!! I agree with everyone on
keeping the camera ready....
we will be waiting for updates even before pictures!

All the best to you and Hershey!!
Praying for an easy, uneventful delivery.....and for all healthy pups and mom

[Jac]

I had to laugh at Jane's advice to have the checklist ready...when we had our first litter, I had read 4 books about whelping and I was ready! I had supplies all tucked neatly in a basket, everything I needed...and more...and when it started...all of the knowledge went out the window and everthing happened so fast that I didn't have time to look for or find any of my wonderful supplies!
I used my bare hands and clean towells...and full panic mode!
At the end, I was exhaused (Lexie too!) and my supply basket? Still on the bed, where I could get right to everything...still intact. hahahaha
Good luck and best wishes!

[cocoandjane]

I can see that happening to me, Jac!!

I hope I don't panic....I think I won't unless something unexpected happens that puts me in crisis mode.
But, I surely can see me being overprepared and not using anything I gather to have on hand.
Better to have it handy than not and NEED it!!

How many litters ago was that first one????

[KingstonTodd]

Here is my general list of whelping supplies, please add more from all your experience. I see ther vet tomorrow and I'll take my list too.

Newspapers, Rags, and Paper towels.
Small Warm Box with heat pad for newborn pups.
(&/or back up hot water bottle for Vet travel)

Keep small towels in this box to warm them, some puppies need to be vigorously rubbed with a warm towel

Scissors to cut cord,
Hemostats (x2) to crimp cord
Un-waxed dental floss to tie cord if needed.
Surgical gloves and K-Y jelly.
Thermometer, Vaseline, book and pen.
Flashlight in case of power outage.
Ribbons if needed to identify puppies
Scale good quality
Preemie bottles and Canine Milk Replacer
NutriCal for Dam and some warm broth or canine milk.
Syringe to syringe fluids in Dams mouth (or spray bottle)
Foamy, sleeping bag, and pillow to camp beside whelp box
Calcium, either calsorb, vanilla ice-cream, or tums.
Vanilla Ice cream is awesome between puppies, as it gives them hydration, glucose for energy, and a calcium boost, will help the parathyroid gland to release a hormone from her bones, to help with muscles and pushing.

[Jac]

Originally Posted by cocoandjane

I can see that happening to me, Jac!!

I hope I don't panic....I think I won't unless something unexpected happens that puts me in crisis mode.
But, I surely can see me being overprepared and not using anything I gather to have on hand.
Better to have it handy than not and NEED it!!

How many litters ago was that first one????

Oh, let's see...that was the litter that produced our sweet boy Copper (Vicky's...Jetts mom...2doggonecrazy) and it was November, 2005. Since then we have had 8 litters! (Nine total.)

Todd...sounds like you have a great list...just like mine!
From my experience, the most important things are the scale ...you need to keep a close eye on weights, daily for at least the first 2 weeks or more...if they lose weight be right on top of things!, the supplement for mother. Your list is good...I have never had to force water to my girls, but I do have to hold the dish right up to their nose because they don't want to get out or move..same with food, I hand feed and they eat, but they won't if I just leave it out, and the pad/pencil is important to keep track of weights and anyting that is unusual about the delivery or puppy...this may help the vet if you need to have it...and it is good info for you to have on the mother too. Then the colored collars...you will need them. I use vet wrap, if you use yarn or riick-rack it is too rigid and may choke them, the stiff paper is too wide for their tiny necks...you can cut vet wrap and it is stretchy so it has give if needed.

I would not use puppy formula, if you need to supplement use goats milk. Puppy formula supplementation can cause cataracts. You might want to learn how to tube feed. I have not done that yet, but there were times that I would have liked to learn how. Also learn how to inject sub-Q liquid--lactating ringers...again, I don't know how, but the vet taught my husband...and it could really save a puppy because the most dangerous thing for puppies is dehydration and they can go downhill in a matter of hours...if you know how to get the fluids in, you could save them. On that note, having some saline solution available is important...with the syringes.

Your mother dog will eat a lot after giving birth. Feed things like cottage cheese and canned food, not just kibble. She will eat often too. I took a can of food to my mothers about ever 2-3 hours, again, hand feeding...at least for the first day or two.

I don't take the puppy temp unless they are acting ill...I only use it for the mother to determine whelping time.

It is a great idea to use the latex gloves...I never had a chance to put them on...I have antibacterial hand cleaner, the waterless kind on hand...also wipes are good because you don't get a chance to wash up, usually. I actually prefer bare hands anyway...I can tell much more by touch if I don't have the gloves on. Yes, there is a slight increase in risk for germs, but I've never had a problem.

You will know...instinct takes over...but also try to have a mentor handy by phone if you need help...if you don't have someone, let me know and I'll send you my phone number!

It will be great! Can't wait to hear all about it!

[Jac]

Any signs of labor yet??? Soon, I am certain...soon!!

[KingstonTodd]

Nothing yet. We did have an exciting moment. We were standing near Hershey yesturday and saw her sides moving! and it wasnt in rythm with her breathing. We thought "oh boy, she's gonna have them over xmas dinner!" but it wasnt contractions. It was the puppies moving! We got to feel them kick up a little storm for a minute or so. The vet thinks closer to New Years but we shall see....

[MaxandMe]

WOW feeling puppies kick.....how exciting!!
TODD you'll do great helping out with the whelping.

Besides temp, possible signs of diarrhea or not eating much before labor (some dogs not all)
another sign at times may be when SHE acts like she doesn't want you to leave the house or anything.
every dog is different but sometimes they will try to keep getting your attention ....as a sign it's soon.

I cannot wait to hear of your very 1st litter!!!!! wow!!! this is awesome!

[Jac]

Awww, I love to watch and feel the babies in their tummy!
Are you taking her temp?
If you take her temp daily, you will know when it drops. They say (although it has not always been true for me) that when the mother's temp drops you have delivery in 24 hours.
Still, dropping temp is a good sign that things are happening. Normal is around 102, if it drops below 99-98, she will soon be in labor.
A certain sign for my dogs is heavy panting for about 12 hours before labor...heavy panting!
Fun, fun, fun!!
I think I agree with your vet...judging from your note of when it was 52 days, the earliest she can deliver healthy pups is 58 days...and anywhere between 58 and 64 days is normal...accounting for our miscalculations more than the actual preganancy time.