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About Patti
Expertise
To date, I've owned 7 dogs, all of which have lived into old age. Having cared for them in all stages of life, I feel I can offer sound advice to other pet owners, and people considering getting a dog. I am knowledgeable about the AKC (American Kennel Club) dog breeds, training and exercise, caring for sick and elderly pets, feeding, as well as many holistic treatments pets can benefit from. My only request is that you write me using standard English and punctuation.

Experience
My life experience in this field is more like "on the job training" rather than an actual degree in animal welfare. You may benefit from my experiences over the past 30 years. Aside from the dogs I've owned, I'm also involved in "breed rescue" and have fostered several dogs, all of which have been adopted to wonderful "forever homes". I find helping people who want a dog very rewarding.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Dogs > Dog Labor

Dogs - Dog Labor

Expert: Patti - 11/7/2009

Question
I know you get tons of these questions so I am sorry :( I have a Boxer that is currently pregnant. Our mating record puts her at 62 days. We had an xray done and if we went by that she would be at 56 days which I don't see how it is possible. We have a mentor, but I need more advice to make me feel better. My mentor think the vet's predicted date is wrong and ours is right. My female looks to have dropped. Has some discharge the vet says is normal that means labor is soon (light green neon color. Her vulva is very swollen. She doesn't eat as much. More like mini snacks... but has no problem sucking up food from the floor the baby drops. She acts sad...hangs around depressed. Sleeps alot. Has been digging couple times a day in her whelping box. Everytime we took her temp since last week it is 99.7 or so. Then day before yesterday it jumped to 100.2. Then last night 99.5 and today 99.7. Don't know if it means anything. Ideas on how soon? Or any advice?

Answer

Hi Nicole,

It's quite possible your dog is at 56 days, and not at 62 days as you've estimated. Conception can happen as much as five days after breeding, and the date of conception is what you need to be counting from. Dogs generally give birth between 58-68 days after conception.

Usually there is an increase in a pregnant dog's temperature right before it drops, and any temperature recorded lower than 98.4 indicates labor should begin within 24 hours. Unfortunately, not all dogs have this temperature drop, making it difficult to predict when the pups are on their way. Don't plan any nights out, anytime soon!

If your dog won't eat her food (which should be a puppy food diet at this point, for the extra nutrition she needs) instead of high calorie snacks, try nutritious foods like scrambled eggs and cottage cheese.

Continue to take your dog's temprature twice a day (mornings and evenings, when she's calm).I can't tell you when this litter might arrive, but it sounds like it's going to be soon!

Best of luck,

Patti

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