whelping Date May 30th. A temperature ?????

[lissadi]

My labradors whelping date is May 30th. I decided to take her temp starting tonight being we are down to 6 days and I know they can go as early as 58. How long do you keep the thermometer in their bottom? I know 101 is normal, if I did it correctly, left it in for 30 seconds, hers was 99'. It is not a digital thermometer. One of the older style types. She is not acting any differently except for breathing harder and just looking miserable. She will not go in the pool I set up for a whelping box. She sleep on the floor by my side of the bed so I expet that is where she will try to have them. She was digging into the carpet last night. Other than that, she is just fat and miserable!

Any help appreciated!

[whimzikal]

Since I have been oing through this 'vicious cycle' with Sharon lol I have been drilled on the temp charting. You should leave the thermometer in 2 minutes. Make sure it is in, not in a poopy Normal temp is 101.5 to 102.5 but in the later stage of pregnancy the temp is 100 to 100.8, a temp drop that remains steady at atleast 1 degree below 100 means whelping is expected within 12-24hrs. This is what I have been told but alot of people don't beleive it works. Unfortunatly, I have no first hand experience
I also read the temp goes up and then plunges below the 100 mark.
Hope it helps.
You can check out this site: www.dpca-breedered.com/pregnancy_timeline.html

[lissadi]

Thanks Kendra,

I did not leave it in long enough then. She is such a big girl I was afraid how she would take having that done the first time, and did not want her to sit on it. OUCH!!!
Hurts to even think about it. So, I think we are okay. I really do not want her to whelp too soon. I know the exact dates as we shipped her to Maine to be bred. Good Luck to you. Let me know how it goes. Your due Tuesday(?) right?

[whimzikal]

Ouch! My cheeks clenched at the thought!
Wow I hope everything goes perfect for you.

Sharon is due tomorrow...dates got all messed up when the computer crashed.
I rely on my computers way too much. ( I also cringed when I read 'your due' I'm so done with having kids lol)

[Country-Side Br]

I've tried the thermometer on a number of different dogs and it's never worked. Maybe it will work for you though. Bigger breeds rarely go too early too. I would start checking a day or 2 before, but not a week. Otherwise, they see the the thermometer coming and book the other way. hehehe You'll see a definate change in attitude once her labor has started...she just won't be herself...want to follow you around or want to be a in dark places, nesting, etc. Good luck...and congrats!

[Blaze]

The temp thing didn't work for Lilly in her first pregnancy but it did in her second. I used a digital thermometer though.

[Country-Side Br]

I've always used a digital as well.