My boston terrier is pregnant and her temp. just dropped to 99, so she should deliver soon. Any helpful hints?

Question

This will be her first litter, and we know the complications that are possible and that she may need an emergency C-section, but we were wondering if anyone has any helpful personal experiences that may assist us durring the delivery and after. Thanks for your feedback!

Yes, I know this can get expensive, money ins't the concern. I'm looking for experiences you've had in taking care of the mom and puppies. Thank you BB, Truegem and Brenna.

Answer 1

She will deliver within the next 24 hours, if she does not, take her to the vet, it could be a sign there is a problem. My dog delivered her pups, I helped, and she was ever so greatful. We didn't loose not a 1! Just spoil her, keep her comfy, after my dog had her puppies, she wanted to get up and play, and that is normal and fine, and actually good for them, but don't force it. When Lucy was delivering, I stayed right by her side the whole time and gave her ice cubes, she was greatful, all that panting made her thirsty, and ice cudes are easy to manage. Also, because I am a bad momma, I made her dog ice cream. It's just plain or vanilla yogurt, honey and peanut butter blended together and frozen. She loved it, and I was able to make sure she got enough calcium and nutrients to keep her healthy and producing enough milk for all seven of her babies. Do not give her calcium supplements, they can harm your puppies. I also switched her to a high performance food for dogs. Your dog needs to be eating 3 times what she normally did, so make sure she is doing that.

During the delivery after the third one, she started needing some help, the other puppies already born were breast feeding, so when she delivered, she couldn't really get to the puppy that just came out, so I had to take the puppies away and when she was done cleaning the newborn, I put them back back to nurse. Lucy didn't mind, I obviously don't know your dog, but she needed a little help, and she she has been greatful ever since.

When the puppy is born, it comes out, mine looked like little breast implants with puppies in them, in a sac. The mom normally will bite it off, and chew off the umbilicar cord, and clean it's body, face and mouth and anus. If she doesn't do it by herself, you'll have to do it for her. If you do this, and it is not breathing, pick it up, and hold it tummy down and swing it between your legs, like a swing, this should stimulate breathing and unclog the little guy. Also keep in mind it is very common to loose half of your litter, I didn't, but that is what I read over and over.

Congratualtions on becoming a grandma, this was the single most magical moment in my life. Don't let alot of people around, and you shouldn't have alot of people there for the birth. And don't forget to spoil your new mom! Could you imagine giving birth to several puppies, nursing them while delivering more, cleaning up all the afterbirth, wanting to play right when your done, and still being able to wag your tail! Wow! It's amazing. and if you can, record the sound of them crying. They sound like sweet tiny babies, only not loud and annoying.

Answer 2

Okay... *cracking knuckles* Here goes... ;)

Just out of curiosity, did you ask the breeder of the female if her lines are free-whelpers? That's the first question I pose to a breeder. Mind you, I had to drive half-way across the country to get my last Bossie puppy, once I had found the right one, but she's been *so* worth it. Not one C-section so far.

My Bossie will follow me around when she is pregnant, and I do mean *right* on my heels. When she goes into labor, she won't let me leave her side. Last year, she insisted on my 6-year-old daughter's company as well. (I have her Xrayed a few days before whelp to check the puppy head size in relation to her pelvic opening. It does a lot to alleviate my worry, though she's never needed a C-section.) Anyway, she had 6 pups the last litter. The first three came within 10 minutes of each other. The 4th came after 20 minutes. The 5th after 45 minutes, and the 6th took almost an hour. She was quite comfortable during this time. The Xrays had only shown three puppies, so we kept thinking she was done! She was so calm that it was hard to tell she was still in labor until she started pushing another puppy. The only clue I had was that she hadn't passed placenta yet.

I let her have them on a pile of very clean sheets in the hallway, since that's where she wanted to nest. Once they were born, we moved to a playpen. She even helped me move some of them. We had an old pen (with soft mesh sides) that has the side that you can drop down, so momma could jump in and out easily. The sides were soft enough that the puppies wouldn't get pinched or smothered if she laid against them, and it had a removable pad that was easy to wash. (They stayed in this until they were moving around well on their own, and then they moved to a puppy playpen.)

I slept next to her and the puppies the first few nights to make sure everything was fine... I swear, every time the puppies squeaked, I sat bolt upright with my heart in my throat. *heh*

My Bossie is due to have this year's litter in a few days. Even if I hadn't done my math, I'd know when she was getting close by how often she steps on my feet in a day. Ha! When I can no longer shoo her off of the tops of my feet, I know it's time to get out the bedding.

We will proceed the same with this litter. In a few days, she will go in for an Xray. If there are obvious signs of trouble, we will set up a C-section and go from there. I doubt that will happen, but I like to be prepared. I will set up her bedding, sit with her (with the phone in my hand in case of trouble), and pray with all my heart. If she takes longer than an hour with a puppy, I'll call the vet and prepare to take her in. We're only five minutes away, so that's a blessing.

I think you'll do fine... Just be aware of the problems that *can* arise and be ready to take her in if need be. Not every Bossie needs a C-section, but many of them do. I would be ever-so-happy to answer any specific questions you have for me, or even direct them to my mentor (with many, many years of experience). I wish you all the best, and a quick, easy delivery!

Answer 3

Congratulations on the healthy pups and mom. I am glad that even with the complications that everything turned out fine. You sound like a very caring dog owner who ended up in an unfortunate and unplanned situation. Also thank you for spaying your dog. It was the responsible thing to do. It's too bad that she got pregnant first place, especially with you planning on spaying her the next week. There are too many unwanted animals out there that end up in shelters or with rescue agencies. We foster for 3 different rescue groups and always have at least one foster with us. Only people who are breeding professionally and responsibly should. These breeders carefully follow and map blood lines, pick the best stud for their female and only breed the dog a couple of times. Then they carefully screen any prospective homes for their pups, ensuring that they will end up in a caring, committed and loving home. Again, CONGRATULATIONS, Grandma!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Just keep an eye on her, and get her to a vet if you see her straining and not delivering anything. Many Bostons have to have C-sections because of the extreme head size.

Answer 5

My Boston Terrier actually had 2 big headed pups with no problems. Just watch her in a box. If she starts trying to rearrange the box, then she is probably going to have the puppies. Afterwards, Bailey did not want to feed the puppies. We had to hold her down in the box. You might want to watch and make sure that she is staying in with the puppies.

Answer 6

Here is a copy and paste of a post I did yesterday. Although some of it may not apply to you, it will give you an insight of what I EXPERIENCED with my Boston's first and only litter...

COPY OF PREVIOUS POST:

It's NOT nearly impossible to breed Bostons (that is the simple part) but it WILL be possible for her to have a C-Section (depending on her pelvic size) and POSSIBLE for it to be an EXPENSIVE venture for you!

I've bred my Boston with my male once and NEVER expected the following, so keep it in the back of your mind before you breed! (the father and mother are now fixed so this NEVER happends again!)

1. She was in labor for a few hours. I then had a C-Section (from the advice from my vet). Cost: $1500
2. C-Sections sometimes kill the initial natural bond for a mother dog to do what she needs to do (mine was 2 years old when she had her first and only litter). Therefore, she didn't want nothing to do with the pups. I had to teach her and be on top of her to do her "motherly" thing constantly. Cost - nothing, but you better be prepared to take alot of time off from work and catch up on your sleep before she has a litter because when the pups are crying 3am and she doesn't want to feed them, you better be there to ensure she does her job!
3. After 2 weeks of nursing constantly (there were 6 healthy pups), she went into calcium shock (because of the amount of feedings and the size of the litter). Cost: $400.00 - 2 days in the vets for calcuim injections and being on IV's
4. After her coming home, the vet strongly advised me NOT for her to nurse her pups anymore because she will go back into shock. Therefore, I had to buy CASES of puppy formula, bottles, etc.. Cost: Approx. $500 (puppy formula is very expensive) PLUS all the lost time from work because I became the constant mother of feeding 6 pups, 7 times a day

Other Misc. Costs involved:

1. Misc. Vet Visits - $200 (during the 9 weeks)
2. Her pre-pregnancy vet visits & xray to see how many pups were there after she got pregnant - $300
3. Declaws Removed on all Pups - $300
4. Puppy Shots/Worner (series of two each pup) - $600
5. Register the Litter with AKC - $50 (approx.)
6. Ooh, an emergency vet visit plus tests because one pup was throwing up (turned out to be a upset stomach) - $300.00
7. Towels, Sheets, Baby Wipes, etc.. - Approx. $200
8. Whelping Box (was made out of wood) - Approx. $50
9. Preparing applications, Interviewing all the potential adopteers (I screened everyone - my pups did not go to just anyone) - Really no cost, just copy paper (each application was 5 pages long) and just my time.
10. Carpet cleaners - $100 (6 week old bouncing playful pups don't want to be in the whelping box any more and know how to get out. Therefore, we set up one room to be the playroom which had carpeting, but that was the least of my worries after what I just went through
11. Baby Playpen (for them to sleep because they could get out of the whelping box after 6 weeks) Cost: $60.00
12. Did I mention all the lost time from work?

Yes, this was MY EXPERIENCE but after what I went through, I highly recommend leaving it to the experienced breeders. If you are doing it just for a new pup, you are so much better off going to a RESPONSIBLE BREEDER and adopting one. I educated myself and prepared myself way before she got pregnant (not to mention that I am a very expeirenced dog owner to begin with) , but I was NEVER prepared for what was in store for me after the pups arrived.

All 6 pups were very healthy and they got the BEST homes I could ever ask for! One pup, of course, was kept. I even had a orthopetic doctor that was so impressed by my pups because of their markings and their personalities that he took two.

In the long run, it was an EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER but I would NEVER do it again! To be honest, I lost alot of money and never recouped my money back, However, on the other hand, I did not breed to make money, I just wanted to do it for another pup because of the outstanding personalities both mother and father have and for "the experience".

Just re-think about breeding and the POSSIBLE things and circumstances that can happen. Also, did I mention when the mother went into calcuim shock, we could have "lost" her. Thank god I was home because of the time I took off that I was able to see the warning signs and was able to rush her to the vet in time!

Good Luck!
Truegem

Answer 7

yeah...alert your vet & polish up your credit card.