What temp should my dog be when its ready to whelp?

Question

Just been and bought a thermometer from the vets to check dogs temp but she wont let me any where near her back end am i doing something wrong!
My dad said it should go up her vagina but im sure it should go up her anus as this is what i recall the vet saying
I also took her for walk today and she had several small wee,s with clear mucus hanging from vagina do you think the labour is progressing?she was also sick twice at 11 am today and no eating

she was due yesterday

Answer 1

Here's some info provided by the AKC website:

A few days before the b*tch is ready to give birth, she may stop eating and start building a "nest" where she plans to have her puppies-if you're lucky, this will be in the whelping box you have prepared for her.

Shortly before whelping, the *****'s body temperature will drop to 99 degrees or lower (from a normal temperature of 100 to 102.5). By this time, you should have shaved her belly, where appropriate, to allow the puppies to find the nipples for nursing. If she has a long or dense coat, you should also shave and clean the area around her genitals.

Approximately 24 hours after her temperature drops, she can be expected to enter the first stage of labor, when the cervix dilates and opens the birth canal for the passage of puppies. At this time, she will pant, strain, appear restless and may perhaps vomit. Vomiting is normal at the onset of labor, but persistent vomiting may be a sign of illness. This stage of labor is followed by actual abdominal straining and production of the puppies and placentas.
http://www.akc.org/breeders/resp_breeding/steps_12.cfm


Here's another link that should be helpful: http://www.akc.org/breeders/resp_breeding/index.cfm

Answer 2

Do NOT stick the thermometer up her vagina! You could damage any pups in the birth canal. Her rectal temperature will most likely drop somewhere to between 98 and 99 degrees before whelping. This can take place as long as 24 hours before she whelps.

From what you've written, it sounds like you've got pups coming, so be prepared!

Make sure you have a quiet, secure place where she can birth her pups, and have a LOT of towels handy! And keep the vet on standby so you have help available if it is needed.

Answer 3

In order to see a temp drop, you need to take it several days before she is due to get her baseline temp. It also needs to be done at the same time each day, in the AM before she has gotten up and moved around, to be be accurate.

But even then, it is easy to miss.

It sounds like it may be too late to worry about temp, what day is she?

And yes, it is taken in the anus.