Whelping, how accurate is taking their temperature?

Question

Hello, I'm one of those hated owners who run a "puppy mill," as many people are quick to judge people on here who ask question about their pregnant, whelping bitches. I have one of my GSD's who is due anytime.

She is beginning to hide now, like going to our bedroom to her bed on the floor, she whimpers at least once or twice an hour, but other then a little discharge that is a light cloudy white, almost watery type fluid, she isn't doing much else. Or rather, I've noticed more today her stomach tightening up, where you can really feel the outline of her pups, if not see them.

This is her second litter, but I wasn't here for her first, as I was out of town, and my husband was the only one here. I hadn’t made it home until the first pup had already been born, and my husband said she had showed no signs that she was going to deliver, and actually delivered the first on the concrete, while my husband was outside working.

I've been taking her temp. for the past week, and she has been in the middle to low 100 degree mark. The night before last she went up to 101.5, then the next morning I noted she was 99.7. Now this morning and today she has been in the low 100-mid/high 99.

Although I’ve been breeding for almost 10 years, I am still new to the temperature theory, and she is the first ***** I’ve actually done this with. So is there anyone who has an idea, or if this means she had her rise, just before her drop, and I’ve now caught her back on the rise?

Should I expect puppies soon, or do I have a few days left on my hands from your opinion of what I’ve written? Normally my bitches are your typical laboring dogs who show more sign of labor, where she is just stumping us all.

No, I have a feeling she will be a late in the afternoon girl again, and keep me up till 4 am making sure everyone/thing is out, warm and safe, and momma is cleaned etc. There are so many people out there that think having puppies is the easiest thing in the world, but far from it if you do it right lol. Thank for the site!

Still no pups, but mom has been picking at food yesterday, and is now off of it today! No temp drop though.

Answer 1

Puppies, I love them! She will probably have them before the weekend ends. It sounds like she knows she is very close and is getting anxious. Just keep her company and keep reassuring her that everything will be okay. From here out make sure someone is with her, especially if you have a similar repeat of her first whelping. Good luck, let us know how everything goes!

Answer 2

I've had temperature taking work.. and I've had it not work (no temperature drop ever).

For the most part it works ... If the temperature drops below 99 degrees then pups come within 24 hours.

If the pups DON'T come within 24 hours of a temp drop *I* bring my b*tch to the vet because I believe it is a sign something may be wrong. (I assisted in a whelping where this happened and the vet found the first pup was lying in a transverse position, had we not gone to the vet and done a c-section all the pups would have died .. and probably their mother as well).

I did have one b*tch who never really labored (that anyone could see).. had I not been experienced and she not smelled whelpy (only clue moments prior to birth) we could have had a major issue. While having pups she would simply stand up, turn around and a pup would fall out.... she wanted nothing to do with opening the sack, dealing with the placenta... but she was an adequate mother for nursing (actually was a fanatic about keeping the pups all neatly in a row... would pick them up and move them back... pretty much abandoned them at 3 weeks when she became too frustrated at the row deteriorating- luckily I had another girl who took over teaching pups how to be dogs). I spayed her after her first litter.

BTW... You sound a bit concerned for a "puppymill" owner... you might want to work on that! :o)

Answer 3

Hi,

Just before whelping, your dog's temperature should drop to 99 or below, and should stay down for a little while (up to 12 hours). Their temps will rise and fall, so it's a good idea to take her temp at the same time every morn and night. If you have a pretty good Idea of her normal temps throughout the day, it should be fairly easy to catch a drastic change in temps. You are pretty much looking for the lowest temp (about 1-2 degrees lower than the normal schedule). It doesn't work on all dogs, but can be reliable for most. At some times you can miss the drop in temp. Once it drops to 98 -99 and stays down, it will go back up and you can be expecting puppies!! If she is ready, she should be nesting (digging a lot and panting) Just keep an eye on her.
Good luck!!

Answer 4

I have taken temps on my dam's and sometimes it is pretty accurate and sometimes not. If the temp dips below 99 for a day then I'd say whelping is near. You would be better to just watch for her giving you signs of impending whelping. I always looked and did both.
If you are actually seeing some contractions going on then labor may begin very soon. You will just have to be very cautious and keep an eye on her ok.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

I've been breeding Siberian Huskies for 12 years, I've known about the tempature method since I also was a Vet Assistant, and my mother was a Veterinarian until she retired 3 years ago. I'm currently a student again, this time studying as a Radiologist.

The tempature method is reliable and is used as a reference point. Similar to breeders taking the tempature of the heat cycle of the bi*ch as an indicator of her readiness to accept breeding to take place.

In my experience, the two dam's I've bred have refused eating the day of whelping. They would whine and dig insessently in their whelping boxes. Both dam's prefered a quiet dark secluded place to start their birthing process.

I'm including a site that I give as a reference to others that are interested in asking questions about breeding/whelping.

I've seen first hand how "passionate" some people on yahoo answers react to this topic in paticular. But even though I don't condone the actions of uneducated breeding (both canine & human), it's best to at least teach the right method and offer information as opposed to harsh words.

Good luck, it sounds like your dam should be birthing later today through the following morning.

My dam just whelped a litter of 4 (1 stillborn not counting) on October 18th.

Here's a pic at 3 weeks old pictures

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/Sheliatigerbabe/Husky%20Puppies/October%202007%20litter/2weeks002.jpg

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Whelping, how accurate is taking their temperature?
Hello, I'm one of those hated owners who run a "puppy mill," as many people are quick to judge people on here who ask question about their pregnant, whelping bitches. I have one of my GSD's who is due anytime.

She is beginning to hide now, like going to our bedroom to her bed...

Answer 7

I have been breeding for over 20 years and I have found that in most cases when the temp goes under 99 the pups almost always come within 24 hours.
Get a nap and let us know how many she has.

Answer 8

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/dogs-faq/medical-info/whelping/

Hello,
I'm a breeder too, and been doing so for over 10 years, I always research, and have questions myself after all this time!
The above link is great, I have it saved to my favorites and refer back to it often. Sounds to me like your real close!!
Good luck
try to get a nap, cuz if your like me there will be no sleep 4 you