pregnant staffs

Question
i have a16 month old staff and the vet says she due to burst but couldnt tell me when ,she very little ,she was digging her box at 11 today sh very restless and i wonder if she in labour ,shes very out of sorts, and she weighs 15.75 .do u think shes in labour and do u think she can deliver without complications?

Answer

Hi Amanda,

Nobody can tell you if your dog will deliver without complications. For that reason, you need to know the signs of a problem, and contract your vet (without delay!) if you think the is a problem.

While it's not cast in stone as a rule, many dogs will have a drop in body  temperature 12-24 hours before they give birth. A dog will normally have a temperature anywhere form 101 degrees to 102.5 degrees. Take your dog's temperature with an anal thermometer every morning, and evening and write down the results. When her temperature drops to under 100 degrees, the pups are on their way.

If your dog fails to go into labor within twenty-four hours after her body temperature drops to below 100F you should take the dog to a veterinarian. Do this also if you have calculated that more than 69 days have passed since the dog was bred.

Record the time that your dog's labor begins. She will be restless and anxious. She may pant, pace and will most likely refuse food. She will begin to nest, dragging clothing and fabric to form a bed. If more than 24 hours have passed since the onset of labor and she has not started delivering puppies, you should contact a veterinarian.

Record the time your dog begins Stage II labor. At this point she will have hard contractions and she will strain to push the puppies out in a manner that will resemble a bowel movement. If the first puppy hasn't been delivered within two hours of the onset of Stage II labor, you should contact a veterinarian.

Be prepared to help the mother dog clean her puppies, but don't intervene unless she doesn't do the work herself. As soon as the puppy is delivered, the mother dog should clean the puppy by licking it. If she doesn't, there is a problem and you must intervene quickly. Remove the amniotic membrane from the puppy's face and wipe fluids from the nose and mouth. Vigorously rub the puppy with clean, warm towels.

Record the number of placentas the mother dog delivers. If there are fewer placentas delivered than there are puppies, you should contact a veterinarian. If a placenta remains in the uterus, the dog will eventually become very sick.

It is normal for the mother to run a low fever during the two days after giving birth. There's reason for concern if the fever is over 102.8, or if your dog is drinking excessive water, or if she acts depressed. These may all be signs of a retained placenta (or puppy) or a uterine infection. You should not put off having a vet examine your dog, if this is the case!

It is normal for the dog to have a vaginal discharge following birthing. This discharge normally has rusty reddish or greenish brown appearance. There is reason for concern when the discharge is pus-like or has a strong odor. This can also be a sign of retained placenta and uterine infection (metritis). Normal cleansing of the uterus can last as long as eight weeks.  You should not put off having a vet examine your dog, if this is the case!

Normal mother dogs are bright, alert and attentive to their puppies. She should have a ravenous appetite as she converts food to milk. Let your mama dog eat as much as she wants to, and always have fresh water available for her. There is reason for concern if your dog shows any signs of listlessness or depression. She also needs to visit a veterinarian if she is not attentive to her puppies.

The normal canine breasts of mother dogs are soft, warm and enlarged. They should never be red, hot, painful and hard. Hard painful breasts are signs of infection. Dogs with this condition are reluctant to let the puppies nurse and when they do little milk is produced. If you see this condition, do not put off having your dog examined by your vet!

Good luck!
Patti