due date is tuesday 11/11/2008 day 60

Question
QUESTION: I have an English bulldog shes 3yrs this is her 3rd litter and i believe she has a lot maybe ten she is huge!!! and her other litters she wasn't as big and she had 6 and 8. she had her last two litters on day 60. ok so today is day 58 counting from her 1st day of breeding and her temp was 99.6 @ 5:30am.today 11/09/2008 it is dropping last time she was checked before (99.6) she was @ 100.8 11/08/2008 @ 8:10pm. so i believe she isnt going to make it to day 60. she is breathing very heavy BUT she's been breathing heavy for the past week. she still eating and drinking lots of water. i mean is it possible she can make it to 11/11/2008 day 60 or does she sound like she is in the 1st stage of labor by going off the temp? and my husband is thinking if the dog makes it to 11/10/2008 he wants to go to the vet and just take the puppies out by cesarean. HELP!

ANSWER: Hi Kristy

If she is that big, it could be that she is just uncomfortable and pups are pushing on her organs, causing her to pant.  

What is your demographics?  Was she laying in the sun, on top on the heat register or next to the the fireplace before you took her temp?  I never rely on temperatures unless I take them the same times every day, under the same conditions.  The surest sign is the loss of appetite.

It's not advisable for a dam to have a section prior to day 60.  The survival rate is lowered as organs such as the lungs aren't fully developed.

Would this be her third section, or her first?  Was she bred back to back or given a year to rest?  Was she bred on her first heat or did you wait?   All this factors come into play as the uterus wall can be weakened and/or compromised causing discomforted and or damage.

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QUESTION: her tummy circumference 351/2 her length 261/2 from head to paw. she's an indoor dog shes been in the bedroom. this would be her 3rd section but she has given birth to 2 pups right before she went into surgery her 2nd time. and shes had a year to rest exactly to date. should i worry she is at risk of her won health if there are too many pups pushing her organs?

ANSWER: Yes, there is always risk for further litters after a section that the the wall is weaker at the point of scar, or that the pups adhere to them causing issues.  That's why vets give cards out allowing only 3 sections in a dogs lifetime.

Talk to your vet, if you are going to have a section anyway, consider doing a spay at the same time.



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QUESTION: thanks for all your help! we do plan on spaying her but i heard its not good to spay them if they will be breast feeding b/c they will not be able to produce milk.

Answer
Actually that's a myth. I've personally experienced large number of females come out of a section/spay combo to produce milk.

The pups and the dam are already groggy from the anesthetic and can be lethargic.  But it's easier on the dam.  She may take longer to come shake off anesthetic but once she does, it will be business as usual.

Good luck.