Shih-Tzu Whelping

Question
I have a 2 1/2 yr old shih-tzu.  Today is the 64th day since her first mating. She has milk in her teats, has had some discharge from her vulva over the past few days, temp has been fluctuating between 100 and 99 for the past week.  She has had some heavy panting spells and for the past three nights around midnight she has been very uncomfortable and has had some abdominal tightening.  I really thought she was going to deliver over the weekend, but here we are at day 64 and no puppies.  Should I be concerned yet?  What is the longest she should go before puppies are born?  Puppies are currently active and moving around.

Answer
Hi Mary

The thing to remember is that it is 63 days after ovulation, not necessarily when she was bred. So if you were a few days early she may be right on track.  

On the other hand, if she's straining and having contractions without success (a live birth) there could be complications.   A pup could be blocking the canal. The size of the male she was bred to is also a consideration.

Start with giving her some vanilla ice cream.  This will help with calcium intake and keep her hydrated.  It will help to walk her a bit too, get things moving.

It's best to contract your vet, and let your clinic know the progress, they may want to examine her and it will make them aware if a c-section is called for.