Golden Retreiver

Question
QUESTION: my female golden is only about 22 months old...but she's due to deliver puppies about Aug 1.....she's too young yes...BUT what do I have to watch for???

Marty

ANSWER: Hello Marty:

I'm assuming you want to know what the signs are for impending labor? If so, the vast majority of dogs will exhibit signs such as nesting behavior, heavy panting, refusal of food, shivering & sometimes vomiting. One of the best indicators of knowing when whelping is very soon is a drop in temperature. On average, a dog's temp is 101-102.5 degrees. You'll have to begin taking her temp at least a good week plus prior to her earliest expected due date to establish a baseline. Take the temp approximately every 12 hours. Often, though not always, a pregnant bitch will have a drop in temp below 98 degrees about 24 hours prior to labor. I'm including a few links to sites where you can read some additional details so that you can be better prepared. I hope this helps & wish you & your girl the very best!

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_care_of_the_pregnant_dog.html

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dogpregnant.htm

http://www.petbitsforyou.com/pregnant.html



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you...I had been really interested though in the complications or stress factors I for which I should be looking....

how far in advance will she want to 'nest' as she's outside but will have puppies inside..I guess I'll bring her in today.....also, may I give her flea & tick stuff?..or even a heart worm biscuit?

thank you for the information!!
Marty
ANSWER: Hi Marty:

More than likely she'll begin some nesting behavior well in advance of her whelping date. If she's an outside dog, she'll likely dig several holes or seek other areas in an instinctive attempt to create a "den" much like wild dogs would. The nesting behavior will grow increasingly stronger & more vigorous the nearer she gets to her due date. I would suggest either buying or building a whelping box for the actual delivery and to keep the puppies contained in one area where "Mom" can easily get in & out of for feeding them. There are many excellent ones available via most online pet suppliers & they have the added benefit of being made of durable, hard plastic which can be easily cleaned & won't absorb fluids like wood will.
As for flea & tick medications, be VERY careful about these. Some can be extremely dangerous to the unborn puppies -- others, like Frontline Plus, are perfectly safe for pregnant & lactating dogs. Same is true for heartworm medications. Heartgard, for example, is safe but I'd advise you to read all material on packaging carefully before administering anything. If in doubt, either check with your veterinarian or the manufacturer just to be on the safe side.
By stress & complications factors, do you mean once whelping begins? If so, once her water breaks, on average, the first puppy will arrive within an hour. If she's having obvious contractions yet no puppy is produced within two hours it's very possible the puppy may be over-sized, in which case you'll need to seek emergency assistance. It's an extremely good idea to have your vet X-ray her at around 50 days gestation so that the number of puppies can be established & their size judged. This way your vet should be able to know if a C-section will be necessary or probable. Normally with your breed this isn't the case but the chances are greater if the litter is small, like under 3 puppies. Also it's possible she may just need a little additional help should her whelping stall, either before any puppies are born or in between puppies. An injection of Oxytocin, a drug that helps the uterus to contract more efficiently, will often do the trick & a C-section can be avoided. If more than one to two hours passes between puppies there could be just such a problem. It's not uncommon for a mother whelping a fairly large litter to become weary & need some extra help. An Oxytocin injection will usually do just the trick. Also it's wise to call your vet once labor begins to have him on stand-by in case assistance is needed.
I hope this more properly addresses your concerns but please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions. I'm happy to help!

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QUESTION: you've covered everything & my concern then is no concern at all....I was concerned about her age...being <2 & what kind of problems may arise from that....I guess the c section as you explained......already digging holes...I'm figuring I have 2-3 weeks...but not sure....I've JUST noticed her being big 3-4 days ago...it seems like she got really big now....

thank you!!!
Marty

Answer
Hi Marty:

OK, I think we're on the same page now -- finally! LOL Sorry I was so slow to understand your concerns properly. Yes, due to her age there's always a chance of the possibility of needing a C-section but frankly, that's a possibility no matter what the age. I'd say the biggest concern regarding her age would be that she may not be emotionally mature enough to properly handle the demands of having a litter. While it's certainly preferable for larger breeds to be at least 24 months of age, she's not that far off & she'll probably do just fine. You may need to keep a close eye on her during whelping to ensure she tears off the sacs promptly & knows the difference between puppy & placenta. Sadly some young, inexperienced mothers get confused & may inadvertently ingest a puppy instead of the placenta. Also I'd monitor her carefully for especially the first several days to a week to be sure she doesn't mistakenly smother or crush a puppy that's gotten under her. This can particularly be the case with larger breeds with larger litters. I use a baby monitor near the whelping box & receiver in my bedroom so that if a puppy cries for any length of time I'm able to intercede. But she's an intelligent breed so chances are she'll be a trooper in all aspects. As long as you're prepared beforehand & know what to expect & watch out for I'm sure all will go well. I hope this truly addresses your concerns! Please let me know how everything goes. I'll be hoping for the best!