Day 55 / Labor Stages 101

Here is the beautiful mother to be on Monday afternoon
 January 3, 2011 - Day 55
FLASHBACK TO DAY 55 in 2009 by clicking here!

Last night we began recording Treasure's daily temperature to establish a base for the upcoming days.  We will take it every night at the same time for a few days, then twice a day and more frequently when it finally drops.  The average temperature for a dog in good health is 100.5 to 102.5 but this of course can vary. The slightest drop or rise in temperature however while monitoring a pregnant dog is quite significant so it's important to know their average temperature.   In a few weeks none of this will matter directly but it will be add to our ever growing records and knowledge of the dogs in our breeding program, to know what is normal. Going from 100.5°F down to 100.1°F  is noteworthy but more important is whether it remains there or goes back again.  I get very excited when the temperature hovers at 100, but shout from the housetops when it dips even to just 99.9°F !  The first drop below Treasures average temperature reading that remains is what I will be looking for first.  After that, I will be watching for each additional dip.  Last year she delivered her first pup at 98°F, after her temperature had hovered at 99.6°F for awhile. I have the benefit of these charts from last year, and also those of her mother to compare.  

It is within the first 24 hours following this all important temperature drop that the first stage of labor begins.  It is a stage that often goes unnoticed but by taking Treasure's temperature regularly for the next few days John and I will know when it drops to @ 98°F from its normal 99,100,101°F, etc.  It's my opinion that the temperature taking/watching works.  When it continues to drop we know we will have about 12 - 24 hours from the start of the drop.  When it bottoms out, we know we have about 2 - 12 hours.

During this first stage of labor Treasure will become more and more restless. Although she is restless now, it is nothing compared to what happens when labor begins.  At that point in time she will not be able to get comfortable.  The stretching and frequent changing of her position which we see now will become almost frantic. Treasure will want to be where she is going to whelp her puppies, that is why it's been important to slowly acclimate her to the new puppy room. Otherwise if she were to be let lose in the house she'd try to make a nest under the bed, in the laundry basket, or anywhere actually which she deemed appropriate, even the middle of our bed!  Years ago John made the whelping box Treasure will give birth in.  It does have quite a history here at ATB and it is the one she herself was born in several years ago. It's been borrowed before too. Of course it is always bleached and disinfected thoroughly in between uses and often during the use.

Speaking of the whelping box...The whelping box has drop down sides and also provisions to build them up if needed. There is what is called a "pig rail" which is a few inches off of the bottom. This is a safety rail which helps prevent momma dog from rolling over on her babies.  We find pups use these rails to navigate around the box even in their youngest neo natal days!  The pig rails in our whelping box have very soft and well worn edges.  Over the next few weeks the material on the bottom of the whelping box will include unprinted newspaper, indoor/outdoor carpet, shavings, carpet pad or any combination thereof.  We will not leave blankets or towels in the box as it is too easy for a young pup to get tangled up in.  We make sure that whatever material we use quickly absorbs the many liquids that accompany whelping and puppy care. If the material used in a whelping box does not adequately and quickly absorb liquids pups can become chilled.  Although the room is well heated and an infra-red heat lamp hovers constantly above the box, a newborn pup can easily become chilled, loose energy, and be unable to find it's way back to the source of heat.  We have found it is extremely helpful and beneficial for pups to have one small carpet pad lying underneath the heat lamp.  Pups tell the difference in the texture, again it is a navigational tool for them and most important, we can tell by the proximatey of where they choose to lie whether the lamp is offering too much or too little heat, or is just right.  There is a thermometer kept at the same level as the pups in addition to a room temperature.  We learned that the more adventurous puppies will have the energy to crawl across the box, but if they become chilled along the way for whatever reason, they will not be able to return back to the heat source.  Of course momma is always attentive to the pups needs and so are we!  Even so absolutely NOTHING should be left to chance when it comes to the whelping and the care of the newborn Brittany puppy and their mother.

During first stage of labor Treasure may throw up, or she may feel repeatedly the need to have a bowel movement and/or frequently urinate.  Taking a whelping girl outdoors at night means bringing a flashlight and a towel along, just in case!  Once we had a momma go outside and bring a puppy back in with her - good girl!  And we thought she just had to poop. Sometimes there is a clear mucus discharge.  Actually, this has started already with Treasure. This is normal and fine as long as it remains clear.  (Anytime discharge is green prior to delivery a vet must be called.)  Her vulva area is going to become increasingly puffier.

Second Stage of Labor:

As labor advances to the second stage Treasure will start digging frantically wherever she is and with whatever material she has to dig.  We give her as much unprinted newspaper as we possible can. (This is again a blessing from Auntie Julie who provides us with endrolls from the newspaper.)  Some whelping momma dogs will start shivering and most all will pant. They examine their rear time and time again and lick themselves frequently.  Yet even as the labor advances and intensifies, they are ever graceful and beautiful, natural and primal.  To be present and witness this natural part of life is truly a privledge.  Mild contractions may begin, and voluntary efforts to push are seen as well.  She feels the need to go to the bathroom more as the pups make their way in the uterine horn.  

Third stage of Labor:
A dark sac filled with water will present itself, then break open.  All of the above signs will continue and get stronger, including the digging and panting.  Treasure's contractions will no longer be voluntary but she will look directly at John and I as she becomes very very still and there will finally be that bearing down contraction which her whole entire body will be involved with.  Last year she did this standing up.These contractions will become stronger and closer together and Treasure will be pushing down.

The room will be dimly lit, there will be soft music playing, and we will be closeby.  John and I are more than prepared to assist if needed but we do know how to recognize when that is necessary, and when it is not.  Treasure did not need any help at all last year.  We will be watching for the position of the pup when she delivers it, to see the cord and the sac, and observe her intentions if she is going to remove the sac and bite the cord herself. Some dogs do and some dogs don't.  We will also be watching to be sure that a puppy does not retract back into the birth canal, get's stuck, or does not come out with pushing and will be ready to help Treasure. The very most important thing at birth is to be sure the 'sac' is broken away and then removed from the pups head and body IMMEDIATELY, so that pups first breath is air and not liquid. Treasure was such a good mom, just like her own mother and instinctively knew what to do.

Often we'll take a soaking wet pup and roughly dry it in a clean handcloth to stimulate it's circulation.  I personally like to get a good squeal out of a pup to be sure the lungs are clear.  If we hear any gurgling at all we will not hesitate to use the aspirator and gently suction any liquid from pup. After that we will hold pup gently but firmly in our hands and swing our arms in a complete arc, top to bottom to clear it's air passageways.  When we get the chance we examine the cord, usually bit off properly by mom, disinfect the stump with iodine.  That's the other thing we are watching as pup is being care for by mom, is she caring for the cord safely or do we intervene.  There is a lot going on that is why it's so important to be there every moment. If a mom is too aggressive she can unintentionally do her whelp harm, biting cord too short and too close to their body.  You can imagine that in all of these scenerios having the puppy basket handy that we  posted about yesterday is very helpful.

There is so much more, and we are always prepared for anything.  Our vet already knows that we have a Brittany dog ready to give birth soon and is on call.  We've driven to the vets with a girl in labor in the backseat of the car only to turn around and have the entire litter born back at home!   As soon as the litter has been whelped our vet gets a call and the appointment is made to bring them all in as soon as we can. The staff at the animal hospital where we go always accomodates us.  When we call ahead to say we're coming in with puppies and mom we are greeted at the door with all kinds of help!  We do use several vets for various reasons and purposes but only one is our reproductive vet, I don't know what we'd do without them.

Well I guess you might be able to tell where my mind is at this week.  And today Treasure actually enjoyed a little grooming.  Although her hair around the nipples is thinning and coming out, I gently trimmed around each one. She also had her tail and private areas gently trimmed.  I clipped her ears too.  I think she felt like humans must feel after having our hair done - she knew she looked prettier.  Plus earlier in the day I had Pippin up on the table for a little pre-show grooming too. How could I leave out the Queen of the House?!

I still feel quite miserable if you want to know the truth. Have been heading to bed ridiculously early but did get some housework done today.  I do enjoy going out to the puppy room so much because everytime I do John has added something new and thoughtful!  We are co-awaiting a litter our friends Kim and Tom in NH, as Jasmine is just a few days away from whelping her first litter.   And we remain in touch with our good friends Dawn and Paul in CT regarding Bailey and her boys.  We are always hoping and praying for all Brittanys, family, and friends that are part of the ATB family and thankful to God for the ever growing circle of love and caring surrounding us all.  I owe a few more phone calls to some of you this week, bear with me?

Well speaking of the Queen of Brittanys - she's right on schedule, head bopping my elbow saying get off of that computer.  And guess what?  She rules!  Tomorrow I'll share our nursing mother's recipe, I know some of you have asked.  Thanks for your interest.  Stay tuned... we are in the final stretch.  Take care and God bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittanys