I prefer the glass, veterinarian type of rectal thermometer. Prior to taking the temperature I assemble everything needed: alcohol, obstetrical lubricant (KY jelly), cotton balls, surgical gloves, timer, paper towels, a small stool and of course the thermometer. Assembling these items is done without a lot of fanfare - momma dog is wise to what is coming next when she sees this going on. Several paper towels are laid out across a table which will be within easy reach while taking the temperature. Even if they have never fussed while temps are taken in the past, this is very different for them. I act confident and calmly say what a good girl she is. No squeaky voice reaching grabbing making a big deal of this. Anything that needs to be opened is set on the paper towels, the thermometer is shaken down then sterilized with a cotton ball saturated with alcohol, left to air dry briefly. Then the tip of the thermometer is coated thoroughly with the lubricant, left on the paper towels where I can reach it in a moment or two. I sit down on a very low stool, near the floor. I call my girl over and gently coax her to stand sideways in front of me as I slide my leg underneath her. As I'm right handed, she is facing to the left, away from me held securely and ever so gently by my knee which guides her to stay still. I'm patting her and talking gently the whole time. At this point I reach over to set the timer for 3 minutes slip on a glove, lift her tail, reach for the thermometer and quickly insert it into her rectum but not too far. Up until this point I've been using both hands with very little movement while she remains standing in front of me with the help of my leg and knee. As her temperature is being taken she is held by the collar and my knee again helps support her and also prevents any possibility of her sitting down at that time. Those are the longest 3 minutes! But when the time is up, out comes the thermometer, lots of praise and a treat is given. The temperature is recorded immediately on the whelping chart with date/time. The average dog temperature is 101 F. This is when it's important to pay attention to the little degree marks on the thermometer. A drop from 101 to 100.5 may not seem significant unless it remains unchanged. If you have taken your dogs temperature faithfully the week preceding her due date you'll know her average temperature. Sometimes you'll see it go up and down. There should be a drop though to 100 which remains, then the drop below 100 that keeps going down, eventually reaching into the mid - low 90's tells you that pups are in position to be born - soon and very soon. These of course are just guidelines but it's important information to be certain of. (The very first litter that Wish ever had in 2005 taught me just how important! Her nighttime temp had been 100.5 - her morning temperature was 98 and before I took it again, she was already in labor. Some girls are easy and quick whelpers. When the temperature drops - please don't leave your girl alone.
EATING PLACENTA
We are of the school of thought that it is perfectly natural for the whelping mother to consume the afterbirth/placenta during delivery, unless it is a huge litter. Yes it is disgusting but it is not harmful and it is normal although there are varying opinions about this. She may not want to eat it and that is normal too. One theory which I tend to agree with is that she eats it in consideration of natural instincts. Animals born in the wild are vulnerable to attacks by predators. Cleaning up all traces of the placenta lessens this risk. Additionally, a wild animal is not likely to leave to leave their babies and so the placenta helps provide some nourishment. Eating the afterbirth or placenta can affect bowels for a day or so and their appetite.)
Always keep track of the afterbirth as each pup is born to be sure that there is no retained placenta which could interfere with the birth of the next pup, and if left inside could decompose. If she hasn't expelled it, you can gently pull it out with a clean cloth. Even so, during the whelping itself we find that the mother quickly and efficiently takes care of the placenta at the same time she is cleaning up her newborn whelp.
NURSING MOTHERS PUDDING
Nursing mother's pudding is also called whelping pudding. My parents used it back in the day and it's been used by breeders for a long time. There are several variations of the recipe (given below). It can be given to your bitch just before, during, or after pups are born. It's a great supplement for your dam especially if her appetite heads south - which is very common following delivery. I make a huge batch of this on the stove and then store it in the refrigerator in quart size canning jars. While it can be offered right out of the fridge I think the dam appreciates it very much when you take the time to warm it to just the right temperature. This pudding offers calories, calcium, and protein.
If you've ever made cream puffs with a homemade filling, it's basically the same thing. I prefer to use the clear Karo syrup which is something we have on hand anyway during whelping. If a puppy is not nursing strongly you can put a dab of the Karo on the tip of your clean, clipped pinkie finger to encourage it to suckle. Speaking of your fingernails. Think of your momma dog's comfort and that of her pups and please clip the tips of your fingernails down. They will grow back. The alternative would be to wear surgical type gloves that fit your hands snugly. We keep a box of them handy during whelping. They are especially helpful when taking your girls temperature.
NURSING MOTHERS WHELPING PUDDING RECIPE
You can offer this to her several times a day at body temperature. Let her eat as much as she wants from bowl, off of a spoon, or use a syringe. Can be mixed with her kibble for lunch and dinner, and can give her some before you go to bed. She also has free access to her food. Has never caused diarrhea and helps to bring in an abundance of milk.From Scratch:
Mix the following in a saucepan and cook to pudding consistency.
2/3 cup sugar OR 2 tbs of clear Karo
6 tablespoons cornstarch or flour
4 cups whole milk (or one can evap milk plus equal parts water to make quart)
4 egg yolks
Using Pudding Mix (cooked kind):
1 large 4 cup size vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup sugar,
4 cups of milk, and
4 egg yolks.
Cook on low heat to pudding consistency. and offer to new mother at body temperature. She can eat as much as she wants. Has never caused diarrhea and brings in abundance of milk!!!
Another Version (untried, not sure of the use of the gelatin but adding yogurt would be good if you don't already offer yogurt to her separately.)
1 can of evaporated milk
2 egg yolks
2 TBS of clear Karo syrup
2 TBS of whole milk plain yogurt
3 envelopes of Knox plain Gelatin
2 cups of water
2 oz of HOT water to dissolve gelatin
In a microwave proof cup, dissolve the gelatin and microwave for about 20 seconds to dissolve well, mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and pour in a container and refrigerate.
