Dog with false preg....maybe!

[Tigertrea]

Ok...a little back info...

We have been in to showing, sled training and breeding for nearly 25yrs now. We have had false pgs in the past and it was no big deal really. BUT....

About 4yrs ago my dad started feeding a new food. Since then we have had 1 successful breeding and litter. the food is the only thing we can pin it on. We have done vaginal culutres, brucella testing, pregesterone testing to time breedings, A.I.s, smears....about everything we could do to find a reason or help get a good breeding. Our females even "refused" breeding for the most part. The only breeding we did get took 2 people to hold the female! Even the heat cycles have been "wrong" for years. The food my dad was feeding contained farm-raised salmon. Farm raised salmon is feed hormones so that, if they get loose, they cannot reproduce.

A month after changing foods we had a female come into season. She accepted 3 breedings easily. This encouraged us. I would not have believed the food could affect them so much but, it seemed like this was the case. The last time we tried to breed this female she was wretched, she refused to stand, she did acrobatics we'd never seen before!

Her last due date (based on 62days) is today. Last week she lost all her belly hair, her mammary glands began to look fuller and she was nesting. Sunday she didn't eat and it looked like she was thinking of going into labour. 24hrs later, nothing. She actually came out of her whelping pen and started to play with the other dogs.

Now we are very discouraged. The stud is proven, he has had litters with quite a few females so far.

Again....I have a but! Our litter about 5yrs ago we actually did a "planned" c-section. The female was looking barely preg, acting almost normal and was at 65 days. We X-rayed and sure enough there were pups. It was Dec 22nd, the vet I work for was going away for Christmas and the vet who was on-shift most of the holiday time at our local emerg clinic was one I knew but, had never done surgery on my dogs. So, we decided to do her c-section the next day.

the long and short....

Experiences with overdue? With falsies? Breeding issues.

We have discussed these issues with many of our Siberian Husky friends. They are as stumped as us!

 

[Squawkbox]

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[dainerra]

Most breeders I know start checking for the temperature drop 2-3 days before they expect labor to begin. They check every 12 hours because sometimes the temp change is fast and only checking once a day you might miss it

 

[watchdogps]

Sorry it was rough, but congrats on the ones you do have!
Just a couple notes - if the pup died more than a day earlier, you'd know. That stuff gets nasty FAST! I only mention it because knowing that may help pinpoint cause of the issues, which may be important for other dogs in your kennel.
I totally agree with your decision not to breed her again, but you might want to look again at whether spay at time of C section is really best. To go from preg to no hormones so fast is really hard on a girl. I realize it means two surgeries, but it may be better overall to do that if you are in that situation again. Pros and cons to either side, just food for thought.

 

[watchdogps]

I think most spays while in heat or preg are the low cost spays clinics and they just want them done, rather than risk preg or having the unplanned pups. If the dog is in a home who is reasonably responsible and going to a "normal" vet, the vet will tell them to wait.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

I would want an exray, and I mean right now. I'm sorry i did not open this post earlier today. Get to the vet and see FOR CERTAIN if there are actually puppies in her asap.

 

[FlaRocky]

X 10 Get to the vet now..... Let us know what happens, sending a little prayer you way that all is well with her....

Maye

 

[Tigertrea]

My dad and I talked about it, I called my work and talked to my boss (I'm a vet tech lol). We have decided to wait another few days. We will x-ray either tomorrow or Friday if no labour.

Her temp is 100.0.......maybe doing the drop to 98 then back up thing. (never fails does it LOL) My dad felt what he believes is a pup today, maybe 2.

In my research for out 68 day litter (My dad swears it was 68 days) we pulled out notes on Reproduction from University that a prof had given him about 10yrs before (WOW, that is a long time now....nearly 15yrs!). But it, as well as 2 other vets I talked to (yep, I am paranoid lol) said 70days is the "max" they should be allowed to go. (My dad remembers these things, I have to look them up again all the time!)

I have my dad keeping a very, very close eye on her. Taking her temp before bed tonight then again in the morning, and calling me. If nothing happens tomorrow I will call my work and get her in for an x-ray. At least I know she is not running a temp. She is eating like most of ours do at this point (hording then going back later), she will not tolerate one of the dogs in the house near her whelping pen, she is "happy". Not as bouncy as she is "normally" but, not acting sick at all.

Between my dad and I we reminded ourselves....nature often knows what it is doing. Though, this may be the litter that changes our "no reason to x-ray before" opinion. (We always x-ray after to ensure she is empty) The stress is killing us!

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Let's then hope it does not kill your ***** too. If she has dead putrefying puppies in her, by the time you figure that out by waiting, it will be way too late.

What is most concerning to me is that her temp went down, she showed nesting/pre whelping behavior, and then stopped.

 

[sourland]

Let's then hope it does not kill your ***** too. If she has dead putrefying puppies in her, by the time you figure that out by waiting, it will be way too late.

What is most concerning to me is that her temp went down, she showed nesting/pre whelping behavior, and then stopped.

X 2 It is not unusual for b=tches to go beyond the 'normal' 63 days when carrying small numbers of pups, but the apparent start and stop of whelping procedure concerns me. Good luck.