new mom due yesterday

[princessmom]

hey everyone, I have enjoyed reading the posts on the site for several months now but just today decided to join. I have questions about my girl. She's 8 and going to be a first time mom any time now. Her temp dropped to 97.5 this a.m. and she's been having heavy clear discharge since last night. After these pups she will be spayed. I was under the impression (by our vet when she was a pup) that she was sterile. Time seemed to verify this. She was born with several problems and I have never tried to breed her. She is an indoor dog and has only been in "heat" 4 times in her life. Anyway, things aren't always as they seem.
The problem is that this was NOT a planned breeding. It seems she has mated with our neighbor dog. He is a pure bred Red Bone coon hound. He is beautiful and very smart. My girl is beautiful and incredibly smart as well. I have several people that want her pups ( about 5) I don't know how many she will have. My question is should I have their tails docked? Should I sell them or just give them away? Maybe just sell them for the cost of their vet care and shots and such?
I hope everyone doesn't think badly of me. I found out she was with pups at our last vet visit and decided not to abort them. I've fought with myself about this since then. I'm actually glad I decided to let her continue her pregnancy but still worried. Any help here?

[RoseArbour]

I think it would be great if your vet would go ahead and spay/neuter the puppies at 8 weeks of age. Then you could adopt them out for the price of the surgery. As for tails I am split two ways: if they look rottweiler at birth I lean towards docking the tails. But on the other hand I have enjoyed the company of many tailed rottweilers and what is a hound dog without his tail? <smile> Best wishes for a healthy litter and an easy whelp. Mom will come into season again soon after she weans the puppies so plan on getting her spayed right after the pups go to their new homes.

[JoJo]

I'd be more concerned on mom right now. As for the pups, I'd rather be screaming at the top of my lungs something that you really don't want to hear and it would be pointless.

[tcote]

OMG--8 years old---poor mom!!!!!

[jlaack]

Should I sell them or just give them away? Maybe just sell them for the cost of their vet care and shots and such?

Unless you personally know the family wanting a pup I would NEVER give a dog away for free. By allowing a person to own an animal without even a small fee you are increasing the chance that the dog will not go to a good home. I think your best bet in finding good homes for pups would be to contact a Rottie rescue or another reputable rescue in your area to see if they can place the pups. Pups are usually easier to place than adults. If you opt for this route you should definitely offer to help them out financially. If you cannot afford to help financially on your own you might want to talk to the neighbor who had a hand in this unplanned breeding. Maybe the neighbor will see that having an intact male isn't the wisest of plans.

[targonrotts]

if your dog has not yet had pups and is having heavy discharge(other than a transparent slime) run to your vet.
any color discharge with no pups out yet can mean a placenta has separated and the pups and soon the mom can be in distress.
temp drop usually results in pups within 12 hours.
she might require oxytocin injections or a c-section.
please have a vet see her.

[princessmom]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Believe me, I am clueless here. I have had my girl (the light of my life) since she was a pup. I also have a male pekingese. Both are indoor dogs, pampered and wonderful. I am so sorry for my poor girl, and for the babies. Luckily the people that want her pups are good homes, and will keep them as inside dogs. I don't know how many she will have but I have heard the horror stories about the 12-14 pup litters and that just seems overwhelming. I am really stressing about that. Thus the reason for asking what people thought.
As far as the whelping goes I have my vet on stand-by. He is open 24/7 anyway and is aware of her impending labor. If there is ANYTHING that doesn't seem normal she will be rushed to the vet right away. Right now she is panting every 30 minutes or so but her temp has only gone up to 98.5 from a low 97.4 at 3 PM yesterday. It's now 11 AM. She doesn't seem distressed, she is taking water and has been passing water as well. No discharge other than clear, but some vomiting (4 times this AM).
Does all of this seem normal?????

[princessmom]

Thanks everyone for the input. I have had my girl since she was a pup and she is a wonderful, wonderful dog. I feel so horrible for her and her babies, but I do know that the people who want one of her pups will be good homes and keep them indoors. My problem is that I'm afraid she is going to have more pups than I have homes for. She is the runt of a 12 pup litter. That's why I'm kind of freaking about the puppies.
As far as the whelping goes I have my vet on standby. He is open 24/7 anyway and he is aware of her impending whelping. (This is not the same vet that told me she was sterile!!!)
Anyway as of now she seems to be in first stage labor. She is panting every 30 minutes or so but resting comfortably in between. She is taking water and passing it as well. She has only slight clear discharge. The only thing I'm worried about is that she has vomited 4 times this morning. Her temp dipped to a low 97.4 at 3PM yesterday and has only raised to 98.5 this AM. All week she has run a temp of between 99.0 and 99.9. Does all of this sound "normal" to yall?
Thanks so much for all the information.

[debbiej]

I don't know anything about whelping a litter of pups. I wonder though, if you have any questions or concerns, should you call the vet?

[JoJo]

temp drop usually results in pups within 12 hours.
she might require oxytocin injections or a c-section.
please have a vet see her.

[QUOTEBelieve me, I am clueless here][/quote]

I say yes you are. PLEASE get your dog to a vet NOW and have her checked. An ultrasound or an x-ray at this point will also help you know how many pups she is carrying. And I say this out of concern for your dog, for I admit, I'm not a breeder and don't know a thing about birthen babies!!!

[moondog]

I, too, am as clueless as the next non-breeder, but at her geriatric age with a first litter I would surely be worried - whelping is higher risk in older dogs. Did you call the vet about the vomiting?

If you're as clueless as I am about whelping (and it does sound like it), I'd suggest having her deliver in the vet's office.

[JoJo]

Oh I'm with Moondog on this one. This whole things sounds bad to me. Question to OP, do you want your dog to survive this whelping? Because she may not if things go bad. You may end up feeding these pups yourself and caring for them without the dam. Get her to a vet. PLEASE.

[princessmom]

Okay, you all convinced me and I called the vet. They said she needs to be seen and to bring her in at 3 this afternoon! Thank you all! I'll let you know how it goes. They were a little concerned that she hasn't started having the pups yet and want to examine her. I am thankful that you all recommended I give them a call. Thanks again.

[targonrotts]

this thread started last night and said she was like this since yesterday morning(lots of clear discharge,temp down,vomiting)-it's now been at least 30 hours.
she could be in labor and having difficulties.
i would take her in, have her evaluated and better to be safe than sorry.
this is a first timer 8 year old.and i take it no xray was done previously to see how many might be in there?

[targonrotts]

oops, just read your new post!
good, keep us posted on what happens and good luck!