Globalpaw.com Dog Forum » General Dog Concerns & Questions » Canine Genetics and Dog Breeding Forum

[stephjo]

Hello everyone!!
I am new to this forum... my name is Stephanie... I have 2 Saint Bernards! Obviously 1 is a male and 1 is a female. the male Matrix is 4 and the female Sadie Mae is 2. We just noticed that our female is pregnant and became very large very fast. I am going to take her to the vet to have an ultrasound and to be checked but i think that she is further along than we thought. within the last 4 days we have noticed a huge difference in her weight and shape... didn't know that she was pregnant before this time we thought but wasn't sure. I was just hoping for some advice with how to tell when she is about to deliver and when she is actually in labor. I have done some research but would like to get all the information i could and maybe some pointers.... like i said i am going to call the vet on monday and hopefully be able to get her in that day (usually able to) and learn some more... this is my first litter and never have even been around a dog when she was giving birth any advice i would love.... just trying to make sure i do everything i can for her and her pups... she is my baby and i want to make sure i am right there with her when she is delivering.... Thanks soooo much Stephanie

[Labman]

I would go to the library and check out whatever they have intheway of books on dog breeding. Even 10 year old one are better than nothing.

[Joy van Veen]

The vet should be able to tell after the ultra sound. I doubt that you could learn by reading books on this, even if you had a great deal of time. It takes either experience, and/or the right tools; such as the ultrasound.

Ask your vet. And ask for tips on what to do and expect. The good thing is that St Bernards are not one of the breeds in which whelping problems are common. Being there is important, so if something goes wrong you can do something about it or get her to the vet.

Most dogs have no problems during whelping. Good luck!

[Ritz459]

Definitally talk to the vet and get your girl a checkup. He'll let you know what to expect in terms of when she's going to whelp, how you should handle the whelping, and anything that could go wrong.

Also keep in mind that not all dogs are good mothers and you may need to step in to help raise the puppies. Case in point: a neighbor's Cattle Dog mix had a litter of pups a few months ago. She whelped no problem, took to the pups very well, and all of the puppies were healthy, happy, and have now been placed in homes. Another neighbor's Golden had a litter of pups not too long ago. She whelped no problem, but refused to clean the puppies. She wouldn't allow anyone to go near her (she would growl/try to bite), but she also wasn't letting the puppies feed, nor was she caring for them. The owners had to help raise the pups as the mother kept trying to kill them. As far as I know the pups are doing great and the mother has started to accept them.

[stephjo]

thanks for all the info it is helpful.... i contacted the vet today.... they said i didn't need to bring her in unless i wanted to know how many pups there are or if she was having problems delivering.... my neighbor had bred labs for a long time so he said when she goes into labor to call him and he will be right over to help me if i need him to... so i am very thankful for that..... but so far today she has dropped back even further and her eating has slowed way down.... she won't even play when i give her favorite toy to her she won't even put it in her mouth... so i think she is getting very close from what i have read up on and been told by people i have spoke with some hopefully in a few days i will be able to update you all on the good news of the puppies.... Thanks Again Stephanie

[Cassiepeia]

Take her temperature if you can. You'll know she's going to whelp soon (within 24hrs) when her temp drops.

[stephjo]

Hello again.... Sadie Mae still hasn't had her babies yet but I've been checking her temp and yesterday it was 100.4 now all day today it has been 101.0.... I know they say that the temp usually drops when she goes to have the pups but could it raise instead of drop??? I'm just curious and worried because I want to make sure I am here when she goes to deliver... I go back to work tomorrow and no one will be here so I gave my neighbor a key to the house to check on her and to call me at work so I can come home if she is having the pups..... I guess I am just worried and driving myself nuts.... LOL....
Here are some pics of my big girl with her big belly the last pic is Daddy Matrix..... thanks for all of your help
Thanks Again Stephanie

[Ritz459]

No, their temp definitally drops. Average temp is around 100.8 degrees, and it will drop to around 98 degrees when she is ready to whelp.

(Sadie is gorgeous, BTW! My mom ADORES Saint Bernards and your girl is her "perfect" Saint. LOL)

Here is a weblink that has some very good info about whelping and then raising the pups:
Breeding, Whelping, and Rearing Puppies

Another link that might be of benefit to read, concerning more of breeding than whelping (talks about health concerns, genetics, rearing pups, adopting out pups, etc.): Breeding Your Dog

[stephjo]

Well good news Sadie Mae had her babies last night.... we had a total of 10 puppies one was dead when it was born.... so we have 9 BEAUTIFUL babies.... 5 girls and 4 boys.... they all look great and they are all chubby.... i don't think we really even have a runt.... they are so big and cute... i will post some pictures on here when i have a little more time.... right now i am busy with the pups & mama.... my cats are going nuts because they have no clue what is going on because they are still in my bedroom and then daddy is also going nuts he was with her when she had the first pup so he is very curious.....but mom and the babies are doing wonderful.... Thanks for all your help.....Stephanie

[jenn2004sj]

Congrats!! I can't wait to see pics.

[stephjo]

Here are some pictures of the new babies... they are all still doing well and Sadie Mae is doing very good with them.... i will try to keep updating the pictures as they get older so all of you can see them grow... they are VERY active & crawling everywhere..... mama cant get away from them at all.... i put them in a big clothes basket to give her a break and let her do her own thing for a few and you have to watch cuz they are already crawling right out of the basket.... But they are soooo... cute..... Hope you all enjoy the pictures!!!

[Ritz459]

Congrats on the delivery! Sorry to hear one pup was stillborn, but that happens sometimes.

The pups are adorable, and I can't wait to see them grow!

Although we definitally don't need another dog right now...if you happen to have a long haired female let me know! lol My mom's dream dog is a long haired, traditional marked female named Sugar. Doubt she'd go for adding a fourth dog, but at the very least she can drool over the pictures!

[stephjo]

Here are some more of the babies!!!!.... i have a ton on my digital camera i just need to find the time to sit down and be able to put them on the computer hopefully tonight sometime..... i am gonna try to sit down now and take a pic of each pup.... she is feeding so when she is done i will be sending 9 more pictures... one of each baby!!!....

[Joy van Veen]

Congratulations!

[flyndog]

OMG! They're so tiny!