The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: Collie26 on June 05, 2011, 02:27:58 pm
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Well our collie is due to whelp on Friday, looking forward to it, a bit aprehensive to say the least!
Just a few final questions, her 'belly' (excuse the simple termonology) is growing and very large, her teats are big but not massive? Is this normal or just late show'er'??
I understand that you shouldnt pull the pup out, or tear the cord, but to cut it? What with?
We have plenty of towels and black bags full of newspaper!
Any other checklists materials??
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An experienced bitch will do everything herself, but if you do have to cut the cord use a pair of BLUNTscissors. I prefer to put one of these plastic clips on when they are born then leave them till all are there and sometimes the cord just breaks itself, and many times the bitch chews them. So I don't often have to cut the cords.
The towels are mainly so that it is easy to get rid of the mess, but not all bitches are messy. The newspaper is so she has something to scrabble around in so put it in her bed, and change it if it gets messy. You need to cut up a towel into small pieces in case you need to hold a puppy as it is coming out, they are very slippery, and sometimes the contractions can pull the pup back in so don't pull them out, but you can hold them till the next push. Google whelping and you'll find out all you need to know.
Have a cardboard box nearby that she can see into with a hot water bottle under a thick towel, put the pups in there when you see another one coming so she doesn't inadvertently sit or stand on them. It's just common sense to get them out of the way for a bit, then put them back in and onto the teats to suckle as soon as she has cleaned the new one up - that will help the next one along. When she is apparently finished check her tummy for any blobs still in there, and if she looks at all unwell call your vet as it may be a placenta or pup that hasn't been expelled.
Now, stop worrying!
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Thanks for the advise, you've been a real help!
Not long now though ;D ;D :o :o
:dog: :dog: :dog:
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Quick question she has just started to shale and panting, she wanted to go out so i let her but stayed with her. We have a bec running along side the garden and she has just gone and laid in it to cool down, could this be signs of her starting to whelp?? She is in her bed with all she needs towels paper ect??
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Could be that she is about to pup, just keep a close eye on her, ;D
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We are just popping in every so often :D will keep posted!
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Could take a day before she starts! ::) Just watch for pushing and don't let her strain for more than an hour tops before contacting your vet.
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well ive just done my last exam until 17th June so i'll be with her from now on!!
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The clocks ticking and everyones watching her like a hawk. :D
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And we're all watching this thread like a hawk, too! Best of luck!
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And don't forget to take photos, weigh them, sex them etc etc lol
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This is exciting! Like Pupwatch or Whelping Live ;D Where's Kate Humble?
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Ive been reading on tin'tnet that she may not produce any milk until she starts to whelp, does this mean and since her teats arent very large then could be the same for her???
Also about single pup litters?? What causes this???
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Yes, it's quite normal in dogs for the milk to come down at the last minute. Single pup litters are just because there was just one egg released or fertilised - just chance really
Will you stop worrying!
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;D ;D
I dont think its worry, just she better have pups because at the moment she's soft as muck, and shes normally up and raring to go but last month shes been a pain in the backside, won't go anywhere not even to check on stock she just stays in the 'garden'.
Just wondering about single pup litters and since its our first time little paranoid!
Once again your replies are filled with knowledge and apprechiate them sooooooo much!!
Will keep threat updated as much as possible with pics if i can ever get the damn things to work! :D
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I always have a whelping kit ready(not that I breed many) This consists of peices of old towelling to hold a pup's head (DO NOT PULL, JUST HOLD!!!!!) to stop it being drawn back in, sterilised butcher's string (if need be make two ties between pup and bitch and cut as Doganjo said with blunt scissors or you can use your thumb and first finger nails in a sideways "chewing" action.Use anti bac. gel on your hands though. A heat pad or well wrapped hot water bottle may come in useful as will a roll of kitchen towel.
The best thing you can do is to keep calm, be near the bitch but don't fuss over her and let nature take charge. She will probably do it all by herself.
I do hope all goes well, I'm sure it will. P.S. to sterilise string put it in a kilner jar or similar and put into a hot oven for 5 minutes or so.
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???
Still Nothing just keep popping in and out every-so often!
Will keep posted!
:dog: :dog:
:farmer:
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She was shaking and panting 4 days ago - does she look OK?
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Yeah she looks perfectly fine, bright eyed and bushy tailed
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Ok, does she still look pregnant? If not she must be checked over as she may have reabsorbed the day she was panting and shaking. If she still looks like popping then she must have just been hot ;) ;D When she lies on her back she'll be bulging. ;D ;D
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Shes big but not bulging i think shes only got a small litter, was talking to a stockman who said his collie didnt show at all and had 3 so we'll just wait and see, there is like white sediment stuff on the end of her teats???? Any significance!
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Dried milk? ???
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Thats what I thought.
However after talking to a stockman who's collie was very similar to ours both mentally and physically, so we'll just have to wait and see!
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Ive just read that it could be anything from 58-68 days?????
Whats your opinion of this??
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Hi, been keeping an eye out for the announcement ;) just to put your mind at rest a bit,we took my collie on a weekend camping trip with us,she was racing round the beach playing with a ball, jumped into the back of our truck scratched around a bit and promptly delivered the 1st of 9 pups :oWe set of back to our tent she had the rest of the pups in the truck,was happy and settled but decided she was lonely in the night so we brought her and her 9 babies into the tent with us where we all curled up and went to sleep! we set off back home in the morning with our unexpected passengers :)Not the ideal scenario,I agree but just shows you,they do,in most cases, just get on with it. ;D
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:D, nature will take its course and has been long before us humans thought we knew it all!!!
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Ive just read that it could be anything from 58-68 days?????
Whats your opinion of this??
You're reading too much ;) ;D ;D Normal gestation is 63 days. Most litters are born between 61 and 65 days. They can be viable up to 6 days before that (57 days), and I've known pups delivered 3 days late - 66 days, but I'd think that 68 is extreme. What day is she on now - do you know exactly when she was mated?
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Today is day 64, and she was mated on the 8th april so, just a waiting game now.
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She's still eating? Have you taken her temperature?
I once had a cocker that showed all the signs of being in whelp. We didn't scan in those days but our vet examined her thoroughly and said she had at least 5. After 68 days there was still no sign so the vet gave us galastop for her to get rid of the milk. She had either had a phantom pregnancy or had reabsorbed late on. Teh Vet still couldn't believe she ahd fooled us all like that.
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Shes been off her food for couple days and no havent taken temperature
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Tonight!
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OMG, how exciting!! ;D
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Could be, no mistick meg ::)
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I wonder how the dog is? Maybe it was a phantom, Isaly had them every time she was in season and I bet she will again although she is not usually out of our sight when shes in season!!
Hope things are OK as I am worried now :/
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So am I as she'd be on day 68 today. That's too long IMHO
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Not sure whats happening ???
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Hi havent been on for a while getting new bathroom fitted. And NO PUPS :( we guess she had a phantom pregnancy.
This leads me to another question, as we want to try again, A) will this prevent further litters!???? And b) when will she next come into season??? She only comes in every year??
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No it won't affect her having pups but if you are sure you had a good mating and a reasonable length of tie, exactly on her most receptive date, then she may be barren. HAs she got milk? If so you may need to restrict her food and water a little till it's gone, or in an extreme case get galastop for her.
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If im honest i dont think the tie was long enough minute or two MAX. And the dog looked knackered at the end.
When will she come back into season because with pigs they come back in within 5 days of removing piglets???????
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If she only comes in once a year, it will probably be about 10 months before she comes in again. Bad luck this time. I like a bitch to be mated twice with a good tie each time. Though I have had a lovely litter with a slip-tie before now.
Good luck for next time.
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Thanks yes the farmers dog we used was a good working dog, but they hadnt tied long enough and i suggested going back again but the invitation wasnt there, if you get my drift.
We are looking for a Working Border Collie Stud dog in the North east preferable around Durham area but possibly willing to travel.
Dont want to pay the earth for the stud, maybe stud for a pup out of the litter???
Any one know of any dog/person PM me please
Many thanks
Aidan(collie26)
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Phew, shame but the dog thought she was having pups too ;)
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Thanks yes the farmers dog we used was a good working dog, but they hadnt tied long enough and i suggested going back again but the invitation wasnt there, if you get my drift.
We are looking for a Working Border Collie Stud dog in the North east preferable around Durham area but possibly willing to travel.
Dont want to pay the earth for the stud, maybe stud for a pup out of the litter???
Any one know of any dog/person PM me please
Many thanks
Aidan(collie26)
You'ev been unlucky I think. A good tie is always preferred but I also know of litters born from slip matings.
Stud arrangements are made prior to the mating and are entirely an agreement between the owners. It is best to have it in writing. Personally, I offer a free return stud at the next season, and a set fee, as I am unlikely to want a puppy from other folk's bitches. But if a puppy is wanted by the stud owner that's fine instead, or they can take a puppy to sell on.
Sorry you have been disappointed, Aidan - so have we! ;D
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What a shame for the bitch, you and us :( I was looking forward to seeing the puppies. Anyway, better luck next time - and don't forget to keep us updated ;D
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Well i was helping him out at lambing time aswell and worked 12 hours a day for 3 weeks so i think it was pretty fair to be honest. And yeah we are going to try again, just need to find a decent dog :D
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Well i was helping him out at lambing time aswell and worked 12 hours a day for 3 weeks so i think it was pretty fair to be honest. And yeah we are going to try again, just need to find a decent dog :D
Maybe you overpaid - just a tad? Stud fees in my breed are £500 to £700 depending on quality and where you live (up here in Scotland we are at the lower end, and my boys don't have much work :'( ) We have a working gundog website to advertise on, perhaps there is a working sheepdog one too. Remember to check the health tests for your breed on the KC website.
edited - found this - http://www.herding-dog-training-border-collie-sheepdog-dvd.com/border_collie_herding_sheepdog_at_stud.htm (http://www.herding-dog-training-border-collie-sheepdog-dvd.com/border_collie_herding_sheepdog_at_stud.htm)
and this - http://www.champdogs.co.uk/breeds/border-collie/stud-dogs (http://www.champdogs.co.uk/breeds/border-collie/stud-dogs)