Tulip's x-ray - guess how many puppies!
The Countdown is On!
By Day 60 of pregnancy, Tulip's puppies are considered fully developed. Their skeletons and internal organs are complete, and they are spending these final days in the womb doing what they do best—gaining weight, building strength, and maturing their digestive systems in preparation for life outside the womb.
A normal canine gestation lasts approximately 63 days, although healthy puppies can safely arrive anywhere from 58 to 68 days. At this stage, the puppies are actively preparing for birth, and so is Tulip.
We've set up the whelping box in our bedroom so she'll have a quiet, comfortable place to deliver her puppies. She checks it out from time to time but doesn't seem overly interested just yet. Instead, she's convinced that the perfect spot is beneath one of our cedar trees in the backyard. Despite my best efforts to discourage the digging, she's determined to create her own little den for her puppies! It's completely normal nesting behaviour, although I keep reminding her that her spotless, cozy whelping box is a much better choice.
Physically, Tulip continues to amaze us. Despite carrying a full litter, she's still agile enough to jump onto the bed for her favourite belly rubs. Her appetite remains excellent, and she's currently enjoying three meals a day. Over the next day or two, we'll increase that to four smaller meals to help meet the growing nutritional demands of both mom and puppies.
With her due date expected this weekend, we're monitoring Tulip around the clock. One of the most valuable tools breeders use is temperature monitoring. We check her temperature every few hours and record it on a chart. Her normal temperature is approximately 101°F (38.3°C). As progesterone levels begin to fall prior to labour, her temperature is expected to drop to around 98°F (36.7°C). This drop is one of the earliest indicators that Stage One labour is approaching.
Interestingly, puppies are usually not born while the temperature is low. Labour often progresses once the temperature begins to rise back toward normal, which may occur anywhere from 12 to 48 hours after the initial drop. Every dog is different, which is why careful monitoring is so important.
Did you know that puppies are most often born during the night or in the early morning hours? This is thought to be the result of both evolutionary survival instincts and hormonal changes. As darkness increases, the body naturally produces more melatonin, which works together with oxytocin—the hormone responsible for stimulating uterine contractions.
Recently, I've been reading about the benefits of allowing dogs to whelp in a dark, quiet environment. Instead of bright room lighting, we'll be using red lighting, which helps preserve melatonin production while still allowing us to monitor Tulip. Recent studies believe this natural approach promotes stronger, more effective contractions. It's something we're looking forward to trying.
The excitement is building and now it's simply a waiting game.
Stay tuned…
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