gestation ???

TickedDog · Post by **TickedDog** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:03 pm

How many days should a beagle go over the average of 62 days before you start to worry? I appreciete any info

oakhill · Post by **oakhill** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:32 pm

My vet told me once that at 70 days you should bring the dog in.

TickedDog · Post by **TickedDog** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:00 pm

Thanks Sally. She is at day 65 so I guess I should't worry then.

oakhill · Post by **oakhill** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:12 pm

I have had a couple go to day 68 and one to 69. Man I was walking the floor. Take her temp. When it falls below 99 and can fall below 98 it will be within 24 hours.

Windkist · Post by **Windkist** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:10 pm

TickedDog wrote:Thanks Sally. She is at day 65 so I guess I should't worry then.

Most likely the day she really conceived isn't the day you think it was ;-) My vet called this morning to chat and he told me of a hunting dog (pointer) that came in who was PG and hadn't gone into labor. She was huge but, the owners must have not been paying attention as they let her go too long. Puppies were huge and dead and the uterus was ruptured and the bitch died so, don't let it go too long. It will depends on how many breedings you did is 65 from the first or the last and how many days in between? If she hasn't had them by friday I'd have her in for a visit to the vet.

leah

oakhill · Post by **oakhill** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:07 pm

The deal is ya never know exactly when the eggs were fertilized. Most hounds can breed on the 10th thru the 14th day. But not always. There have been reports of bitches being bred as early as the 4th day and as late as the 21st day. Also, the sperm are able to survive for up to 7 days in the females oviducts. An offsetting factor is that the eggs must mature in the oviducts for 3 days before they can be fertilized. This leaves a window of opportunity of several days before and after ovulation for successful breeding. So, that is why I always start taking their temp on about the 60th day. But, I have had pups delivered on day 56 and did fine. Also, I feel to make sure the pups are moving every day. If the pups are moving then I hang tight and let nature takes its course. But, by day 70 I am headed to the vet.

Windkist · Post by **Windkist** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:54 pm

Oakhill you basically have it right. Bitches will generally breed from the 10th through the 14th day of heat but, as you say.."not always" there is always the exception ;-) Ovulation occurs 2 days after the LH surge which is generally on or around day 12 This means that the bitch would conceive on day 14 as it takes 48 hours for the eggs to mature enough to be fertilized by the sperm. If you breed a bitch on day 10 and then not again its possible sperm can live long enough for her to become pregnant on day 14 and if a person was counting from day 10 they'd think she was way overdue when in fact she was not. I just wait for signs of whelping ie: drop in temp, not eating, nesting etc. I can't think of a time when a bitch did not show some signs of whelping. I have had bitches not progress or have contractions but, its not something that happens often. I am a firm believer of "let nature take its course" If we are patient then it will eventually happen.

I have a girl that has her beagle legs crossed. She is 61 days today from her last breeding date. I'm sure she is waiting for thanksgiving day to make my day even sweeter!! LOL not like I have nothing to do that day! I'm going to give the vet a heads up tomorrow.

Leah

gus · Post by **gus** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:04 pm

A couple years ago I bred a bitch to a popular stud and she had pups exactly one week early. She was not in a whelping box because I had never had one whelp at 56 days. I went out to put her in the whelping pen and noticed she was acting strange. I checked and she had one dead pup. Immediately I thought, brucellosis. I have read that bitches with Brucellosis will whelp early and the pups will be dead. I anxiously waited and she had two more pups that were alive and healthy. Talk about being relieved.

Blue Briar Kennel · Post by **Blue Briar Kennel** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:27 am

Well everyone right now she has 3 pups. I think she is done but who knows might have a few more by in the morning. Thanks for the replies.

Catfish · Post by **Catfish** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:55 am

Windkist wrote:
TickedDog wrote:Thanks Sally. She is at day 65 so I guess I should't worry then.
Most likely the day she really conceived isn't the day you think it was ;-) My vet called this morning to chat and he told me of a hunting dog (pointer) that came in who was PG and hadn't gone into labor. She was huge but, the owners must have not been paying attention as they let her go too long. Puppies were huge and dead and the uterus was ruptured and the bitch died so, don't let it go too long. It will depends on how many breedings you did is 65 from the first or the last and how many days in between? If she hasn't had them by friday I'd have her in for a visit to the vet.

leah

I just had a litter of pups that our line breed Blue Back. That went 66 days and they are ok. But just like leah said, I had the same dog's mother that had a litter of pups in her for 66 days, this past summer and I got her to the vet to late, and she passed away. I wished I would have taken her sooner, beacuase she was one of my favorites. I hope this helps.

Catfish:

Blue Briar Kennel · Post by **Blue Briar Kennel** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:41 pm

Thanks for all the help everyone. She had 3 healthy pups.

Windkist · Post by **Windkist** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:46 pm

Blue Briar Kennel wrote:Thanks for all the help everyone. She had 3 healthy pups.

congrats on the new litter!

Leah

Chuck Terry · Post by **Chuck Terry** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:41 pm

Congratulations on the new litter! For future reference - in my kennel the shortest has been 56 days and the longest 70 days. So for us, 63 days plus or minus 7 days. The MOST COMMON is 62 to 64 days (80% of the litters). We NORMALLY breed ONCE as soon as the female will stand.

Blue Briar Kennel · Post by **Blue Briar Kennel** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:00 am

My female went 65 days from the first breeding. She stood 3 times for the male. Thanks again for everyones replies.

Windkist · Post by **Windkist** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:03 pm

Blue Briar Kennel wrote:My female went 65 days from the first breeding. She stood 3 times for the male. Thanks again for everyones replies.

I believe that we need to stop counting days and watch for signs. We definately NEED to watch the days but, honestly none of us know exactly when these bitches conceive unless we do progesterone which is expensive and in my opinion not necessary unless the bitch is being inseminated with frozen semen or she has been difficult to get PG. I have a bitch that is 66 days today from her last breeding but, I do not believe that she conceived until at least 4 or 5 days later due to what her owners are telling me. I am whelping her for friends. She did not eat her breakfast today and she is a pig so, I guess one way or another we'll have puppies. The best thing to do is take temps a few days before you think your bitch is due.. morning and eve to get an idea of what her normal temp is. once its down below 99 you can count on her whelping within 12 hours. That way you know to watch closely for any signs there is trouble. If within 12 hours nothing has happened you need to have her checked by a vet.

Leah