Whelping & Temperature Chart
A useful script to asssist breeders in calculating the expected whelping date.
This useful script will calculate a due date based on the date of your first breeding
and the standard of a 63 day gestation period.
Puppies are usually born 61 days after conception. It takes 48 hours for the egg to ripen before the egg will allow penetration of sperm. If your female ovulates on day 11 of her cycle, than conception began on day 13 of her cycle.
Not knowing exactly when ovulation occurs, this chart is as close as you can get to predicting her due date.
There are numerous elements which may determine the due date including the fact that mothers carrying large litters may whelp earlier as well as the fact that first time mothers may whelp later than expected.
Good luck with your litter.
Temperature Analysis to Predict Whelping Date
Taking your dogs temperature as well as documenting this may well tell you, within 24 hours, when labor will probably commence.
On numerous occasions, 12-24 hours prior to the decline it may rise higher then it has been in weeks.
The following chart can assist you with temperature recording.
| CYCLE DAY |
57 |
58 |
59 |
60 |
61 |
62 |
63 |
64 |
65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DAY 1 |
DAY 2 |
DAY 3 |
DAY 4 |
DAY 5 |
DAY 6 |
DAY 7 |
DAY 8 |
DAY 9 |
101.4 |
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101.2 |
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101.0 |
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100.8 |
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100.6 |
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100.4 |
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100.2 |
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100.0 |
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99.8 |
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99.6 |
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99.4 |
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99.2 |
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99.0 |
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98.8 |
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98.6 |
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98.4 |
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98.2 |
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98.0 |
1. Commence taking your dog's temperature at your estimated day 57 of her cycle.
2. Record your dog's temperature in the AM and PM ( ideal time is when the dog is relaxed or even has been alseep - NOT following a run in the yard).
You may possibly observe a large increase in temperature just prior to it dropping. Any temperature recorded lower than 99.2 indicates labor may commence within 24 hours.
A dog's regular temperature fluctuates between 101-102 degrees.
In the final trimester of pregnancy the pregnant bitch may have a temperature about 100. This is attributed to hormone levels.
Dogs can certainly safely whelp their litters 58 days following conception. After 58 days the pups' lungs are completely developed and the puppies can easily breath by themselves.