Montana's in labor!

[goofywife]

Any puppies yet?

[AngieDoogles]

I sure hope Tink has some puppies soon!

[Janet]

I know it's hard on you Tink to wait for Montana to give birth, but for crying out loud.....I'm waiting too!!!! ROFLBMO!!!! I'm so anxious I feel like I'm the one going through this instead of you. Let us know the minute (okay, maybe five minutes) after she delivers....LOL

[Tink]

LOL you're all too sweet.

I keep checking her and nothing's changing. I would have swore she'd have em on Friday. She's doing everything she should to be just prior to labor... only she's been doing it since last week.

She's not at all sick, she's happy, bouncy, obviously feeling good. so we can only wait.

[AngieDoogles]

If she doesn't have those puppies soon, we might all just explode from all the anticipation. lol. Hopefully it won't be long now...

[judy]

Awwww...the thought of her in her hole is so cute! Maybe you can bribe her with the promise of as many treats as she wants if she has them tonight.

Prayers for an easy birth and that the remainder of your hair doesn't go gray.

[Tink]

My vets office swears that Montana would have a big belly if this was a false pregnancy... I'm not convinced.

I will admit that Canadas belly was so tight that we never once felt a single head or saw movement. (I don't think they had room to move around!) But Montana isn't any bigger than normal (other than she's bagged up and leaking) and I can't feel a single pup in her either!

They're saying since she's not sick or in any distress, it's safe to just wait but if I can't stand the suspense, I can call to bring her in tomorrow.
They said the only way to really know is to bring her in for an ultra sound which of course is gonna cost me dearly. She's obviously feeling fine. Plenty of energy, still eating and drinking normally, but she displays every sign I know of for going into labor since Friday but hasn't followed through.

I can't really afford it right now with dh having missed a week of work with his eye injury... and all the recent dog related expenses. And I can just imagine about the time I push to have it done, she'll deliver on the ride home. LOL


So what would you do?

[Tink]

I've been researching online... how sad... the more I read the more I think this might be Montanas problem and I dare BET it's not her first time...

"FALSE PREGNANCY IN THE DOG occurs when the bitch produces both physical and psychological changes that are a nuisance to the bitch and the owner. The psychological changes in the owner arise most often when informed that their prize bitch is NOT pregnant after all! The bitch will often produce milk, engage in nesting activity and look like she's pregnant. It's amusingly sad to see the affected dog try to persuade a tennis shoe to nurse! These visible changes take place beginning about 4 weeks after the heat cycle begins (estrus) and can continue for a number of weeks. False pregnancies are always unpredictable and can show up whether or not a mating has occurred. Often so much milk is produced the bitch becomes uncomfortable. Once a dog has had a false pregnancy she's likely to be afflicted again.
APPEARANCE
Most dogs experiencing a false pregnancy will begin to show some swelling in the mammary glands about five weeks after their heat cycle has ended. If you have bred your bitch, you will be elated that she "is getting ready to have pups". You might also be surprised that she "isn't filling out much". You will wonder why she isn't starting to show a big belly. Many dogs whether they are bred or not, will develop a false pregnancy, and look, act, and even think as if they are pregnant. Some will carry small toys or pillows around and even start digging a nesting site wherever they please. When the time draws near to when they would be delivering the pups, usually 63 days after a mating, milk will drain on its own from the mammary glands. Some dogs are really troubled that they cannot find the pups they psychologically feel they should be nursing.
Fortunately 90% of false pregnancies resolve over a period of three weeks with no treatment. Since no real harm is done there's no reason to speed up what nature will take care of in time. For about 10% of bitches, though, the psychological effects directing mothering behavior are so intense that the bitch is miserable. She's continually searching for pups that aren't there and seeking relief from the mammary gland engorgement that's making her uncomfortable. Mastitis, an infection of the mammary glands, if it were to occur at this time could be particularly dangerous.
On occasion, in about 10% of false pregnancy cases, treatment is warranted. Various hormonal substances have been used to hasten the reabsorption of milk and to halt the milk production. None of these medications is entirely safe so close veterinary supervision is necessary. Most often the veterinarian will administer a hormone to interrupt the dog's secretions of internal hormones that may be promoting the production of more milk."

If this is her problem, Canada having gone through the real thing likely just made Montana worse. I could just cry for her... I've got a call in to the woman I bought them from and if she admits this has happened before I think I will reach through the phone and strangle her! Can you imagine the emotional torment it would cause her?

IF this is the case I will be getting her spayed and probably rehome her where there are no other female dogs breeding. I wouldn't want to put a dog through this twice!