Rosie today

In just a couple days we can see that the movement of Rosie's pups (below) in her uterus has become stronger as the pups grow and get ready for being born. Her first due date is Friday. She could go any time now and we are taking her temperature every few hours trying to catch that temperature drop. A bitch close to whelping (giving birth) undergoes considerable hormonal changes that are essential for triggering contractions and the onset of labour. Oestrogen levels increase slightly but, it is progesterone levels in the blood, that have remained high until now maintaining the pregnancy, that will drop sharply. It is this information that a vet would determine whether a bitch is full term or not, if dates are not known of mating by checking her progesterone levels. This sharp drop in progesterone around 12 to 48 hours before the onset of labour, disrupts the bitch's body temperature, causing a transient drop in her temperature. Generally the temperature drop is 1°C compared to previous days. Catch that drop and you know that things are on the move and the bitch should not be left unwatched.