My Bouvier 63rd day is Sunday I have been taking her temp for over a week now and it rides low.. 100.5 as the highest and the last 3 mornings the lowest being 98-98.8 the temp of 98 3 Mornings ago and the past 2 98.8... It fluctuates throughout the day but remains similar at each daily reading for that time of day a slight overall decrease the past 3 days. I am taking it 3 times a day.. She ate yesterday AM Beef Kidney, and refused to eat ground beef egg and yogurt later in the day... I have been in contact with her breeder and she was very concerned about the temp drop plus not eating and we did not have pups last night or the night before after the first AM temp of 98 she thinks I should have a U/S to see if the pups are distressed? My Bouv is acting normal as I type she is playing with a squeaky toy. She did eat this AM the same items she refused last night. I have spoke to 2 different Vets ( Both I use to work for )and they feel all is fine. My dog is acting normal for being pregnant doing some nesting but not going nuts seems comfortable for a pregnant dog ect...
I am going to call the vet clinic when they open and take her in for an exam if they feel its needed though neither have U/S and the other clinic that does will only take her as a drop off for a ultrasound WHICH I WILL NOT DO! I have another clinic about a hour away I can have ultrasound if Its needed...
Any ideas I feel she is fine and if she is not distressed the pups wouldn't be either? Please correct me if I am missing something I want to be certain I am not being to relaxed in this situation... Thanks We did a ultrasound to confirm pregnancy and a x-ray a week ago and sizes ect looked ok...
sorry its so long thanks for any input.. Jackie

Is it possible they're in distress? Yes. Is it likely? Probably not. Even if a couple are in distress will it change much involving whelping the rest? Not really. If she's acting alright. I wouldn't worry. Odds are she's not hungry because some puppy is putting pressure on some internal part which is making her uncomfortable. Sometimes a short slow walk will get puppies to align a little nicer so she can eat.

The temp does cycle throughout the day even in non pregnant dogs and people. So I wouldn't worry about fluctuations. I usually don't start watch until I see 98 degrees hold or drop over a 2 hr period.

BTW I was going to add during two weeks before the end of pregnancy and for 2 - 4 weeks after my dogs don't leave my property except in cases of emergency. I try to ask the vet to come to me. The reason for this is to prevent puppies from getting the canine herpes virus which is fatal in young puppies with immune systems too weak to muster a response.

I've known people who have lost entire litters to this virus because they just had to get to that one dog show a week before a litter was born.

an old vet saying, "When the fruit is ripe it falls from the tree".
If she is cheery, eating (mostly) and has no discharge you are probably just fine.
If she becomes secretive (hiding) panting, looks frightened, or acts depressed then it could be trouble.

 Quote: betty landercasp

an old vet saying, "When the fruit is ripe it falls from the tree".
If she is cheery, eating (mostly) and has no discharge you are probably just fine.
If she becomes secretive (hiding) panting, looks frightened, or acts depressed then it could be trouble.

Thanks basically my thoughts as well.. I would never not provide medical care if its needed but I don't feel anything is wrong right now...
Thank you both for your input.. She ate this AM and no real changes. She is still playing and has been messing with the cat a little. No weird discharge just the clear mucous.. All seems pretty normal to me.
One of the Vets came to the house for me and also feels all is well.. I will keep you posted.. thanks Jackie

how big is the litter?

a huge litter can be trouble (uterine wall gets so thin that it can't push) and a tiny litter can be trouble (one or two and they can get really huge)
that's why I asked. If its a 4-8 type litter in a big dog it should really all go fine unless you have the worlds most rotten luck.

We are expecting 4-6 the ultrasound was used to confirm the pregnancy and we were not counting but saw at least 4 and the xray we saw 5 or 6.
I am not sure how accurate any of this is though since the last litter a bouvier friend whelped she was told seven pups from ultrasound and x ray and ended up with 11. So I understand even this number maybe off though I am not expecting a huge litter.. My girl is in good weight though I have been surprised she has gained 23lbs so far and her starting weight was 70lbs. I do not feel she is to heavy and the Vet and breeder feel she is in good condition as well....

I would not be concerned. I would not take her to the vet.

In my own experiences, the temp drop went to 97ish range before the bitches went into labor.

She isn't even "due" yet.

If you want a bitch to go into labor, plan something that takes you away from the house for an hour or two... That always worked for me.

Our bitch acted totally normal right up until labor. The first litter, she went a day or two late. The last litter she had, she was HUGE and very uncomfortable. I gave her a nice warm relaxing bath and POOF- as soon as she settled back down to have a nap, she went into labor. I drove myself crazy taking her temp a billion times a day, charting the temp, and hovering over her. I think that did no good and stressed us both out. In the long run, our best indicator was that her milk let down about 24 hours before labor.