Is it common for a bitch to loose control of bowel when in labor? And thedis charge from bowel is blackish brown and smells to high hell! Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Chris

Are you sure this discharge isn't coming from her vagina? Get a tissue and gently blot her vulva to know for sure. It is normal for the bitch to lose a mucus plug some hours before whelping and this can be discoloured but shouldn't smell too bad.

If there is discharge coming from the vagina, is is really smelly? Is is black/green, or watery with mustardy brown bits or cloudy yellow? If it is any of these things then call your vet immediately as it is a sign of either infection, a dead puppy or puppies in distress.

A bitch will usually empty her bowels in a normal way just before labour begins or in very early stages. Sometimes they vomit a little too. Fecaes should look normal colour / smell at this stage although could be looser.

What has your bitch been eating recently? Fecaes can resemble what you described after the bitch has whelped and has eaten lots of placenta. Have you been constantly supervising her? What is her behaviour like at the moment?

Basically, at a time like this, if you are at all unsure then call the vet NOW!

Hope this helps

Sara, thanx for reply. It definatly came from her anus I was watching. It was a uncontroled spurt of a blackish brown liquid. She has been very nervy and she paces around looking for a comfortable place this is also day 64 of her preg. I had a dog about a year ago that had a discharge very similar from a bacterial infection of the stomach. But she has been totally fine until today. She is on an all natural diet from day one that i bought her.Should i treat her with antibiotic just in case. The vets out here are a joke can't trust them as far as my dog could chase them.Any advise is welcome thanx.

Hi Chris

How is she now? Sorry for late reply - I'm in the UK so we're on different time zones.

It could be something simple such as her relaxing her anal glands. In fact, if she has defecated normally since, then I would place my bets on that. It is probable that the pressure of the pups moving into the birth canal has caused the contents of her glands to squirt out. This liquid is usually black/brown and smells really foul!

If she does not have a normal (coloured) bowel movement and continues to produce what you describe then it is possible that the stool contains digested blood and that this is coming from the intestines where she may have eaten something to cause a rupture.

The behaviour you describe is normal for a bitch who is very near her time. Watch her constantly and accompany her outside to toilet. Make her lie down in her whelping place and stay with her to reassure her.

Good luck - I have my fingers and toes crossed for you. Let us know how it goes!

Sara, thank you for your kind words and nature. Zani has whelped seven very healthy pups.This was my first personal litter so I was a bit nervous.I'm very happy to announce that my line of G.S.Ds. are on their merry way.
I haven't slept now in 36 hours but I'm so wired. I've been hoping so much to start a Quality german line and now I've got one going.
Thank you so much again!

Sleep now while you can. In a few weeks you are going to be very busy... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Congrats!

Congratulations and Well Done!

Make sure she has plenty of liquid to drink - for first day even offer it to her in her nest. As her milk comes in and she starts to feed her pups she will be very thirsty. I usually whisk up some milk and eggs and my bitches are always very eager for it.

Oh yes, as Deanna says - get some sleep LOL !