My pregnant dog is clingy. How often should I check her during labor?

A dog in active labour should be monitored very closely, a minimum of every 30-60mins to check for any signs of distress in mother or puppies and to ensure she is feeding and cleaning them. An ultrasound exam after delivery is recommended to confirm all puppies have been born

Hello, congratulations on your new coming puppies. Its possible that she is beginning to have signs of initiating the first part of labor. During this time, their temperature may decrease and they may shiver. Keep an eye for any evidence of active contractions. If you are seeing contractions without production of a puppy that lasts longer then 2 hours, then she should be evaluated by her veterinarian immediately. If she seems lethargy, weak, and is not interested in food or water then she should be evaluated sooner. If she does deliver her puppies on her own, you may assist in cleanig the puppies and drying them so that they may begin to nurse shortly after birth. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Contractions look like they would in a person, tensing and hardening of the abdomen at regular intervals. It may look like she is trying to defecate (poop). This video may help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApxFE3ACD-g

Hello, Bixie will likely deliver within the next week if she truly is pregnant. Signs may include a decrease in body temperature, nesting habits, and anxiety. You may then see contraction and her water break. As long as you're not seeing these signs last longer than a couple of days, you do not need to have her evaluated. If you see her go into labor and see her water break with active contractions you should expect to see a puppy within 30-60 minutes. If she is in labor without producing a puppy for more than 2 hours, then you should have her evaluated. Hope this helps and best of luck.

It can be up to 4 hours in between puppies. They need the break so they do not get exhausted. If she is heavily contacting and trying hard to push a pup out with no luck after 39 minutes then she needs medical attention. If there is a black or brown discharge then she needs medical help. The best thing to do is put her in a quiet dim place to let her rest and have the puppies. Check on her about every 30 minutes. She is unlikely to eat or drink during this hit offer her some just in case.

A dog's pregnancy lasts between 58-68 days, so it is possible she could go into labor anytime after that. I would start taking her temperature rectally twice a day. A dog's normal temperature is between 101-102.5F. Once it drops below 100F, she should give birth to her puppies within 24 hours. Should 24 hours pass after this temperature drop with no sign of puppies or she reaches 69 days of pregnancy without going into labor, she will need to see a vet immediately. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

You should look for signs compatible with more contractions and up to 4 hours in between puppies could be still fine. If more than that, you should ideally seek veterinary attention as soon as possible as c-section might be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.