My dog is going into labor! What if I'm not home to help her?

Start taking Sally's temperature twice daily rectally. A dog's normal temperature is between 101-102.5F. Once it drops below 100F, she will have her puppies within 24 hours. Check out this article on the stages of dog labor and when to seek help: https://www.2ndchance.info/caninelaborstages.htm

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!

A pregnant dog's temperature will often dip down up to 48 hours before going into labor. It usually drops to 98-99, then will go back up to normal (100-102). I would watch Tobie for any other signs of labor. If she hasn't had any puppies in 48 hours, it may be best to have her examined by the vet.

It's not difficult to take your dog's temperature rectally, but it is a task best performed by two people. Have someone hold the dog still, preferably someone the dog knows and likes. If no help is available, make your dog lie down on her side and hold her as best you can, while talking to her soothingly. After shaking down the thermometer (or use a digital thermometer) and lubricating it well with petroleum jelly or K-Y, lift his tail and gently push the thermometer in. Insert the thermometer from one to three inches, depending on the size of your dog and hold it in place for at least two minutes (or until it beeps, for a digital). After you remove the thermometer, wipe it clean and read the temperature by the height of the silver column of mercury on the thermometer scale. A temperature of 100.5° to 102°F degrees is normal.

Dogs reliably deliver their pups between 63-65 days, so that should be your marker. Dog temperature varies between about 100 and 102, so her temperature is very normal. What you describe does make me think she is uncomfortable. I would recommend watching her belly closely for signs of contractions. If she goes outdoors go with her. You don’t want her delivering a pup outdoors and leaving it. If 3-4 hours go by with no progression you may want to have her evaluated by your veterinarian. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

It's possible this is normal for lady. Watching her behavior will help to predict impending labor and due continue to monitor her temperature. I recommend to have radiographs taken so that you know how many puppies to expect. Small breed dogs can have problems with dystocia if the puppies are too big or if there are too many. Here is a link about normal whelping: https://www.petcoach.co/article/whelping-giving-birth-in-dogs/ I hope this helps and that Lady has a smooth delivery. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello there! Congratulations on your impending puppies! If Pebble is close to her due date, the drop is temperature is likely indicative of her starting the labor process. A dog's temperature can drop below 100 degrees starting at about 24 hours before they whelp (give birth). If she is not close to her due date and/or has any other symptoms (lethargy, vomiting, etc), please bring her to a vet as soon as possible. Additionally, I see that Pebble is a chihuahua - small dogs like chihuahuas are notorious for having difficult births, so keep your vet's number handy in case of any trouble. They usually have between 1 and 4 puppies, with 2 being average, and it is not uncommon for one or more of the puppies to be stillborn. Chihuahua mothers may also have trouble passing the head of the puppies as they are very large - if Pebble seems to struggle with passing a pup's head (or any other part of the body), please bring her to the vet ASAP as she may require an emergency cesarean surgery (C-section). Be sure that she has food available during the whelping process in case she wants to eat. During the stress of pregnancy and giving birth, tiny dogs like chihuahuas may have trouble maintaining their blood sugar (glucose). Puppy food is a great choice for birthing moms as it is higher in sugars and calories. Lastly, if she does give birth successfully, she will be at risk for eclampsia as she is feeding the pups. This is when the mom's calcium levels drop dangerously low. Symptoms of eclampsia are twitching or tremors, stiff legs, and weakness. If any of these symptoms develop once she is nursing, bring her to the vet immediately as it may be deadly. I hope that Pebble's whelping is successful, and that you end up with happy, healthy puppies! Good luck!