My dog is pregnant. What are the signs of each stage of her labor?

Hello. It sounds like Kona is in stage one of labor. Besides the signs you are seeing, you may also see Kona vomit a time or two. This is all normal & all you can do is make sure she has fresh water always available. If she gulps down water & vomits, replace the water with a big bowl of ice cubes. This stage is the longest one, lasting 6-12 hours & will end when her cervix is fully dilated. At this point, she should start delivering puppies. If she is still showing signs of stage 1 labor past the 12 hour period, or she is having strong contractions with no delivery after 15-20 minutes of pushing, then you will need to call your vet for further help. But, it sounds like she is progressing normally. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there! Congratulations to Leila! You are correct as it is close to the end. The gestation period for a dog is about 63 days - give or take. It seems like you are watching out for the correct signs, like nesting behavior. I doubt the other dog is preventing her from giving birth, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to separate them during this time, so she can get comfortable and have access to her own private area. You can also start checking her rectal temperature routinely, a couple of times a day, so you will know for sure when it drops, indicating labor will start soon after. Another good idea (if you haven't already of course) is to take her to her veterinarian for an Xray. The veterinarian can estimate the number of puppies she will be having. This way, if you expect at least 10, and she only births 9, you know there is an issue. Her backbone, like you said, is most likely more visible because her body condition is changing. The puppies grow a lot from 40 days until the end, and they are using her energy to do so. She may be losing body condition (even if her weight is staying the same) because she isn't getting enough nutrition. I included a link below about how to feed a pregnant dog. I also will include one about birthing puppies that is great! It has a lot of good information so you know what else to expect aside from your current knowledge. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck! https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feeding-the-pregnant-dog https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951546

If she is in early labor (stage 1) she could take many hours (even 6-8) before starting the contraction. It is a quite rough estimation, depending if the cervical dilation has already started or not. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sasha. You should allow her to nest and birth the puppies wherever she will be safe and the most comfortable. Stage one labor (where the dog is restless and pants) can last for 12-24 hours. This phase ends when the first pup moves into the birth canal. At this point, she will begin actively delivering the puppies. I hope this information helps!

It can be anywhere from hours to days, but this is a sign that labor will be soon, so it's best to have everything ready that Luna needs, such as a whelping box, supplies to care for any rejected puppies, and your vet or an emergency clinic's number on-hand in case anything goes wrong. If you know how many puppies you'll be expecting, you can also use that to gauge how well labor is going for her (she should have a puppy within a few hours of each previous once labor starts). Other signs of labor include body temperature changes, changes in eating/drinking/bowel habits, and visible contractions along the abdomen.

Yes, she could be starting stage II of labor. Remember, not every dog reads "the book". She may not have all the listed symptoms. Here is an article about the stages of labor and what to expect. If you are worried about her at any time you should always take her to a vet for an exam. It is better to be safe than sorry if you think there is something wrong. Taking her rectal temperature is a good way to know if she is getting ready to whelp. ( https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-WhelpingThe-Stages-of-Dog-Labor ) Best wishes.

Stage one of labor can last up to 18 hours, and if Elly's temperature has dropped to 37.5C, she should have her puppies within 24 hours. Should 24 hours pass after this temperature drop with no sign of puppies, take her into the vet. Best of luck.