My pregnant dog lost her mucus plug and has a puddle. Is she in labor?

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like in humans the loss of the mucous plug is not a reliable way to predict the onset of labor. The rectal temperature usually needs to drop below 99 F. Stage 1 labor should start 10-24 hours after the rectal temperature drops below 99F. That sometimes isn't reliable either. 52 days is soon. Average gestation length is 60-63 days. I think you still have about a week left, give or take a day or 2. Good luck!

This can be a normal discharge. She will start to nest, not eat as much and have some milk from her nipples when she is about to give birth. Most dogs don't have trouble having puppies but it's best to keep a close eye on her with allowing her privacy in a quiet area. Good luck with the puppies. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

If your [pregnant dog](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pregnancy/) is having some fluid discharge and she is at or near her due date, expect her to have her pups soon. Confine her to an area that is quiet (if she isn't already in a whelping box) since noise or stress can cause her to delay the delivery. If you've been [monitoring her temperature](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-take-your-pet-s-temperature-in-7-easy-steps/) and it has fallen below 100 degrees, the pups should come in the next 24 hours. [As labor nears](https://www.petcoach.co/article/whelping-giving-birth-in-dogs), she may become agitated, getting up and down or licking herself. Once you see firm signs of labor, simply monitor her. Most dogs will deliver a litter without human intervention. If she does not begin pushing within 2-4 hours of the start of labor, a call or visit to your local emergency vet to ensure everything is still going fine is strongly recommended.

Dogs are pregnant for approximately 63 days, so she is fairly on. It is not uncommon for them to pass some discharge in pregnancy so unless it is very profuse or smelly i wouldnt worry too much. If you are really worried you can have her scanned at the vets to check the pups are ok. The other possibility is that she is further on and gettibg ready to give birth.

This is likely the dissolution of the mucus plug. She will give birth within the next week and should start lactating soon. If the discharge looks like pus or has a bad smell. you need to take her to your veterinarian right away for an exam. Your vet can also take an x-ray and tell you how many puppies to expect so you know when she is done giving birth.

Yes, you can certainly expect her to go into labor here real soon. Mucous discharge is normal for pregnant dogs, and the typical gestation period is 58-72 days, so she is definitely within those parameters. Here is a website link that talks about the stages of labor and what things to watch out for --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951546 I hope that Amara has an uneventful labor and healthy puppies soon! Best of luck and take care.