My pregnant Chihuahua's temp is low, but no nesting. Is labor near?

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As labor is approaching, a pregnant dog's temperature generally drops by a degree or more. Once this happens, whelping should start within the next 24 hours. Sounds like it's time to get ready for Sage's puppies! Good luck! :-)

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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Shadow. She is likely displaying nesting behavior. This is an early sign of labor. Body temperature typically drops below 99 degrees approximately 24 hours prior to delivering the puppies. She appears close to this drop. I recommend monitoring her closely as I suspect she will have the puppies soon. However, if you are concerned, please contact her veterinarian. They will know her specific case details and can give you more accurate recommendations. I hope this information helps!

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.

It sounds like puppies should come soon - I'm guessing that the temperature of 98.4 is a drop from her baseline temperature which means that puppies should come in the next 24 hours. If she is having contractions you should see a puppy within four hours, and if she is actively pushing a puppy should come in 30 minutes. If not, you should contact a veterinarian right away. Good luck!

It is possible she is pregnant if she was bred or in contact with a male while in heat and is now showing symptoms of pregnancy. However, if would be best to confirm with your veterinarian to rule out any other health issues. Your vet can also take an X-ray to determine how many puppies to expect if she is pregnant. If she seems to be going into labor, having a box with lots of blankets and cloth handy can give her a place to safely have her puppies. You may notice her pacing, visible contractions down her side, and she may stop eating while in active labor. The nipples can swell and "wax" (produce a waxy milk-like substance) right before she is due/early labor as well. If she seems very in distress, has strange discharge without labor or puppies, is pushing and can't produce a puppy or is in active labor/becomes very weak, it is best to seek veterinary care immediately as these can be signs there is a problem that requires immediate treatment.

This temperature isn't enough of a drop for me to think labor is occurring. It would be down around 99-98F. At 56 days, yes it is still a little early, but because a due date isn't an exact science, more of a guesstimate, it could happen. A dog's normal gestation length is 58-68 days, and if 68 days pass without a sign of labor, I would take Sissy into the vet.