My pregnant dog is breathing hard and sleeping a lot. Is labor near?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Snowy. She is likely getting close to delivering her pups. Most dogs will pant, pace and become restless in the hours leading up to labor. You can also monitor her body temperature. Usually the temperature will drop below 99 degrees Fahrenheit approximately 24 hours before labor. I hope this information helps!

Yes, this is normal and it sounds like Roxy could be heading into the first stages of labor if she is panting and pacing. Continue to monitor her closely, and if 24 hours pass after this temperature drop, have her seen by a vet right away. Best of luck.

It sounds like she might be showing signs of early labor, but it also could be normal behavior for the end of pregnancy. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam and an x-ray if you haven't already seen them recently - it is very helpful to take an x-ray to count puppies late in pregnancy. That way you know approximately how many puppies to expect. You should also start checking her rectal temperature with a well lubricated digital thermometer three times a day to establish a baseline (make sure it's at the same time every day) - usually a dog's baseline temperature will drop by one full degree prior to labor. If Luna's temperature drops but you don't see puppies within 24 hours you should see a veterinarian to make sure everything is okay.

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

Hello. This very well can be the first stages of labor, & this can last 24-36 hours. Once you start to see her having contractions ( can see her actually pushing ), she should start having puppies in the first 15-30 minutes after observing this. If she starts pushing & no puppies are delivered within an hour, you may need to have her evaluated by your veterinarian, but it sounds like she is progressing nicely for now. You may have puppies very soon! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

Her rectal temperature will be below 100.0 when she is within 24 hrs of her due date. So she has a ways to go still. Her digging seems like early preparation at this point. It is good that you have a whelping box already. : ) There is no way of knowing how long she has until her rectal temperature is below 100.0, so its best to check this daily. I hope that Coco has a smooth delivery for her pups. Here is more information on delivery of puppies and what to watch out for to indicate she may need a vet visit. --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951546 Best of luck moving forward with Coco. Take care! : )