My pregnant dog is losing mucus plug for days. Should I worry?

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!

She may be very near whelping. You should make sure she has a whelping box where she can nest. Here is a good Petcoach article on whelping: https://www.petcoach.co/article/whelping-giving-birth-in-dogs/ Observe her, but do not hover....

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.

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, 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.

It could be normal discharge. I would not be concerned about it if she is still acting normal and eating and drinking ok. We only get alarmed if we see green or black discharge (which could indicate placental rupture). Here is more information on other things to watch out for that could indicate she is having complications of her pregnancy. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=678&S=0&EVetID=0 Continue to monitor her and expect her to go into labor around day 65, but it can occur anywhere between 58-72 days gestation. Best wishes and take care.

Do you mean 53 days pregnant? Dogs are pregnant for 63 days /- a few. If you are seeing milk from mammary glands, then she is very close to labor. I would monitor her, give her a comfortable, warm, quiet place to be able to go to. Once she begins labor, they usually can do it all on their own. The problem to watch for is if she is actively pushing for 20-30 min without any progress. If that occurs, get her to the ER Right away. It is normal to have times of rest, and blocks in between puppies but in those natural times there is no active pushing. Good luck.