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My pregnant dog lost her mucus plug. How soon will she go into labor?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Bully | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 6 months old

Luna is 61 days pregnant today. She lost her mucus plug. How long until labor?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on April 12th, 2022

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian
Published on December 22nd, 2017
I would definitely contact your vet. She may need to be seen to ensure these puppies are still viable. He will be able to do this if he has an ultrasound in the office. Your vet will likely want to do an exam on her to ensure she looks okay as well. Depending on how everyone looks, your vet may give her something to help with the contractions or they may recommend a c-section. I hope this helps and that her and the puppies are all okay!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on January 6th, 2018
Labor can follow hours or days after the loss of a mucus plug. Continue to monitor Sissy, especially her body temperature. Labor typically begins within 24 hours of a drop below 100F. Use a rectal thermometer and sterile lube to check her once or twice daily. Normal temp is between 99F and 102.5F. Be sure she has a quiet, clean, warm whelping box in a low traffic area of the home. Most dogs will give birth uneventfully and without human intervention.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Training & Behavior

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

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....

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 52-day pregnant dog has mucus plug. Is she going into labor?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My pregnant dog has low temp and mucus. When will she go into labor?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 57-day pregnant dog has thick white discharge. Is she in labor?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Luna. You are correct that there are three stages of labor in a dog. There can be some overlap between them. Stage one is when the uterus begins to contract and cause the cervix to dilate. This can last 6 to 12 hours in the dog. At this point, you may notice Luna becoming restlessness, panting, pacing, or starting to next. Stage 2 refers to active delivery of the puppy. Stage three results in the delivery of the placenta. This means the dog will alternate between stage 2 and 3 as it delivers a pup and the placenta and then another pup. I hope this information helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My pregnant dog has white mucus after peeing. Is this normal? Is she in labor?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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