My pregnant dog has low temp and mucus. When will she go 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!

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.

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.

A dog's pregnancy lasts between 58-68 days, so it is possible she could go into labor anytime after that. I would start taking her temperature rectally twice a day. A dog's normal temperature is between 101-102.5F. Once it drops below 100F, she should give birth to her puppies within 24 hours. Should 24 hours pass after this temperature drop with no sign of puppies or she reaches 69 days of pregnancy without going into labor, she will need to see a vet immediately. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

In a [pregnant dog](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pregnancy/), milk can be produced a week or so before delivery. A dog’s gestational period is about 63 days. You can also [take her temperature](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-take-your-pet-s-temperature) twice daily at the same time each day to determine when she will go into labor A dog’s normal temperature is between 100 to 102.5F degrees. Her temperature may fluctuate during this time, but once her temperature falls below 99 degrees, she should go into labor in the next 24 hours.

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.

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.