My pregnant dog is due soon, no labor signs. When should I worry?

Hello. Dogs are pregnant an average of 63 days, so your girl is probably due any time now. If she is acting relatively normal, just give her a little more time. Keep a mental note on how much movement you are feeling in her abdomen & if it begins to diminish, or she acts lethargic, ill, vomits or develops a dark discharge from her vulva without going into labor, see your vet immediately. She may need a C-section. Otherwise, your dates may be off a bit & labor will proceed when her time is due. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Dogs will gestate anywhere between 58 and 68 days. Typically, the progesterone level will drop to around 2ng/ml about 48 hours prior to labor and then again to 1ng/ml about 24 hours before labor. You should also monitor her temperature. Labor typically follows within 24 hours of a drop below 100 F. If your vet is not concerned, be patient. Bella is almost there!

I wouldn't worry yet. A dog's pregnancy can last up to 68 days. If Jenny reaches 69 days of pregnancy with no signs of going into labor, then I would be concerned and you will need to have her see a vet immediately.

Hello. The average gestation for dogs is 58-68 days, so she should be getting very close. As long as she seems happy, I do not think you have anything to worry about just yet. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Your Vet is correct! The average length of a canine pregnancy is 60-63 days. We consider dogs overdue if 72 days. If she is acting fine and you are monitoring her temp just continue to watch her. Here are some tips: Stages of Labor: -Stage 1 tends to start 10-24 hours after temperature drop (usually below 99 F). -Stage 1: nesting. Can persist for 3-24 hours before abdominal contractions begin -Stage 2: Visible abdominal contractions. FIRST PUPPY SHOULD ARRIVE WITH IN 1-2 HOURS. -Stage 3: passage of placenta. Usually occurs within 15 mins of passing puppy. If it does not happen, don’t worry. When to worry/Call: -Strong contractions > 45-60 mins without birth of a puppy -Weak and infrequent contractions >4-6 hours without birth of puppy ->4-5 hours between puppies (after birth of first puppy without birth of the next puppy). On average a puppy is born every 45-60 mins. HOWEVER, the mother can often rest for several hours between puppies. This rest period is NOT associated with contractions and usually doesn’t exceed 4-6 hours. -If one puppy is born and she is having VISIBLE contractions for >2 hours without 2nd puppy. Recommend calling around 1 hour mark to talk to someone. -Failure to enter active labor (contractions) 24-36 hours after rectal temp falls below 99 F -Mother is in obvious pain: biting at vulva, crying) -No puppy within 2 hours of seeing green vaginal discharge -No puppy within 1 hour of seeing clear fluid from vulva (rupture of allantochorion) -No puppy within 1 hour of seeing a clear/water filled balloon at vulvar lips (puppy is in birth canal) Good luck!!

An average pregnancy lasts 63 to 65 days. Dogs can give birth any time from the 58th day to the 68th day. Any birth during that time frame is normal. Earlier than 58 days and your dog may be giving birth to premature puppies.

Continue to wait. There is a range for pets when it comes to when they will actually give birth, just like in people. The range is 58-72 days with an average of 65 days. So continue to monitor her for signs of impending labor. If she does start the labor process and is having complications then it's best to take her to your nearest vet for assistance. Here is a website link with things to watch out for. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=678 Best wishes with Tasha and her impending puppies. I hope everything goes well.