My pregnant dog won't eat and is clingy. Is she going into labor?

56 days is a bit early, but it is possible she could be in labor, or closer to her due date than thought. Signs of labor can include visible contractions, changes in body temperature, lack of appetite, and waxing of the nipples (producing a milk substance). I would keep an eye on her, and if she doesn't have any puppies within a few hours of signs of labor, or she seems in great distress/is extremely exhausted take her into your vet ASAP for care to make sure there isn't a stuck puppy or other illness or complication causing her early symptoms.

Hi there! Congratulations to Leila! You are correct as it is close to the end. The gestation period for a dog is about 63 days - give or take. It seems like you are watching out for the correct signs, like nesting behavior. I doubt the other dog is preventing her from giving birth, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to separate them during this time, so she can get comfortable and have access to her own private area. You can also start checking her rectal temperature routinely, a couple of times a day, so you will know for sure when it drops, indicating labor will start soon after. Another good idea (if you haven't already of course) is to take her to her veterinarian for an Xray. The veterinarian can estimate the number of puppies she will be having. This way, if you expect at least 10, and she only births 9, you know there is an issue. Her backbone, like you said, is most likely more visible because her body condition is changing. The puppies grow a lot from 40 days until the end, and they are using her energy to do so. She may be losing body condition (even if her weight is staying the same) because she isn't getting enough nutrition. I included a link below about how to feed a pregnant dog. I also will include one about birthing puppies that is great! It has a lot of good information so you know what else to expect aside from your current knowledge. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck! https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feeding-the-pregnant-dog https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951546

Yes, it’s likely she is pregnant. Dogs can show no symptoms or some can be uncomfortable. The gestation period is 63 days. She should gain weight and get some mammary development. You can have an ultrasound done to confirm the pregnancy, or about a week before the due date an X-ray can show the number of pups. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cocoa.

12days is very premature for puppies (remember each week is roughly quivalent to a month in human pregnancy) and survival would be doubtful. Bed rest with frequent, small meals would be recommended and monitor closely for any fluid loss or discharge. An ultrasound scan by your vet to identify any problems with the pups or pregnancy would be recommended if she becomes any more uncomfortable.

I'm sorry that Ginger is not feeling well. It is concerning that she is not eating well for the past two days. You could try to feed her a mixture of plain boiled chicken and plain white rice to see if this will stimulate her appetite. If she does start eating it and there are no other signs of illness, then I would start to transition her to a puppy food. She should eat puppy food throughout her pregnancy and while she's nursing the puppies. If she still refuses to eat, i do think you need to take her to the veterinarian. They will most likely recommend doing some blood testing and possibly x-rays of her abdomen as there are many things that can cause a decreased appetite. I hope this helps and that Ginger gets feeling better soon!

Unfortunately it is difficult to say when exactly her delivery date is. Even with an ultrasound or X-ray, you cannot say for sure. If her belly looks big and rounded then I would say she is closer - probably expecting around the 1-2 weeks. Again, I cannot guarantee that because it all depends on how big the dad was as well. Just continue to give her lots of love and if you are okay with having the pups inside your house or in a safe area of your garage I would put some soft blankets or even a large plastic bin or kiddy pool with a lot of bedding in it now so she can get use to it. It isn’t guaranteed that she will choose to use that area but hopefully she will! Also, I would start transitioning (mix old food with new food for 7-10 days) her to puppy food as she will need the extra calories and nitrition while nursing her pups. I hope this helps.

Your dog is at the end of her pregnancy, and that can cause her to be more tired than usual. It's good that she is eating, and I would be more concerned about her being tired if she wasn't eating. This is normal to be tired, but continue to watch her. If she reaches 69 days of pregnancy with no sign of puppies, take her into a vet immediately. Best of luck, I hope this helps!