My pregnant dog is sleeping a lot. Is she in labor or should I worry?

Hello. This very well can be the first stages of labor, & this can last 24-36 hours. Once you start to see her having contractions ( can see her actually pushing ), she should start having puppies in the first 15-30 minutes after observing this. If she starts pushing & no puppies are delivered within an hour, you may need to have her evaluated by your veterinarian, but it sounds like she is progressing nicely for now. You may have puppies very soon! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Quinn. It sounds like she could be in the first stage of labor. That can last up to 18 hours, so keep monitoring her. If 18 hours pass and she has not progressed to the second stage of labor (contractions and giving birth), get her into a vet immediately. If you feel she is in a lot of pain, you can take her into a vet now to get checked out to be safe. I hope this helps!

You should always be worried when you have a pregnant dog and they are not acting normal. I am glad she seems like she has calmed down now but my recommendation would be to get her checked out by your vet just to be on the safe side is she . Chances are she is fine but I cannot make that call for you over the internet. Best wishes.

It sounds like she might be showing signs of early labor, but it also could be normal behavior for the end of pregnancy. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam and an x-ray if you haven't already seen them recently - it is very helpful to take an x-ray to count puppies late in pregnancy. That way you know approximately how many puppies to expect. You should also start checking her rectal temperature with a well lubricated digital thermometer three times a day to establish a baseline (make sure it's at the same time every day) - usually a dog's baseline temperature will drop by one full degree prior to labor. If Luna's temperature drops but you don't see puppies within 24 hours you should see a veterinarian to make sure everything is okay.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Snowy. She is likely getting close to delivering her pups. Most dogs will pant, pace and become restless in the hours leading up to labor. You can also monitor her body temperature. Usually the temperature will drop below 99 degrees Fahrenheit approximately 24 hours before labor. I hope this information helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sounds like Mea is pretty close to whelping. Go ahead and offer her food. She should be eating puppy food since her nutritional requirements are very high right now. Watch her closely. If she starts having active abdominal contractions and no puppy is delivered for 20-30 minutes, then you need to call a veterinarian immediately. She may rest in between puppies for minutes to hours. Just make sure to stay tuned to her contractions and the clock. Good luck

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, Malana's breathing can appear different with a belly full of puppies. The breathing shouldn't be labored. And as long as she is eating, drinking and other wise normal it is likely due to her puppies. I hope this helps and have a great day!