Pregnant American Bully: Temp dropped, no puppies. Should I worry?

A pregnant dog's temperature will often dip down up to 48 hours before going into labor. It usually drops to 98-99, then will go back up to normal (100-102). I would watch Tobie for any other signs of labor. If she hasn't had any puppies in 48 hours, it may be best to have her examined by the vet.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Tara. I would recommend bringing her in to your vet for examination. If your vet has an ultrasound machine they can use it to check the puppies and ensure they are doing ok/ are not in distress. What concerns me is it sounded like she was going into labor a few days ago, and normally dogs labor will progress and not stop. I would be concerned she is not going through a normal labor, and if she seems lethargic today that is even more concerning. I would get her in to ensure her safety and that of her puppies. You can read more about birthing puppies at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951546

Not all dogs have the temperature drop as a signalment of impending labor, but without seeing Gizmo in person, I can't say if this is normal or not. I'd take her into the vet asap to get checked out.

Great question! Once her temperature drops below 100F, Bell should give birth to her puppies in 24 hours. If 24 hours pass after the initial temperature drop with no sign of puppies, she will need to see a vet immediately, as she will need help giving birth to them safely.

If she is still showing signs of distress or labor, I would take her in to your vet. Your vet will be able to determine if there are any additional puppies. Your vet will be able to give some meds to help with labor or do a C-section on her to get the rest of the puppies out. I hope this helps and the rest of the puppies and mama is okay!

You should be really careful pressing her abdomen as you could inadvertently damage a puppy/her uterus. If Kailyn seems well in herself and is eating and drinking I would not stress her out by taking her to the vets. If she seems to be in pain, showing signs of illness or has any smelly discharge then AI would take her in for a check up. I wouldn't worry overly about not feeling movement, it would not be that normal to feel the puppies moving, you would have to press quite hard. If you are concerned you could arrange to take her in for an ultrasound exam to check their health. However this could stress her a lot. If she is well in herself I would urge you not to worry too much. I know it is a really concerning time, but dogs are amazing, and they do really well naturally. It is best for her to have minimum stress.

If Bull is not acting right and pregnant, I would recommend bringing her to a veterinarian. I would have them evaluate her to make sure she is ok and also check on the puppies. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.