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My pregnant dog's temperature is 98.4. Is she about to give birth?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | unspayed

My pregnant dog temp was 98.4

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Rebeccah Wood

Answered By Rebeccah Wood

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

Published on July 27th, 2017

Hello there! Congratulations on your impending puppies! If Pebble is close to her due date, the drop is temperature is likely indicative of her starting the labor process. A dog's temperature can drop below 100 degrees starting at about 24 hours before they whelp (give birth). If she is not close to her due date and/or has any other symptoms (lethargy, vomiting, etc), please bring her to a vet as soon as possible.

Additionally, I see that Pebble is a chihuahua - small dogs like chihuahuas are notorious for having difficult births, so keep your vet's number handy in case of any trouble. They usually have between 1 and 4 puppies, with 2 being average, and it is not uncommon for one or more of the puppies to be stillborn. Chihuahua mothers may also have trouble passing the head of the puppies as they are very large - if Pebble seems to struggle with passing a pup's head (or any other part of the body), please bring her to the vet ASAP as she may require an emergency cesarean surgery (C-section).

Be sure that she has food available during the whelping process in case she wants to eat. During the stress of pregnancy and giving birth, tiny dogs like chihuahuas may have trouble maintaining their blood sugar (glucose). Puppy food is a great choice for birthing moms as it is higher in sugars and calories.

Lastly, if she does give birth successfully, she will be at risk for eclampsia as she is feeding the pups. This is when the mom's calcium levels drop dangerously low. Symptoms of eclampsia are twitching or tremors, stiff legs, and weakness. If any of these symptoms develop once she is nursing, bring her to the vet immediately as it may be deadly.

I hope that Pebble's whelping is successful, and that you end up with happy, healthy puppies! Good luck!
Vote Icon4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jeffrey Milner

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 13th, 2017

    The gestation period for a dog is closer to nine weeks, so the temperature drop in Liky could potentially be an unrelated finding, or a normal variance in temperature. While 98 is a little low, it is not low enough for me to be overly concerned or think that medical attention is required. I would continue to monitor Liky closely for any other changes, but most important, you should be monitoring for straining or contractions. Chihuahuas are prone to requiring C-section due to the large heads of their puppies and the small birth canals of the moms. If you are seeing any excessive contractions without the expulsion of puppies during the whelping process, this is something that requires immediate medical intervention. In the meantime, just continue to care for her as you normally would. Hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
My pregnant dog's temp is 98-99. Is this normal before giving birth?
It's possible this is normal for lady. Watching her behavior will help to predict impending labor and due continue to monitor her temperature. I recommend to have radiographs taken so that you know how many puppies to expect. Small breed dogs can have problems with dystocia if the puppies are too big or if there are too many. Here is a link about normal whelping: https://www.petcoach.co/article/whelping-giving-birth-in-dogs/ I hope this helps and that Lady has a smooth delivery. Please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
My pregnant dog's temperature is 100.7. Is she about to give birth?
Her rectal temperature will be below 100.0 when she is within 24 hrs of her due date. So she has a ways to go still. Her digging seems like early preparation at this point. It is good that you have a whelping box already. : ) There is no way of knowing how long she has until her rectal temperature is below 100.0, so its best to check this daily. I hope that Coco has a smooth delivery for her pups. Here is more information on delivery of puppies and what to watch out for to indicate she may need a vet visit. --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951546 Best of luck moving forward with Coco. Take care! : )
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
Is my pregnant Chihuahua's low temp a sign of labor starting soon?
Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As labor is approaching, a pregnant dog's temperature generally drops by a degree or more. Once this happens, whelping should start within the next 24 hours. Sounds like it's time to get ready for Sage's puppies! Good luck! :-)
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My pregnant dog's temperature is dropping. Is she about to give birth?
It sounds like Harley is preparing for birth. Average gestation is 63 to 65 days , but parturition (birth) can happen anytime from 58 to 68 days. When the temperature drops by about 1 degree Fahrenheit from her normal temperature you can expect her to give birth within 24 to 48 hours. This is not a 100% surefire determination, so do not panic if it takes a bit longer. Watch her for building a nest, dripping milk, and general nervousness. These will also be signs of an impending birth. Here is some useful information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/whelping-giving-birth-in-dogs/
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My pregnant dog's temperature dropped. When will she give birth?
Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When taking temperature to help predict when whelping will be, be sure to take the temperature at the same time every day to ensure consistency. If the temperature drops below 99F, Molly will likely give birth to her puppies within 24 hours. I hope this helps and thanks again for posting!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
My pregnant dog's temp dropped then rose. Is she in labor?
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.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
New Pet
My pregnant Chihuahua's temp is low, but no nesting. Is labor near?
Changes in appetite and temperature can indicate labor is close. If she's had a litter before, second and beyond litters will often be closer to 60 days than 63-65, so it is possible she is very close to her due date. I would continue to monitor her, and if she doesn't seem to be progressing to labor (contractions, nesting, waxing of nipples, etc) or seems to be in great distress, have her checked by your vet to make sure there isn't another cause, especially since she is having such a large litter for her size!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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