My pregnant dog's temperature dropped. When will she give birth?

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.

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/

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!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Based off of this information, it is possible that Willow is close to whelping. Some bitches stop eating during the last twenty-four hours before labor, and may act differently. The rectal temperature will drop below 100F (37.8C), usually an hour or two before whelping. I would keep a close eye on her tonight to see if she progresses to the second stage of labor. Second stage labor is the stage of delivery. She will start to strain. If straining continues for two hours without any signs of a watery discharge ("water breaking") or puppies, you should contact your veterinarian. Most dogs experience no complications with delivery. First time mothers should be attended by their owners until at least one or two puppies have been born. I hope this is helpful!

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.

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! : )

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! :-)