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

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!

Great question! A dog's normal gestation is 58-68 days in length. If you know when Samantha mated, this will tell you how far along she is in her pregnancy. If you aren't sure about a mating date, I would have her seen by a vet for x-rays and ultrasound. The vet can give you an idea of how far along she is in her pregnancy. When she gets into her last week of pregnancy, you can start taking her temperature rectally twice a day. A dog's normal temperature is 101-102.5F. Once it drops below 100F, she will give birth to the puppies in 24 hours. If she does not, she will need to see a vet immediately.

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.

A dog's pregnancy lasts between 58-68 days, so it is possible she could go into labor anytime after that. I would start taking her temperature rectally twice a day. A dog's normal temperature is between 101-102.5F. Once it drops below 100F, she should give birth to her puppies within 24 hours. Should 24 hours pass after this temperature drop with no sign of puppies or she reaches 69 days of pregnancy without going into labor, she will need to see a vet immediately. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

An average pregnancy lasts 63 to 65 days. Dogs can give birth any time from the 58th day to the 68th day. Any birth during that time frame is normal. Earlier than 58 days and your dog may be giving birth to premature puppies.

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! : )

Dogs will gestate anywhere between 58 and 68 days. Typically, the progesterone level will drop to around 2ng/ml about 48 hours prior to labor and then again to 1ng/ml about 24 hours before labor. You should also monitor her temperature. Labor typically follows within 24 hours of a drop below 100 F. If your vet is not concerned, be patient. Bella is almost there!