How Do You Know When Your Dog Is In Labor

A dog that has finished whelping will be calm and attentive to her newborn pups.

How do you know when your dog is in labor. Placentas are passed between puppies throughout labor. After a pregnancy length of about 63 days your dog will begin to show signs of labor. The liquid will turn from clear to dark green. The placental water sac that surrounds each puppy breaks and a yellow green fluid is passed.

Roughly 24 hours before labor begins most dogs temperature drops to below 99. Another sign that your dog is near labor is that she will become more restless and agitated. You should not worry if she appears irritated as this is a normal symptom in a dog that is about to give birth. Vaginal discharge the final symptom to show you that your dog is about to give birth is vaginal discharge.

When her due date begins to approach take her temperature and record it twice a day. A very obvious sign that your dog is going into labor is that she lays down in the prepared bed but appears to be uncomfortable. The vulva may become swollen and a clear to slightly cloudy discharge may occur. Take your dog s temperature.

Once you see it drop to 98 you will see the first puppy within 24 hours. The onset of labor is often signaled by the dog becoming restless source. A dog in labor will experience contractions and restlessness. As labor time approaches your dog s mammary glands will begin to enlarge.

The second stage of labor is marked with uterine contractions in force and it is recognized active straining. Your mother dog may lose her appetite the day before labor begins. How do you know your dog is in labor. In this case carefully consider what the dog s expected litter size is and whether you are expecting more puppies.

Sometimes however dogs take breaks during whelping. One of the first signs of impending labour is a drop in mum s body temperature from 38 5 c to 37 c labour usually begins around 12 24 hours after that. Your dog will create a nesting area for the puppies where she will go when she s ready to give birth source. Other symptoms leading up to the birth your dog will display a range of symptoms to let you know that her puppies are on their way.

As we discussed in part one towards the end of your dog s pregnancy you should be taking her rectal temperature every day and waiting for the sudden drop below 99 100 degrees fahrenheit that signals that labor is close. A dog s normal temperature is between 100 5 and 102 5 degrees fahrenheit. To know when this happens take your dog s temperature twice a day with a rectal thermometer throughout her final week of pregnancy. She may also start pacing or digging.

Milk may be present two to nine days before she gives birth. Puppies should appear between 10 and 30 minutes after intervals of forceful straining. When the rectal temperature drops below 100 f this is a good sign that labor will begin within about 24 hours. Many dogs will pant or shake.

When labor begins most dogs start to become restless want to be alone and start nesting.