Signs that labor is close
Dogs give birth about 63 days (plus or minus a day) after ovulation, according to the Colorado State University veterinary hospital. Counted from the breeding date the range is much wider, about 58 to 72 days, because breeding and ovulation rarely fall on the same day. Use our dog pregnancy calculator for the due date window, then watch for these signs in the last week.
The temperature drop
As her progesterone level falls before labor, her body temperature drops briefly. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes a drop to an average of 98.8 °F (range 98.1–100 °F, or 36.7–37.8 °C) in most dogs 8 to 24 hours before whelping. Colorado State University reports a fall of 2 to 3 °F from her usual value, typically to 97–98 °F, in about 80% of dogs, 12 to 24 hours before labor.
- Start taking her rectal temperature twice a day, at the same times, about a week before the due date.
- Write the values down. Her own normal readings are the baseline; one reading alone predicts little.
- Not every dog shows a clear drop, especially with a litter of only one or two puppies. If the due date passes without a drop, call your vet.
Body and behavior
- Restlessness, pacing, seeking a quiet or hidden place
- Digging and nesting in her bedding, on and off
- Refusing food, sometimes vomiting
- Panting and trembling
- Swollen, firm mammary glands and a relaxed, softer area around the vulva
- A clear, watery discharge
The three stages of labor
| Stage | What happens | Normal duration |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | The cervix opens. Restlessness, nesting, panting, trembling, refusing food. No visible pushing yet. | 12–24 hours |
| Stage 2 | Visible contractions and pushing; the puppies are born. | About 7–9 hours in total, one puppy every 30–60 minutes |
| Stage 3 | The placenta (afterbirth) is passed. Dogs switch back and forth between stages 2 and 3 until all puppies are born. | After each puppy or every few puppies |
Durations from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Labor varies a lot between dogs: a large litter can take more than 24 hours from the first to the last puppy.
Stage 1: getting ready
Stage 1 is the longest and the least visible. The uterus starts to contract and the cervix opens, but you will not see her push. She may look uncomfortable, change position often, dig in her bedding and refuse food. If this phase goes on for more than 24 hours without any pushing, call your vet.
Stage 2: delivering the puppies
Stage 2 starts with visible, strong contractions and pushing. Puppies normally come every 30 to 60 minutes, and she may rest between them. Active straining for 20 to 30 minutes without a puppy, or more than 2 hours between puppies, is a reason to call your vet.
Stage 3: the afterbirth
A placenta normally follows each puppy, though not always right away: sometimes two puppies come before their placentas. Green to black discharge comes from the placentas; if it appears and no puppy follows within 15 minutes, call your vet.
After the birth
A heavy, dark red to black, odorless discharge in the first days after whelping is normal, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Call your vet if she has a fever, is lethargic, vomits or will not eat, has a foul-smelling or unusual discharge, or does not nurse or care for the puppies.
How to prepare
- Set up a quiet, warm whelping area a week or two before the due date so she can get used to it.
- Keep a thermometer, a notebook, clean towels and your vet's emergency number at hand.
- Ask your vet whether an x-ray about a week before the due date makes sense: it is the best way to count the puppies, so you know when she is done.
- Keep feeding her as your vet advises; the week-by-week pregnancy guide covers food in the final weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of labor in a dog?
A drop in rectal temperature to below about 99 °F (37.2 °C) usually comes 8 to 24 hours before labor. Then she becomes restless, seeks a quiet place, digs and nests, refuses food, pants or trembles, and may vomit. A clear, watery discharge is normal in this phase.
How long does a dog stay in labor?
The first stage, before any visible pushing, usually lasts 12 to 24 hours. Delivering the puppies then takes about 7 to 9 hours in a typical litter, with puppies arriving every 30 to 60 minutes, although a large litter can take longer than 24 hours.
How long between puppies is normal?
Usually 30 to 60 minutes. Call your vet if more than 2 hours pass between puppies while more are expected, or if she strains actively for 20 to 30 minutes without producing a puppy.
How much does a dog's temperature drop before labor?
Colorado State University's veterinary hospital reports a drop of 2 to 3 °F from her normal value, typically to 97 to 98 °F, in about 80% of dogs 12 to 24 hours before labor. Take her rectal temperature twice a day at the same times during the last week, because a single reading says little.
When should I call the vet during whelping?
Call if labor has not started by the due date and there was no temperature drop, if the first stage lasts more than 24 hours, if she strains for 2 hours without a first puppy, strains actively for 20 to 30 minutes without a puppy, goes more than 2 hours between puppies, has green-black discharge without a puppy within 15 minutes, or seems weak or unwell.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum Care in Bitches and Queens, and Whelping and Queening in Dogs and Cats, by Autumn P. Davidson, DVM, MS, DACVIM (reviewed June 2025): stages and durations, temperature drop, gestation length.
- Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital: Pregnancy and Whelping for Dogs (temperature monitoring, x-ray timing, when to call the vet).
This page is for general information only and does not replace a veterinarian. Every whelping is different; plan the birth with your vet and call them whenever you are unsure. Last updated: October 2026.