Whelping

Question
Hi patti
My dog as of today is 57 days pregnant she is lactating and has gotten big and you can see the puppies kick when do you think she will go into labor when do American bulldogs? She is eating a lot and is painting all the time she doesn't stop and she sleeps in her whelping box every night
      Thanks
         Ciera(:

Answer

Hi Ciera,

For dogs- no matter the breed, gestation normally lasts 63 days. However that's not cast in stone, puppies may be delivered between 58 and 68 days. Dogs can safely give birth 58 days after conception. After 58 days the pups lungs are fully developed and they can breath on their own.

To get a good idea of when delivery is near, check your dog's rectal temperature twice daily from the 58th day of pregnancy until labor begins (do this  when your dog is calm). Write down your findings. Normal rectal temperature varies between 100.5 and 102F. Within 24 hours before the onset of labor, the rectal temperature drops nearly 2 degrees.

Best of luck!

Patti

PS. Remember, if a problem arises when your dog is whelping, call your vet's office! Don't waste time waiting for a reply from an Internet helpline!