After the Pups are Here

Question
I have a shih tzu who is due any day now.  I have a question that might sound like a dumb one but here goes...

She is VERY attached to me.  She has always been.  She sleeps in her bed right next to mine.  I'm worried that she will leave the pups alone to follow me around after they are born.  Should I be worried about this or will she prefer her pups after they are born?  Her whelping box is in the laundry room and she does go in there once in a while and begins to dig around and then just lies down for a while.  Also, will I know when she looses her mucus plug?  She is 61 days and her temp has been going up and down slightly but last night it was higher than its been since I started taking it which was 101.4.  What does this mean?

Answer
Hi Angelica. I've seen it go both ways. I've seen dogs that were so close to their owners that they didn't want anything to do with their puppies unless the owner was around. I've also seen them take completely to motherhood, and just about forget about their owner. It's really hard to say for sure how your girl will do. I wish I could give you a definate answer here, but I really can't. Especially when dealing with a live, unpredictable animal. If she's spending time in her box, and seems comfortable in it, then she may do just fine.

As for her mucus plug, it will be this large, clearish, stringie glob. It won't be just a little. One guy that wrote to me described it as clear caulking gel. That's nails it right on the head. 101.4 is a normal temp. If it goes much over 102, I'd call the vet and see what he says. But, for now, it's normal. Did she get much exercise before you took her temp? Or maybe did she take her a good nap? These things can cause a slighty higher temp. Keep taking it twice a day, and report any temp over 102 to your vet, just to be on the safe side. if I can help with anything else, let me know!