shih tzu close to whelping day! :)

Question
Hi I have a shih tzu that is due to deliver pups any day now. I've been monitoring her temp. for the last week. She has developed some little dark spots on her tummy and her sides that were not there just yesterday. Is that a hormone thing, a "soon to begin whelping sign". Her temp this morning was 97.6, it went back up to 98.8 this afternoon is that also normal? Thanks

Answer
A fluctuation in temp is common and no signs of worry.  

The dark spots could be just the markings on her skin that you normally wouldn't see because of her fur.

Everything sounds like it's going smoothly. A watched pot never boils and all that.  Just let nature take its course.

Good luck