It’s common for dogs to exhibit behavioral changes and act peculiar in the days or weeks leading up to giving birth. As your furry friend’s due date approaches, you may notice differences in her demeanor, activity levels, appetite, and interactions with you. Being aware of the signs that labor is imminent can help you best support your pregnant dog.
Is nesting behavior a sign of impending labor?
One of the classic signals a dog is gearing up to deliver her litter is “nesting” behavior. In the final stretch of pregnancy, mother dogs often become restless and anxious. You may notice your pooch pacing around the house, constantly rearranging her bedding, or gathering items like toys, clothes, or papers and building a nest. She’s scoping out the perfect birthing spot and making herself comfortable in preparation for the big event.
This nesting instinct comes from her wild ancestry – wolf mothers would dig pits in the ground or foliage to create a safe space for whelping and raising young pups. Domestic dogs retain this intuitive nesting urge when getting ready to give birth. Creating an ideal whelping area helps them feel more secure and relaxed for labor.
Nesting behavior can begin in the few days leading up to birth or even weeks prior, though it often intensifies right before active labor starts. If your pregnant dog suddenly becomes obsessed with building the perfect nest or moving her bed around, she is likely due to deliver very soon.
Does a drop in appetite indicate puppies are coming?
As your dog’s belly expands in pregnancy, her appetite usually increases to meet the caloric demands of her growing litter. But in the 24-48 hours before labor begins, many dogs show a marked decrease in appetite or go off their food altogether. There are a few reasons for this common behavioral change:
- Physical discomfort – In late pregnancy, the uterus takes up a lot of abdominal space. This can cause nausea, bloating, gastric reflux, or simply make your dog feel too full to eat as labor nears.
- Metabolic changes – The dog’s body conserves energy for the upcoming delivery by shutting down non-essential functions like digestion. Her metabolism changes in preparation for labor and nursing.
- Stress or anxiety – The hormonal fluctuations and discomfort of impending labor can make some dogs feel unsettled. This stress and anxiety can suppress appetite.
If your previously ravenous pregnant pooch turns up her nose at food, starts vomiting, or eats less than normal in the day or two before delivery, this likely indicates puppies are imminent.
Do energy levels change prior to giving birth?
It’s common for a dog’s activity levels to fluctuate in the final stretch of pregnancy. While every dog is different, these behavioral shifts often signal that labor is approaching:
- Increased activity – Some dogs become increasingly restless, agitated, and anxious as their hormone levels change leading up to birth. You may notice your pet panting, pacing, seeking more affection or attention, or being more clingy in her final days of pregnancy. She may seem like she can’t get comfortable or settle down.
- Decreased activity – On the other hand, some dogs start tiring more easily and move less right before labor. The weight of their pregnant belly makes exercise difficult. They may sleep more or appear lethargic. Rather than her normal excited energy, your dog may seem more subdued and calm before giving birth.
- Bursts of energy – Your pooch may have random energy spikes and bursts of activity interspersed with normal lethargy. The nesting instinct may strike seemingly out of nowhere, sending your pregnant dog into a frenzy of frantic nest rearrangement.
These types of activity changes are all common pre-labor behavior. Stay attuned to patterns in your dog’s energy levels and restlessness that deviate from her normal routine.
Does your dog want more attention before labor?
Many dogs about to give birth start demanding more affection and attention from their owners. Signs your pooch wants extra TLC as her due date approaches may include:
- Following you around more closely or shadowing your every move
- Staying glued to your side instead of her normal independent activities
- Constantly placing her head in your lap or leaning her body against yours
- Pushing her belly up against you and gazing into your eyes (female dogs in wild packs would signal the alpha female this way before whelping as if to request protection and care)
- Being underfoot or acting clingy and needy for your attention
- Pacing or whining if you are not giving her attention
- Waking you up in the middle of the night to keep you close
Your pooch instinctually craves the support and comfort of her pack leader before her vulnerable whelping experience. Go with your gut – if your previously independent dog is suddenly stuck to you like velcro and soliciting constant pets, she is likely telling you her labor is approaching.
Do dogs ever hide or seek isolation before birth?
Some dogs will do the opposite of clinging to their owners, instead withdrawing to be alone or hiding away in nests or small spaces when labor is imminent. This isolating behavior before giving birth results from:
- Nesting instinct – She wants quiet privacy to ready her birthing area
- Stress – The anxiety of an impending delivery makes her want to retreat
- Lack of maternal instinct – A first-time mom may not know she needs care and support
- Discomfort – She is experiencing pre-labor aches and pains
- Caution – Wild female canines whelp away from the pack for protection
Let your laboring dog have her space if she seems to want it, but stay within earshot. Check on her frequently, speak soothingly, and gently persuade her to rejoin you if she seems distressed at all.
Are bathroom habits impacted before labor?
Changes in your pregnant dog’s bathroom schedule and habits in late pregnancy may signal labor is approaching, such as:
- Needing to urinate more frequently
- Having accidents in the house when previously house-trained
- Appearing to strain or take longer to pee or poop
- Blood-tinged vaginal discharge after going potty
- Lack of bowel movements due to digestive changes
The weight and position of the puppies presses on your dog’s bladder and bowels in the final days of pregnancy, giving her less control over elimination. Take her outside more often and be patient with accidents.
Is vomiting a sign of impending labor?
Some dogs experience nausea, gastrointestinal distress, and vomiting in the lead up to delivery as their bodies prepare for labor. Causes include:
- Hormone fluctuations
- Stomach compressed by her gravid uterus
- Metabolic changes
- High maternal calcium levels
- Low blood sugar
- Stress and anxiety
Vomiting along with other symptoms like nesting behavior, reduced appetite, diarrhea, decreased activity, or nipple enlargement is a red flag your dog’s labor is imminent. Isolated vomiting incidents are less concerning.
Do nipple changes signify labor is close?
Swollen, enlarged nipples are one of the more reliable physical indicators your pregnant dog is gearing up for labor. In the final week before birth you may notice:
- Nipples growing in size and protruding more
- Pink or red nipples instead of normally pigmented color
- Nipples leaking milk or colostrum when pressed gently
- Crusty discharge on nipples from secretions
- Nipples that are warm and swollen to the touch
These changes prepare the mammary glands for nursing and milk production. While every dog is different, if your pet’s nipples suddenly balloon in the last days of pregnancy, birth is likely right around the corner.
Can dogs detect labor is approaching?
Dogs have an amazing intuitive ability to sense shifts in their bodies and environment. In the final stretch of pregnancy, your dog picks up on physiological and hormonal changes signaling that birth is nearing. Nesting, appetite changes, lethargy, clinginess, and other behavioral shifts are your dog’s way of telling you her labor is imminent.
She may also start licking her vulva more frequently getting ready for the delivery. Some dogs reportedly hide or even steal objects like socks or shoes belonging to members of their human “pack” before whelping, which researchers theorize is to reassure themselves support will be present.
While every dog experiences pregnancy differently, trust her personality and patterns. If she seems to “know” that puppies are coming, take the hint and get ready!
Should you be concerned about diarrhea before labor?
Diarrhea is not uncommon in late pregnancy and may signal your dog is poised to deliver her pups. Reasons her stools may become loose, unformed, or liquidy include:
- Dietary changes trying to satisfy nutritional demands
- Eating non-food items like grass, dirt, or feces (pica behavior)
- Gastrointestinal irritation from fetus movement
- Bowel compression from the enlarged uterus
- Hormone fluctuations affecting digestion
- Greater water intake diluting colonic contents
- Nervous diarrhea from stress
Mild, sporadic diarrhea likely isn’t a concern. But if it persists along with vomiting, loss of appetite, dehydration, or other symptoms, call your vet. Diarrhea can lead to electrolyte imbalances and dehydration which can be dangerous during delivery.
How long before labor do dogs start nesting?
Every dog has her own schedule, but some general timelines for when the nesting urge strikes are:
- 1-2 weeks before – Dogs with strong maternal instincts may start nesting early. This is more common in experienced mothers who have whelped before.
- 3-5 days before – Most dogs begin noticeable nesting behavior several days leading up to delivery as hormones shift.
- 24-48 hours before – Intense, exaggerated nesting behavior immediately precedes labor in most pregnant dogs.
- 12-24 hours before – She becomes fixated on creating the perfect nest and may even have delivery-like contractions.
While early nesting is normal, a dog intensely focused on her nest who seems anxious, unsettled, and clingy is usually in the home stretch under 48 hours from birth.
What are some other physical signs of impending labor?
Along with observable behavioral changes, your dog’s body provides cues that whelping is just around the corner. Look for these physical signs:
- Body temperature drops below 100°F, as low as 98°F
- Enlarged, firm abdomen in late pregnancy
- Visible strong contractions rippling down her sides
- Restlessness – constantly shifting positions trying to get comfortable
- Panting, drooling, and shivering from hormone changes
- Congested or swollen vulva with discharged secretions
- Frequent attempts to urinate as puppies press on bladder
Contact your vet immediately if you observe abnormal discharge, signs of labor strain such as whining or crying, or suspect your dog is having contractions but not progressing to active labor within 24 hours.
What supplies do you need for an imminent dog birth?
Once clear signs of impending labor emerge, prepare these supplies and inform all family members your dog will be giving birth soon:
- Designated whelping area – kiddie pool, box with blankets
- Towels, sheets, and cleaning supplies
- Gloves, scissors, dental floss, bulb syringe
- Heating pad, hot water bottle
- Emergency vet’s phone number
- Pendulum or mobile to soothe anxious moms
- Thermometer to monitor puppy temperature
- Baby scale to weigh puppies
- Identification collars for puppies
- Whelping supplement or puppy formula
Having everything prepped in advance helps keep mom relaxed through a smooth delivery!
What is the earliest sign a dog is going into labor?
Nesting behavior, nipple enlargement, appetite changes, and restless anxiety are early tip-offs labor is brewing. But the absolute first clinical sign is a drop in your dog’s rectal temperature, as early as 24 hours before whelping starts.
Normal canine temperature is 100-102°F. In the last two weeks of pregnancy, take your dog’s temperature twice daily. When it drops to 98-99°F you can expect strong contractions and delivery within 24 hours.
A sudden temperature drop means whelping is imminent – notify your vet and clear your schedule to monitor your laboring dog.
Conclusion
Your dog’s instincts guide her as she prepares to give birth. Stay tuned in to behavioral changes like nesting, clinginess, isolation, or loss of appetite that deviate from her normal routine. These are your dog’s way of saying her time is near! With preparation and awareness of pre-labor signals, you can provide the best support for a smooth whelping.