Can my dog have her puppies at 56 days? What to Know

What is Early Contractions and Labor?

The normal gestation period for female dogs is approximately 63 days. Depending on the breed, pregnancy can range from 56 to 69 days, with smaller dogs generally giving birth slightly earlier. The beginning of labor is usually marked by a drop in body temperature and sometimes lack of appetite in the pregnant bitch, or dam. This is followed by the first stage of labor, when the dam starts experiencing mild to moderate uterine contractions and the cervix starts to dilate. The contractions last up to 16 hours, and are marked by behavior changes, as well as sometimes vomiting, panting or vocal noises. Stage two labor starts when the contractions become more extreme, the placental sac breaks and the puppies begin to be pushed out. Stage three labor occurs after all the puppies have appeared and the uterus is emptied of any remaining placental matter. Most female dogs have straight forward pregnancies and give birth without incident, but a number of conditions including infectious diseases, hormone imbalances, genetic abnormalities and stress can cause a dam to go into labor early and either have a spontaneous abortion (a miscarriage) or give birth to premature puppies. In most cases the bitch will survive, although she may have trouble getting pregnant and/or whelping going forward. Puppies born more than a few days early have little chance of survival and may even be stillborn.

Almost 98% of dogs give birth without incident, but in a few cases, an infection or another abnormality may cause a dog to go into labor before the right time. This is defined as early contractions and labor (or premature labor) by veterinarians. It can lead to miscarriage as well as stillborn or premature puppies, depending on what stage of gestation the bitch is in. Certain conditions may affect the females fertility and ability to reproduce going forward.Youtube Play

Early Contractions and Labor Average Cost

From 367 quotes ranging from $300 – $5,000

Symptoms of Early Contractions and Labor in Dogs

If you think your dog is going into labor, you should contact your veterinarian, especially if it is more than a day or two before the expected time. Some common signs include:

  • Drop in body temperature
  • Restlessness
  • Lying on side
  • Anxious and clingy
  • Whining or other signs of pain
  • Lack of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Dilated pupils or staring
  • Vaginal discharge
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Types

    We classify pregnancy loss according to the stage of gestation:

  • Early Embryonic Death – occurs before the embryos have implanted into the wall of the uterus. The dead tissue is usually reabsorbed and the pregnancy may go undetected. We wont know a pregnancy has occurred and there will not be any contractions or labor.
  • Spontaneous abortion – may occur at any time throughout a pregnancy. The fetal tissues are expelled from the uterus.
  • Premature birth – puppies are born before they are fully developed. If they are alive upon birth, they often need intensive care if they are to survive.
  • What time of day do dogs usually go into labor?

    One of the first signs of impending labour is a drop in mum’s body temperature from 38.5°C to 37°C – labour usually begins around 12-24 hours after that. To know when this happens, take your dog’s temperature twice a day with a rectal thermometer throughout the final week of pregnancy.

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