My pregnant dog temp was 98.4. Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | unspayed

The gestation period for a dog is closer to nine weeks, so the temperature drop in Liky could potentially be an unrelated finding, or a normal variance in temperature. While 98 is a little low, it is not low enough for me to be overly concerned or think that medical attention is required. I would continue to monitor Liky closely for any other changes, but most important, you should be monitoring for straining or contractions. Chihuahuas are prone to requiring C-section due to the large heads of their puppies and the small birth canals of the moms. If you are seeing any excessive contractions without the expulsion of puppies during the whelping process, this is something that requires immediate medical intervention. In the meantime, just continue to care for her as you normally would. Hope this helps!

My pregnant dog's temperature is 98.4. Is she about to give birth?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | unspayed

My pregnant dog temp was 98.4

2 Answers

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Answered By Rebeccah Wood 178

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

Published on July 27th, 2017

Hello there! Congratulations on your impending puppies! If Pebble is close to her due date, the drop is temperature is likely indicative of her starting the labor process. A dog's temperature can drop below 100 degrees starting at about 24 hours before they whelp (give birth). If she is not close to her due date and/or has any other symptoms (lethargy, vomiting, etc), please bring her to a vet as soon as possible. Additionally, I see that Pebble is a chihuahua - small dogs like chihuahuas are notorious for having difficult births, so keep your vet's number handy in case of any trouble. They usually have between 1 and 4 puppies, with 2 being average, and it is not uncommon for one or more of the puppies to be stillborn. Chihuahua mothers may also have trouble passing the head of the puppies as they are very large - if Pebble seems to struggle with passing a pup's head (or any other part of the body), please bring her to the vet ASAP as she may require an emergency cesarean surgery (C-section). Be sure that she has food available during the whelping process in case she wants to eat. During the stress of pregnancy and giving birth, tiny dogs like chihuahuas may have trouble maintaining their blood sugar (glucose). Puppy food is a great choice for birthing moms as it is higher in sugars and calories. Lastly, if she does give birth successfully, she will be at risk for eclampsia as she is feeding the pups. This is when the mom's calcium levels drop dangerously low. Symptoms of eclampsia are twitching or tremors, stiff legs, and weakness. If any of these symptoms develop once she is nursing, bring her to the vet immediately as it may be deadly. I hope that Pebble's whelping is successful, and that you end up with happy, healthy puppies! Good luck!

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My pregnant dog's temperature is 98.4. Is she about to give birth?

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