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My pregnant dog is breathing fast and digging. Is this early labor?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Husky | Female | unspayed | 30 lbs

My dog is 55 days pregnant there’s been a few times she starts breathing fast since 2 days ago. And she’s started to dig at her bed also. Should I be worried she’s not due till 8 days

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 12th, 2019

It sounds like she might be showing signs of early labor, but it also could be normal behavior for the end of pregnancy. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam and an x-ray if you haven't already seen them recently - it is very helpful to take an x-ray to count puppies late in pregnancy. That way you know approximately how many puppies to expect. You should also start checking her rectal temperature with a well lubricated digital thermometer three times a day to establish a baseline (make sure it's at the same time every day) - usually a dog's baseline temperature will drop by one full degree prior to labor. If Luna's temperature drops but you don't see puppies within 24 hours you should see a veterinarian to make sure everything is okay.

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