How soon before a dog has puppies do they pass the mucous plug? Hours or days?

Answer 1

When a dog is ready to whelp you will notice several things. Here is what to look for:
about 12 hours before whelping, her temp will drop to around 98 degrees (give or take)
She will begin trying to hide (in a dark place) or pace
You will notice her panting
About 1-5 hours before the puppies, you will notice her poop out a bright mustard yellow poop (this is her gut cleaning itself out to prepare)
If you lay out some newspapers where she tends to be going to (her bed, a corner of the room, etc) she will start shredding them about an hour or so before the birth (nesting)
When any of these things start (and she may do all, or some, or none - each dog is different but these are the usual signs), then go ahead and cancel your plans, get your whelping supplies together, and make a pot of coffee. It is going to be a busy night!!
Good luck and be sure to have your vet (or emergency vet if it is after hours) on speed dial, then sit back and keep her area as quiet as possible so she can get down to business.
Good luck

Answer 2

I would say hours - my last dog to have pups (June of this year) started about 45 minutes before the first pup got here. Her mother, however, was about 3 hours before the first pup.

Good luck, and enjoy. If you are keeping them in the house, it's just like having a newborn baby -- be prepared to lose sleep!

Answer 3

My dog started dripping mucus(actually it's more like amniotic fluid, equivalent to when a woman's water breaks, but whatever) the very night she had puppies...it was like 7 or 8 at night and they started plopping out at 1 in the morning...so, it'd be hours.

Answer 4

I think it's hours and the dog will start having her puppies , good luck and have so much fun with the new puppies:]

Answer 5

my aunt has a pregnant dog but wasnt there sorry