Veterinarian Dr. BJ Hughes claims that the color may range from clear to yellowish clear and that sometimes it can be slightly blood-tinged. The presence of blood-tinged mucus is sometimes referred to as "bloody show."
A green or dark discharge is seen coming from the bitch's vulva prior to whelping, or if a discharge is present 12 hours after giving birth.
Usually there will be a dark green discharge from the vagina. This means the placenta has detached and the mother is ready to give birth. If the discharge appears and your dog has still not had puppies after a few hours, contact your vet for help. A mother dog can usually handle a birth completely on her own.
There is a mucus plug that covers the cervix during pregnancy. It sometimes leaks a bit, causing the discharge. The clear fluid may be tinged white or yellow. Also, during the fourth week, you will notice your momma dog's appetite increase even more, as well as her need for naps!
NORMAL FINDINGS:
It is normal for the mother to have dark green discharge during labor. This is a pigment formed around each puppy while it in the uterus. When discharged during labor, usually a puppy soon follows.
It usually lasts 3 to 12 hours. In this stage abdominal contractions can be seen. Your dog's waters may break, which will be seen as clear fluid. In normal labour, your dog may show weak and infrequent straining for up to 2 hours (or at the most 4 hours) before giving birth to her first puppy.
Some breeders report their dogs' mucus plug being expelled up to a week before labor starts, with an average of about four to five days, but others report birth taking place within a few hours after they notice a mucus plug released all at once in a big clump, or the presence of a "blood show." The blood, in this case, ...
Discharge from the mucus plug is thicker, more jelly-like and there is more of it. It can also be tinged with red, brown or pink blood.
You may see some discharge from her vulva in the days leading up to whelping. There is a mucus plug that develops in the cervix during pregnancy, which must break down prior to whelping. Body temperature will often drop in the 24 hours leading up to whelping.
Weird but true: Dogs lower intestinal tract glands produce a clear, jelly-like slime to lubricate the colon and help stool pass more easily. And sometimes, that slime can coat your dog's poop or accumulate at the end. “An occasional coating is normal, or it can indicate a self-resolving issue,” Huggins says.
This phase lasts between 4-24 hours and is when the cervix relaxes and dilates. You may see: restlessness, shivering, not eating, fast breathing, and maybe vomiting or diarrhea. These signs are related to the uterine contractions and hormonal changes occurring, but you should not see the mother straining at all.
Contractions in female dogs usually start forty-eight to seventy-two hours before delivering her babies. Sometimes you may hear whining or yelping during contractions. If your dog's stomach should feel different or very firm, this means she is about to have her puppies.
While vaginal discharge often occurs during a dog's pregnancy, it typically doesn't show until about four weeks gestation or even later, so it's not regarded as an early sign that your dog is expecting a litter.
If labour lasts a long time, mum may need to go to the toilet in between deliveries. Keep a close eye on her in case she starts giving birth to the next pup at the same time. A greenish/brown discharge may suggest a placenta has separated. If you see this, a puppy should be born within the next 2-4 hours.
Clear white fluid leaking from pregnant dogs
After a dog becomes pregnant, antimicrobial mucus builds up in her cervix to stop bacteria from reaching the womb. A dog will lose this mucus plug shortly before they start going into labor, usually anything from hours to about a week before delivery.
All of a sudden you may notice a shiny, grayish sac drooping through the vulva; it looks like a gray water balloon.
The mucus plug is usually clear, slightly pink or blood-tinged in color. The mucus plug can be stringy mucous or sticky discharge. Some women might not notice the loss of their mucus plug since there is already an increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy. For some women, it comes out all at once.
The discharge you see when you lose your mucus plug is typically thick, stringy, sticky, and/or jelly-like. It may be clear, off-white, or a little bloody with a pink, red, or brown hue. When you notice passing your mucus plug, contact your healthcare provider, as labor may be just around the corner!
Vaginal discharge may last in small amounts for up to eight weeks after the puppies are born. The discharge will normally appear reddish-black because it consists mainly of old blood. If the discharge is overly bloody, has an odor, or looks like pus, your dog should be examined by her veterinarian as soon as possible.
Your contractions tend to become longer, stronger and more frequent as your labour progresses. During a contraction, the muscles tighten and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you'll feel it getting harder; when the muscles relax, the pain fades and you will feel the hardness ease.
First Stage of Labor
The whelping mother will then go through occasional minor contractions for several hours before active labor with intense contractions. You will notice your dog panting rapidly, moving restlessly, whining and sleeping deeply during the first stage of labor.
The cervix has to thin out or “efface.” I think of it like a mini-donut that starts out about two inches thick and slowly thins out. A cervix that is 50 percent effaced is about 1 inch thick, while 100 percent effaced means it is paper thin.
The first stage of labor is the longest stage. For first-time moms, it can last from 12 to 19 hours. It may be shorter (about 14 hours) for moms who've already had children. It's when contractions become strong and regular enough to cause your cervix to dilate (open) and thin out (efface).