Which sign likely indicates that parturition is imminent in animals?

A drop in body temperature is a significant indicator that parturition, or the process of giving birth, is imminent in animals. Prior to labor, many species experience a decrease in body temperature, often dropping by a few degrees. This physiological change can serve as a reliable signal for caregivers to prepare for the impending birth.

Monitoring the temperature is particularly useful because it can provide a time frame for when the animal is likely to deliver, allowing for appropriate preparations and interventions if needed. Other signs may accompany this temperature drop, such as behavioral changes, but the drop itself is a clear biological marker that parturition is close.

The other options, while they may indicate discomfort or health issues, do not have the same reliability as a drop in body temperature in predicting when parturition will occur. Vocalization may happen for various reasons, pruritus of the abdomen could indicate skin irritation or other issues rather than signaling imminent labor, and a poor appetite may reflect stress or other health problems but isn't a definitive sign of approaching parturition.