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My dog is whelping. Only one puppy after 3 hours. Should I worry?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My dog is having puppies, but it has been more than 3 hours now and there is only one pup thus far. She is eating/drinking fine - should I be worried?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sabina Snyder, Specialty Surgery Technician

Veterinary Technician

Published on April 7th, 2015

It is normal for dogs to have puppies between 30 and 45 minutes apart. If your pet is not straining or does not seem to be in pain, then this is less of a worry, however, dogs tend to hide their pain much better than humans. If you know that your dog had more than one puppy, then I would take her to a vet and make sure that there aren't complications. A breached puppy can cause harm to the mother and be life threatening if not addressed.

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36Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 25th, 2020

    Some bitches will have 2-3 puppies in 20 minutes and then break for a couple of hours, while others take 2-3 hours per puppy. As long as she is comfortable and not contracting forcefully, monitor closely. If she is contracting forcefully and no puppy is born, call your veterinarian. If it seems too much time has passed or you are worried, call your veterinarian for advice.

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    Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 10th, 2017

    Hi and thanks for your post this morning! During labor, puppies are usually produced every 1/2 hour or so after 5-10 mins of straining. If Isabella has been straining for 1 hour or more and no puppies have been produced, this is a concerning sign which may indicate a stuck puppy and Isabella should be taken to her nearest veterinary hospital. If Isabella is just resting, this is okay. Dogs can sometimes take 1-3 hour rests between delivery puppies. If more than 3 hours pass, however, and no puppy is produced, you may want to take Isabella to her veterinarian to make sure there are no more puppies present to deliver. I hope this helps and best of luck!

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