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My dog had only two puppies. Could more be inside her?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My 7 year old yellow lab gave birth to 2 pups within this past week we just discovered them in her dog house the pups and mom seem healthy and mom is eating and drinking just fine should i be concerned this is her first ever litter . thanks for the pervious answer but should i be worried that there are only two or could there be another still in her

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Menolly Cote, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on July 24th, 2017

If the mother is acting fine and you have not noticed a foul discharge from her vulva I would not be concerned that there are only two puppies. If she seems lethargic, has a foul vulvar discharge or seems to be straining, I would recommend that you have her seen by a veterinarian. They can perform an x-ray to determine if there are any puppies remaining. I would ensure that you are feeding the mother a high quality puppy food to ensure she has adequate nutrition for nursing the puppies. Please also consult with your veterinarian about a proper deworming protocol for the mother and puppies.

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    If she had a puppy stuck inside her after one week she would be deathly ill. So, I doubt that is the case. If you are that worried you could always take her to your vet for an x-ray of her abdomen - that would show if there was any fetuses still inside. Again, I doubt that is the case. Really, she would be very ill. It is not uncommon for dogs to have small litters when they are older, first time moms. I hope this answers your question!

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