My dog had puppies. How to tell if she's having more after delivery?

Contractions can continue for several hours after delivery, that is for the purpose of getting all the placenta out of the uterus. It's not possible for you to know if there are more puppies in her uterus just by feeling her belly, but if you are unsure and worried, the only thing that can give you a definitive answer would be an xray or an ultrasound.

The only way to know for sure is to have an x-ray taken by your vet. If she is still panting and having contractions, then this is a sign that she isn't finished delivering pups yet - so if she's doing this and hasn't had any pups in the past hour, I would recommend taking her to an emergency vet for x-rays. Normally, when labor is finished, the mother will settle down and lick her puppies (or puppy, in this case) and allow them to nurse. If she still seems distressed and panting, or is still having visible contractions, then I would be concerned that there may be one or more puppies still inside her.

It is very likely that she will if you feel like she has more. If nothing happens after 4 hours from the birth of the last one a check up at your local veterinarian is needed as there may be a case of dystocia and medical or surgical intervention may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

She may have only had 4 puppies overall. If there are no more puppies now and she looks happy, has no more contractions and does not get lethargic, stop eating or drinking, then there should be no more puppies. Only an x-ray or the palpation of a very experienced veterinarian will be able to tell for sure whether there is a puppy left behind or not, Should Po get lethargic, or appear sick or not eat, then she may have another one, possibly dead, left behind and definitely needs to be seen by a veterinarian.

Occasionally, there can be 2-4 hours between puppies. If she is actively straining for an hour or more without producing a pup then she should be examined by your veterinarian right away. An exam and abdominal x-rays would be recommended in this situation anyway to confirm the presence or absence of additional pups inside Dhorina.

Unfortunately I cannot tell you how many puppies Rosy has left. i would recommend taking her to a vet for a current x-ray to see if any puppies remain and if so how many. Dog can really range in how many puppies especially with there first litter. Typically if they stop pushing /having signs of contractions they could be done with delivery but an x-ray would be best. hope the helps

Hello. In general, if the mother dog is quiet, comfortable, taking care of her puppies, & you do not see any visible contractions, she is done. If she still looks somewhat full, sometimes you can feel them, but it is also very easy to mistake other abdominal structures for more puppies. It takes practice to distinguish this. The most important clue is always how the female is feeling & interacting with her new litter. Her contentment will tell you everything. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.