Is it normal for a dog to have only one puppy?

Question

My dog is kind of small, but not chihuahua sized. She gave birth to a puppy sometime in the early morning. I've waited, but she's only had one puppy. It's been almost 24 hours. She's fine: eating, drinking, keeping good care of the puppy, and she's still her happy self. I've watched her closely--she's seems normal but this is her first time having a puppy. I'm sure she's fine, but I just want to know if having one puppy is normal.


Also, any tips to take care of the mother and her pup?

Answer 1

Yes that can happen. You should have mom checked over by a vet asap!!

Answer 2

Many first- time litters, especially to smaller dogs, only contain 1-2 pups. You SHOULD have had the mother x-rayed and examined by a vet prior to her delivery; did she receive any vet care at all during her pregnancy?? If not, I think a trip to the vet is definitely in order right away. It's your call, but a dead or retained pup could still be inside her, and will cause her to go septic and die. It sounds like you did not research this properly before you allowed your dog to get pregnant. You need to do some now, you can't just 'get tips' on how to raise a puppy. For now I would just leave them alone and let them do their thing, just make sure mom has plenty of food and water- they usually eat 2-3 times their normal ration while nursing.

Answer 3

First off, Congrats!
The number of puppies in a litter vary on the breed of dog. It's known that the smaller the breed of dog, the fewer puppies she is going to have. You say your dog is small but not chihuahua size. Well, Chihuahua's only have one puppy in a litter.
The best way to find out if you dog is done giving birth, is to bring her and her puppy in for an appointment with your vet and have X-rays done. While you are there your vet can check over the puppy to make sure he/she is healthy.

Answer 4

Having only one puppy is normal. You may want to go to the vet just to be sure there are no more on the way. Continue to watch her though. A TIP: Make sure the puppy and the mother both eat. The puppy needs to rest a lot also. Make sure they both eat and rest. They should be fine by tommorrow.

Answer 5

i is not unheard of for small breed dog to have one pup I've seen it many times as for taking care of mother and pup. Mom will do most for the care for the pup but you need to make sure that she is eating enough. i always gave my mothers a can of dog food mixed with dry dog food and a little canned milk and water (1/2 &1/2) mix it well just once a day and when the pup is old enough to eat feed him the same thing once a day.

Answer 6

you should take her t the emergency vet and have x-rays and if she hasn't finished tehy can do things for her but if you wait till monday it may be to late for her and pups
She should be having extra nourishment and often should be on puppy food.
Teh pups should start to be worme at 2 weeks and every 2 weeks along with mom and pups should have first shots at 6weeks and find a home at 8 weeks

Answer 7

its not normal but it isnt unheard of either..

my friends jack russell only had 1 pup in her litter, its fine.

make sure mum is gettin plenty of food and water (she will eat about 2 times as much as she usually does now) and she will be thirsty.

if your worried take her toa vet for a xray to see if there any more pups in there.

good luck

Answer 8

Have xrays done at the vets office to make sure there are no more puppies

Answer 9

Yes it can happen but you should have mom checked over tomorrow just to be very sure she is not retaining a pup.

Answer 10

As long as she is not straining or acting like she thinks she needs to get another one out then she is fine. One puppy is not uncommon at all.