I was under the impression it did, to lubricate, so when my bitch popped out a puppy without a water bag appearing first I was shocked and a little worried. Puppy was fine and breathing and such, but a few minutes later the water bag came too. Is this common? I always thought it came before.

I was told the sacs without a pup in were there as buffers, the dam of one of my girls only had 2 pups on 3 occassions but had one or 2 sacs between each pup, her daughter just had the one before the first pup.

The sac can have a slow leak and the membrane will come away with first pup or its placenta.

Beth I wouldn't worry there can be variations which are still normal.

Just surprised me that's all, how strange that they can have them there as buffers, we did have one or two gushes between puppies in labour but I hadn't realised!