I recently took my bitch for an scan at my local vets, he couldnt determine wether she was pregnant and I was told to bring her back in 7 days to which I did, the same happened again except there was to round shapes which he thought might be puppies or an infection and told me to bring her back in 7 days.

She was mated 30 days ago but might not have fertilised straight away and could be as little as 23 days pregnant.

My vets has asked that she go on a course of antibiotics, and that I take her back for a fourth time to have her scanned, he think it could pymetra or she could prove him wrong and actually be in whelp.

The cost for each scan is nearly £50 which I dont mind paying if they could tell me whats wrong with her.

The not knowing is driving me mad, to wait another 8 days and go back again for another scan when she could have pymetra.

My bitch is fit and well eating and acting normal, she has been sick over the last couple of weeks.

She has had 1 litter and everything was fine, I have to admit they found it hard to tell if she was pregnant, but she was, again she had an easy pregnancy and sailed through it the only thing she couldnt do was travel by car as she would be sick this again has started to happen

I am at my wits end with this and would like to know what others think,

I have booked her in to see a different vet tomorrow as if this is enclosed pyemetra then I would rather know and have her spayed than risk anything happening to her.

Am I right in thinking the first Scan was only two or three weeks after mating?

Most scans are done at about 30 days, and only if inconclusive then is another offered about a week later.  Usually by then it is quite plain if a bitch is in whelp as with an average litter she will start to show by 6 weeks.

Unless there is some real evidence of infection I would not want a pregnant bitch medicated.

Normally if my vet couldn't pick pups up on a scan, and ask for me to go back a week later, they haven't charged me again for another scan, it's been done free of charge.

I had one bitch, a few years ago, stay on Synulox for the whole of pregnancy as she was bleeding all the way through, she still had a lovely healthy litter of 7, although I would have preferred her not to be on any medication during pregnancy it certainly didn't do her any harm.

i also had a bitch on synulox for 3weeks of her pregnancy and went on to have a large litter of very healthy pups she had 11, so dont worry to much if she needs them she should have them.

I would object to paying for repeat scans.... is there not a local sheep farmer that would scan for you? I find these are better and often a lot cheaper! The lady who did my bitch said I could go back as many times as I liked and not pay any more

I find it amazing how the cost of scans varies in different places. My vet charges £70! I've found a Vetinary Clinic near me, & they only charge £29.

i only pay £20 its just gone up to that too....was only £15 for for many years....£70 do people really pay this ? WOW.

I don't think its pymetra as one of our bitches had it and she got very sick very quickly i.e. within a week she nearly died, she smelled dreadful with a brown discharge and kept wetting herself.

With these symptoms its quite obvious if she is still bright and happy don't worry and fingers crossed she is pregnant. 35 days ish is when you can detect and get the scan done. You had the scan way to early.

I never scan before 28 days and my vet charges me £30 with another scan a week later for free if unsure. It does seem a lot to pay. Fingers crossed she is in pup for you.
Aileen

> ....£70 do people really pay this ? WOW.

Yes we really do.

Scanned my girl today and saw pups, day 21 from 1st mating.