Hi all my dog has been mated on 16th and 17th October (day 13 and 14 of her season).  The vet told me to bring her in for a scan at 21 days but when I phoned to call for an appointment I was told to bring her in on day 28.  Is this correct or am I better waiting until a bit later.  She is also gone off her food, and doesnt seem to be running about when she is out a walk now.  She is very sleepy and wants to stay in her bed a lot.  Is this all normal?  Thanks

Hi Tracy.. All sounds normal to me, infact I would wait till about 35 days to have the scan done, but it can be done from day 28 although if she didn't take until a few days after her matings then it is best to wait a little longer than day 28.

Hi Emz thanks for the reply.  Yes I think I will wait until after that possibly the friday which will be day 34.  Do you think these are symptoms she may be pregnant then?  Are you going back to the vet?

could be a number of things ,ie she is! or thinks she is! or shes brewing an infection maybe ,time will tell but ive always took my girls for scans at around day 30 from last mating but if your vets does it at that time and can see every time a bitch is or isnt then thats ok ,but i wouldnt want to be paying out for them to say come back next week :( unless they scan 2nd time for free? ...good luck hope your scan goes well :) xx

Hi white lilly yes I dont want to pay for a second scan so think I will take advice given.  She has had a false one before so desperate to find out this time although her temperament is so different this time.  She was very depressed last time.  If she isnt this time we will give up I think.

fingers crossed shes acting this way because she is! come back on and let us know how you goxx

28 days is probably better for most vets as they often aren't that great at spotting pups, so IMO 4+ weeks is better for a more accurate read than 3 weeks. I know you are probably feeling impatient but you'll know for sure in another week. :-)

Bitches like people react differently to being in whelp, some have no changes to their behaviour at all and blossom whilst in whelp, others get tired and the whelps drain their resources, some bitches bodies get tired with the changes and they feel drained, she may be feeling this way. So there isn't really a normal as such. But if she is in whelp these things could well be a sign, if not she's obviously not feeling too good, so tell your vet of all her symptoms if the scan does not show her to be in whelp.

Keep trying to tempt her with food though. Meat and chicken with rice for instance, may get her appetite back, bitches often go off their regular food and their body cries out for more protein.

I will do and thanks for your help.  Day 34 (only on day 17) is such a long time away lol xx

Hi Carrington thanks for your reply yes we are anxious to know but I will wait just to make sure.  She never ate all day yesterday or today so I went out and bought dog meat (she normally gets dried food) and mixed it in and she ate it.  Is this okay or as you said should I stick to chicken etc.

Yes I am back on Monday morning to the vet and the scan will be for free, but it was reasonably priced anyway at just £32.00..... Time will go quicker, it seems to be flying past in this house!!

is she will eat her normal food with adding meat then she will do just fine ,im thinking carrington said that because your girl wasnt /isnt eating ,please corect me if im wrong carrington, x

Hope you get on okay then x

Dont really want her to get used to dog meat either so will just monitor it but if thats the only way she will eat then I will just have to do it.  Just found her sitting in the bathroom - strange lol!!

if your finding her being very strange (bless her LOL) then like carrington said if scan shows no pups them get her checked out ,but if it does people can read this and could help others :) but as we know all girls are so different ;) xx

If the tinned dog meat does not give your bitch the runs then it will be fine to mix with her regular food. :-) By 5 weeks most of us have changed our bitches over to the complete dry puppy food, this will contain all the extra protein, vits and minerals that she needs she won't really need any extras though often as your girl is doing already (if in whelp) they can't stomach just their dried food even if soaked in warm water, they find it a turn off and crave the real mcCoy and gobble down chicken and fresh meats, but if your bitch is happy with the tinned meat mixed in you don't have to give her chicken and fresh meats too. :-) (As long as she gets the puppy complete)

If her appetite stays good then it's fine but if she stops eating, give her a variation to keep her interested in her food
Chicken/minced meat/white fish/with rice and raw chicken wings along with the puppy food, will keep her healthy and interested and her body will feel she is getting the right foods.

> bought dog meat (she normally gets dried food) and mixed it in and she ate it.

When my girl thought she was pregnant, she ate dog meat to my amasment as she's very fussy.  I was just glad to get food in her and it still has the things she needs it it.  Any foods better than no food.

> When my girl thought she was pregnant, she ate dog meat to my amasment as she's very fussy.  I was just glad to get food in her and it still has the things she needs it it.  Any foods better than no food.

When my friend was preggers, she had many a strange urge for odd foods but never dog food mind. Reikiangel ;)

Lol, i did mean my little fourlegged baby.

My gosh that's what you have when you eat dog food. ;) I bet they had a shock at the hossy

Hi Tracy keep us informed my girl was mated on the exact same dates as your girl but no pregnancy signs as yet. Think i will wait untill 28 days for scan if i can last that long lol. Good luck x

thanks guys had to give her dog food today again but she didnt eat very much.  At least she eating something! 

Hi Katie yes keep in touch hope your girl is pregnant it is horrible waiting.  We didnt scan last time and it was such a dissapoinment when we found out it was a false pregnancy.  Definately going to vet this time.  Hope the next few weeks fly by lol x

Hi all sorry to keep posting, last night I noticed she starting to slightly thicken at her ribs and this morning her mammary glands are swollen.  I am now starting to wonder if it is a false one again or is it normal for her to be showing signs already.  She is now day 19 thanks for all your advice. x

My girl is on day 33, we are going for our scan this morning!  I noticed she has become wider around the middle and her mammary glands are swollen too.  Have been for a good week or so, also off her food. I too am hoping they are all good signs, fingers crossed for you too x

Hi Crofty how did you get on at the scan?  x

i hope it was good news? x

Yes it was good news, they saw at least 3 heart beats!  Hooray, we having waited a long time for this litter, good luck to everyone else! x

Hi that is really good news well done, hopefully ours will be good news too.  Still got over a week to go, she is day 28 next saturday but think like you I will wait a bit.  Our girl is getting bigger now so I think she is but will have to wait and see. xx

congratulations crofty :)

Congrats!

> last night I noticed she starting to slightly thicken at her ribs

At day 19?  I have never had a bitch thicken at the ribs that early on in pregnancy.  I really think it is a bit early for those sort of signs.

Hi Jean she is day 22 now and definately showing signs but it may be a false one so will need to wait till she goes to the vet.  Still having problems with her eating too x

My last bitch to have pups was pretty obviously pregnant by 3 weeks, she was carrying 9!

My grls ribs expanded extremely quickly.  She is still big nowbut I've had her scanned and there's nothing there.

Sorry to hear that perrodeagua :-(

seems we will just have to wait as every bitch is different.  I am just hoping she is pregnant this time because if it is another false one we will not try again.  She is happy in herself this time where as she was very down last time, hopefully a good sign.  I am sorry you have been unsuccessful Perrodeagua.

wow 9 that would have kept you busy.

Hi tracey what day are you going to scan on. I am trying to hold off till 28 days but suspense is killing me. I had 2 fahntom pregnancies with my oldest girl andi was so sad.Think i will try again next season but do the premate test just to check if she is actually ovulating

hi katiecat id have the progestrone test done ,ive just had it done 1st time has we missed ,ive read that premate isnt has good?

Hi Katiecat I have booked her in for saturday she will be 28 days.  Vet said they were re scan for free if they unsure.  I soo really hope it is not a phantom again.  Did your dog have exactly the same symptoms both times. x

Hi Tracey
my fingers will be crossed for you on Sat i am sure it will be good news. My older girl who had the phantoms had all the signs ie enlarged nipples, sickness, changes in breast tissue. However she never had a clear discharge. My little girl has swollen mammory tissue and is very sleepy. I so hope its not a phantom as timing seemed spot on according to mate tel saliva test. My vet blood tested my older girl last season and said she was ovulating but despite 2 good ties she didnt fall. Having spoke to 2 people who swear by saliva test i gave it a go. It was very clear to see massive ferning on day 9 so took her to stud 4 days later as advised  and mated within minutes and tie seemed to go on forever. After an hr i was thinking whether a bucket of water might help lol. Now only time will tell

Hi Katie,

When are you going to the vets?  This is terrible waiting isnt it.  She is the same very sleepy and still not eating very much.  When do they get the discharge? I really hope you have been successful this will be a long week my oldest son is at school camp until friday as well so I am soooo wishing the time would go faster lol xx

Hi Tracy
i have arranged a scan for 16th November which will be exactly 28 days from second mating and 30 from first .I am going up to Fife about an hour away to a family who breed boxers and have their own scanner  and  are experianced in scanning. The nearest vet to us charges £50 a scan but this family are £20. Was goin gto ask what breed your dogs were then remembered it wasnt allowed lol. Do you have facebook.. If so could you pm me your email add and i will add you and we can talk doggies xx

Good luck for your scans.Had Kira scanned today (37 days),vet asked for scan at 35 days,as last time around.Due to kira having a phantom last time around most of signs and symptoms were the same both times around.However she has had morning sickness this time around and fell out big time with my other girl who they have lived together for 4 years.Also the vet definately feels she has changed shape.So good luck with your results.

Hi thanks for your reply, I hope that by taking her on 28th day it is not too soon.  It is very hard to tell which is a phantom and which is real.  The only thing with my girl is that she was really depressed last time but is okay this time just sleepy!  Do did vet confirm pregnancy?

good luck with the scan today :) let us know :) ,ive got 3 more very long weeks before we get our girl scanned :( LOL X

Yes good luck with scan, let us know how you get on :-)

Hi all scan went well vet found 4 puppies but only scanned a small area so may be more.  Not bothered at least I know she is pregnant and there is more than one.  Cant believe how happy I am my girl is not having a phantom again.  I thought about travelling 40 miles to a woman with scanner and cancelling my vet appointment but am very glad I went to the vets.  She spent a lot of time scanning her and gave me lots of information, sample puppy food etc.  Good luck to all the people waiting for scans I know how you feel thought today would never come.

:) thats great news tracy i remember how i felt when my last girl was scanned :) you wll be haveing your pups when i go to find out if my girl is pregnent :) xx

thanks white lilly it is such a relief.  I hope and pray you get good news the time just seems to go so slowly for those first 4 - 5 weeks to come.

yes it does :( , but 2 days after she was mated she is now eating like a pig LOL so im just counting the days.
thankyou :) xx