Had my bitch scanned today, was so sure she was preg, should be 31 days today but no nothing appeared on the scan, got to go back next weekend for a re-scan as the scanner offers free re-scan a week later just to be sure, she's been showing all the signs, throwing up, not managing meals like she could, tired and sleepy, very over cuddly, nipples are up although not lots they are up, she's just completely changed so was really surprised to hear there was nothing in there :(

Sounds like a typical phantom.

But scans have been known to be wrong.

I seldom scan maybe 3 or 4 times over 30 odd years.

Twice I was told  " no pups"...one litter of 6 and one litter of 4 resulted. The other times they saw the pups.

50% success rate...not good enough for me to bother again.

Not from one unskilled scanner I may add - but 3 different operators.

She scanned right up under her ribs incase there was one up there but she said that she couldn't see anything to indicate a prgnancy,

She did say that they can conceive anything up to a week after the last mating which is why she offers a rescan, which would mean she isn't 4 weeks yet, I dunno...... I was almost certain she was pregnant because of how she's been so was quite shocked when she said no there's nothing there.

I hope next week tells a different story

I have one bitch who has had 3 very convincing phantoms after being mated, never had her scanned but she went to 7 weeks once before returning to normal, since discovered she ovulates very early so Next mating will be done earlier and will be her last

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">since discovered she ovulates very early so Next mating will be done earlier and will be her last

<img title="Quote selected text" class="qButton" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" />

Happened to one of mine.  I decided to take her to the vet as a last attempt, and she was taken on day 1 for her first sample.  Although swollen, there was no blood.  She ovulated on day 4 and totally surprised me.  They do it to keep us guessing.

She did actually have a weird season and was standing from day 7 and with the straw coloured discharge but was told it was too early, she was taken on day 10 to the breeders and we got a slip mating, got another slip on day 11 then nothing on day 13, a slip again on day 14 but she started to bleed again (red) so thinking we had missed it, but then finally got a 55 min tie on day 15, so who knows lol

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">and was standing from day 7 and with the straw coloured discharge

Ok - I am going to state, whatever the books say that the mention of "straw coloured discharge" should be banned.  Grrrr!!! 

Any novice believes that their bitch needs to have this magical colour, and all will be well. 

I am not the only breeder that has bitches that mate throughout very heavy bleeding, continue to bleed through their normal cycle.  And give birth to perfectly normal puppies. 

I have had one bitch in particular, that always bleeds quite heavily throughout, and she had a litter to a day 8 mating.  And a litter to a day 28 mating (vet told me she couldn't possibly be pregnant!)  :-)  :-)  Yeah right!

Also, for those wondering, length of tie is totally irrelevant.  So when people tell me proudly that their girl had a tie that lasted almost an hour and a half, I just feel sorry for the bitch!

Like a lot of breeders, I do tend to ask one of my boys if a bitch is ready.  :-)  :-)  Well, the experienced boys rarely get it wrong!  :-)

My bitch never has straw coloured discharge....she bleeds red right through!!

Sorry to hear that she hasnt shown being in pup:(

lol the breeder we took her too has been breeding for 18 years or more and she said the straw coloured discharge was what we needed to look out for.

Am thinking we just didn't get the timing right this time, her boy was keen everytime they were in the room together tho and she was standing, but theres always next time tho :)

Ok - I am going to state, whatever the books say that the mention of "straw coloured discharge" should be banned.  Grrrr!!!

Agree. I've never had a bitch yet who has had this magical discharge, they have all bled all the way through. I have had puppies born from a mating on day 5 (from a bitch who stands from day two!!) and puppies born from a mating on day 19. I have had puppies born after a one minute tie, and puppies born after a 20 minute tie. I have had puppies born from one single mating, and from several. In fact, touchwood, so far I have never had a bitch not get pregnant when I wanted her to, and I have never done ay blood testing or anything else, I have always just gone by the behaviour of the bitch and dog. (I test the bitch's reaction to my own male dogs, safely on leads.) For my latest litter, I was for the first time able to use one of my own dogs as the best dog for the bitch, and the first mating took place day 9 (in the evening after Crufts, with a house full of visitors! That's when the bitch decided she was ready so we let her.). They then mated day 10, 11 and 12 also. This bitch does not normally stand until day 13 or so, and as the dog lost interest 100 %  past day 12, I did start to wonder if the bitch would not be pregnant. Well she had a large (for the breed) litter so clearly again the dogs knew best -including the dog who was a first timer.

Ditto to the so called "straw coloured discharge" ... never seen it yet !!!!!!!!

Neither have I.....
Aileen

Ditto to the so called "straw coloured discharge" ... never seen it yet !!!!!!!!

Neither have l.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">first mating took place day 9 (in the evening after Crufts, with a house full of visitors!

Exhibitionist!!!   :-)  :-)  :-)

Fingers crossed for you.I truly emphasise with you.My girl has had 2 phantoms,the last one truly spectacular right up until her due date.All scans showed nothing.Then third attempt the scan showed 3 puppies - I wasn't convinced.Sometimes you just have that gut feeling.No puppies - so we are guessing she re aborbed.This is our final attempt - slip mating and good tie.If this turns into disappointment then we will have her spayed.We probabally wont have her scanned - depends on my will power :) she will be day 9 today from the tie.Hope your girl is a mum in waiting.

Wow, had no idea the alleged straw colour was not common - my bitch certainly bleeds right through a season, but had not realised it wasn't that unusual. :-)