My bitch has just been scanned in pup :) scanner says she took from an earlier mating which makes her day 32. She could only see 3 pups which is a small litter for my breed, just wondered how likely it is that she could be hiding any. Scanner says this is possible but she didnt want to say she is in case she isnt.

Im wondering if it is more likely she is hiding them because were a bit later than most think the ideal scanning time is(28days) and the pups are bigger.

Obviously I am thrilled that she is in pup, but if she only has 3 then there are going to be 4 very very disappointed puppy buyers who are on my waiting list.

LOL you should totally disregard what is said about numbers. The "best" I ever had was the vet who said 1, maybe 2 pups, and the bitch then had ten!! I've had a few being fairly accurate but the majority have not been. I'll never forget my first ever litter which was an accident, I was told 3 or 4 pups which was SUCH a relief -then the bitch had ten and stupidly I had then assumed I didn't need many buyers so had turned people down....

Works the other way occasionally as well. A friend was told two pups, turned out it was just one which died as a c-section wasn't carried out in time -had she known there was just one big single pup she'd have anticipated the need for a section.

I've just had exactly the same happen. Went to scanner thinking my bitch was nearly 5 weeks to be told she was already 5 1/2 weeks pregnant and with only 2 pups. She was completely correct, they were born when she said they were due.
I even had one lady burst into tears when I called to say there was no pup for her. I felt really awful but at the end of the day what could I do?

Thanks, out of interest marianne, what days were yours scanned on to be so incorrect?

I have always scanned around day 30-35, never earlier. Apparently it is easier to count numbers after about 21 days, but it is also then easier to miss a pregnancy altogether.

When i had my bitch scanned on 30 days from last mating and the scanner was spot on with 8 in a border terrier litter i went rather white lol. (The puppies are now 7 months old so definately not advertising)

When I had my first litter 13 years ago, the scanner (who I knew from us both being in Obedience) was dead accurate. She said there were 6 pups and that they were advanced for their age so would arrive early. Sure enough 6 pups arrived on the Tues (due on the Fri).

Having moved recently, even further away from that particular scanner, I took my bitch to a scanner in the N.East but she wasn't that brill. Just said 'Yes, she's pregnant, looks like she's having quite a few, I can see at least four...' As my girl was huge from about 3 weeks on, this did worry me so two days later I drove from the N.East to Milton Keynes to see my original scanner who, once again, was excellent. She said 'I can see 8, there may be one hiding behind the liver, but I think it's more likely to be 8'. She was spot on. My girl had her 8 pups on the Sat/Sun (due on the Tues). I would prefer not to use a vet for a straightforward scan (have been with friends who have and the ones they have seen don't seem to be that accurate, probably don't do enough to get the necessary experience), would rather travel to see someone who has more expertise if at all possible. I understand that all vets are not the same, this is just my experience (plus would rather not take a potentially in whelp bitch to the vets in case of risk of infection).

I think it's all down to individuals. The worst scanner I've ever used was a sheep scanner, non vet. The most accurate so far is my current vet. Other vets have been pretty useless.

A friend of mine on her current litter was expecting 3 but has 11!!

Thanks for the replies. The scanner I used was a canine pregnancy scanner- she seems pretty experienced going by their website and said instantly yes she is in pup...had a quick look around and said she can only see 3. It was all very quick.

I shall just wait and hope for the best that she has a few more so that I dont have to let down so many people.

To me a scan is simply to confirm pregnancy, as some pups may be hidden or reabsorbed, I would use an Xray 8 days pre due date to establish numbers and presentations if I was desperate to know.

I go to a lady that's a cat breeder and she's always spot on with numbers and is very thorough going over each side at least three times at around 28 days

I've had 2 'good' scans with a particular vet - I shall stick with him! He likes to scan at 4 weeks. Interestingly though he says he can only accurately determine if up to 5 pups, beyond that he can only say what he thinks as 5 is pretty much what the scanner picks up in 1 screen image. The moment he moves the scan head the screen image changes & can't be sure if seeing any of same pups. Last yr he said 5 possibly more - there were 6. This yr said 5 (his magic number ;) ) but thought probably 6 or 7 maybe more - had 8.

Breeder friend twice been told a bitch had no pups (not same vet) & went on to produce litters of 6 & 7!!