Hi

My dog is currently 33 days pregnant if you go by the first mating: May 7th. We mated her again on the 9th and the 11th. My vet and I did a vaginal smear to estimate the best days for mating and followed his recommendation. All three matings tied with a proven stud.

Her appetite picked up a week after mating, and note she's never been a foodie. She didn't get morning sickness, in fact her appetite just got bigger until week 5. She ate her ration instantly and looked as though she was still hungry. Her body got bigger a bit, thicker, as though she just had a good meal. Note that the amount of Petcurean Go Natural Chicken I gave was still the same as pre-breeding: 3 cups.

By week 5 (presently,) her appetite went down but she still ate. She just finished her food slower, around 20 minutes. I also added a bit more to her breakfast as said in most guides for pregnancy.

The vet came by today, day 33, and palpated her but found nothing. I'm kinda disappointed BUT I know that day 33 is typically a bit late to palpate. And we can't deny she did get bigger a bit.

Has anyone has this? You think she's still pregnant?

Thanks.

She might be, she might not be - it's a bit difficult to tell from here :)

Could you take her to an experienced, recommended scanner for a more definitive answer?

ETA: I just noticed your flag - you might not have such easy access to scanners as in the UK!

>> ETA: I just noticed your flag - you might not have such easy access to scanners as in the UK!

Hi RidgieLover.

LOL. We do have scans here as well. We had her mated a season ago but she didn't conceive sa proven through ultrasound.

For now, I'm waiting for more confirmation since she's currently almost 5 weeks. A week more and I should see more changes if ever she is pregnant. I'd take my final cue from there to see if what the palpation indicated is true and that she isn't expecting.

When do you usually have your dogs palpated? Is day 33 unreliable? I commonly read that palpation is more accurate on days 25-30.

I don't bother with palpating which should be done around day 28 whilst the pups are still seperate in the horns after that there is too much fluid to feel individual pups.

I have scanned once day 39 on a bitch that had 4 phantoms, it showed 3 pups, other wise I wait and see.

Depending on your breed she may be carrying them up in her rib cage till there is no more room and they have to move down as they grow.

As she is only just over half way then I wouldn't worry yet.

> I don't bother with palpating which should be done around day 28 whilst the pups are still seperate in the horns after that there is too much fluid to feel individual pups.
>
> I have scanned once day 39 on a bitch that had 4 phantoms, it showed 3 pups, other wise I wait and see.
>
> Depending on your breed she may be carrying them up in her rib cage till there is no more room and they have to move down as they grow.
>
> As she is only just over half way then I wouldn't worry yet.

Alright. I'll wait and see and treat her as through she's pregnant till I'm more certain.

Thanks guys.

Day 33 would be too late for palpation.  Is this vet good at it, as there does seem to be a knack to it.

The pups can be felt like a string of beads/marbles at 3 1/2 to 4 weeks after mating. 

After that fluid builds up and palpation will not detect puppies until much later in pregnancy by which time it will be visually apparent. 

At this stage ultrasound is more reliable.

i would definately go for scan. I use a sheep scanner who,s never been wrong but wont scan till 35 days after last mating

Hi guys.

Well I've been carrying on, caring for my bitch assuming pregnancy unless proven more firmly  otherwise.
This week, her appetite has been down. That is odd since based on her 1st mating, it's week 5. That's a bit too late for morning sickness.

She still eats the same amount but it takes more encouragement for her to eat, vs when she was just mated wherein she wolfed down everything immediately.

Has this late onset appetite reduction been experienced by someone else?

They can go off their food a bit towards the end when they are full of pups and not much room for anything else lol. But 5 weeks is too soon for this. Brainless got this all spot on. Once fluid forms round them they are extremely difficult, if not impossible to feel by palpation. 3 1/2 weeks is a good time for this. 5 weeks is too late.  I have never had mine palpated, just don't want fingers, even experienced ones, poking about. Your best  bet is to get her scanned and you will know one way or the other for sure.