My bitch is now 6 weeks post slip mating and I haven't managed to find a scanner yet. On my 3 previous litters I have always scanned so have known for sure the bitch was pregnant and have therefore not taken a huge amount of notice of exactly when they started to get bigger.
My girl seems to have some enlargement of the under carriage and nipples. I can't decide whether she is fatter or not. sometimes she does look bigger then other times not. I am spending so much time studying her tum I really can't remember how slim she was. At how many weeks would you expect her to really start looking pregnant?

Never, in my bitch's case! But then she only had 2 in one litter and 1 in the other!

Mine don't look pregnant until the last 2 weeks.

Although I have had a bitch that didn't look pregnant at all until the day before she whelped.  I watched the pups move down from under her ribcage.

Thanks. I guess as the mating was so brief then if she is pregnant then it is likely to be a small litter. I have started worming just in case. I suppose I will just have to be patient. Its hard though.

I measure my girls girths and weigh them weekly and take pics for future reference.

I agree that the last 3 weeks you see the biggest change, by 8 weeks I have trouble tucking my girls under my arm to go up and down the stairs.

Your vet will scan for you. It will be a confirmation of pregnancy not a count of numbers but at least you will know one way or the other.

> Your vet will scan for you. It will be a confirmation of pregnancy not a count of numbers but at least you will know one way or the other.

but I don't want my vet to scan her as when I took another bitch for a scan the vet took her into the back without me and then clipped all the hair off her side. I don't want that happening again as it will keep her out of the showring for ages if she isn't pregnant. When I questioned my vet about it she said she had to clip her to be able to scan her.

Anyway I am really starting to think she  may be pregnant now as she seems to have got fatter over the weekend.

Are there no mobile scanners in your area, they travel around scanning sheep but will do dogs and don't shave off any of the coat and you remain present.

I have been trying to find one but have not been able. I did ask on here earlier.but didn't get any suggestions. She will be 7 weeks soon ads I am now reasonably sure she is putting on weight so probably pregnant :) As she only has 2 1/2 weeks to go I might as well wait  now. Fingers crossed I get the little girl I was desperately hoping for. I was so disappointed that we hadn't got a good mating and had resigned myself to not getting my puppy this time.

Controversial I know but as you are paying your vet then insist that you go with them for the scan, maybe, and then you can control what they do

Good luck with the puppies if there are any

I only had one bitch scanned at the vets and they wouldn't let me watch, quoted health and safety at me, if I hadn't been worried about the pups as she had been messing about, digging etc. for days and just wanted peace of mind, they had shaved some of her hair off when I got her back.

Mobile scanners leave  the coat alone, don't know if the technique varies or the equipment.

What health and safety??? it is a scan not an XRAY, honestly some times you do have to wonder don't you?

I think it was because I would have to go behind the scenes to watch the scan and that was where the health and safety came into play, even telling them I was a trained nurse/midwife didn't help.

Finally managed to get my bitch scanned and am over the moon to announce that she IS pregnant. :) Scanner could only see 2 puppies but said that she was not as accurate at this late stage so could be more. Not that I care I am just pleased that she is when I was sure she wouldn't be. I had better start getting things ready. I am so excited :)

Hope all goes well now that the pregnancy has been confirmed.

Good Luck

Mine asked me to shave a patch on her belly where she scanned. I would have been livid if a vet wouldn't let me go through!