Can vets get this wrong if the dog is around 4 -5 weeks pregnant?

How big was the window for the bitch being mated? Was the bitch at her most fertile time in that window?

Sperm can live for several days, possibly up to a week so she may not be as pregnant as you think, her eggs may not have been ripe till she was back home and then got fertilised by the waiting sperm.

If the vet is inexperienced they may not feel pups on palpation, in this bitch's circumstances I would want a scan or the Alizin jab as I said in your other thread.

I have had several calls from my son and his wife ranting on about what if the vets wrong.they called and asked if she should perhaps have the mismate injection and he said no point she is definately not pregnant.My son was away during crufts so the window isnt that long.

I was under the impression palpation had to be done fairly early, within a narrow window, and that at 5 weeks it might well be too late.

This situation is a little different because my sons dog was put to the breeder for a short holiday stay while he was at crufts because she was in season and yesterday he took her to the vet convinced she had somehow managed to get to the breeders stud dog.He just wants to know if a vet can really definately say for sure just by feeling if the dog is or isnt pregnant.

I would have her scanned myself.  I've had vets not even able to palpate at 9 weeks even though  myself and my mum could tell there were pups there.  Told we were imagining it, she definitely was not pregnant, the next day she had 4 pups in the early  hours all on her own.  It was the same situation as you at the stud dog owners, told that she hadn't been mated.  Four pups was a big litter for the breed.

Palpation is only reliable if the person has the knack between 23 and 28 days pregnancy, so the vet could easily get it wrong, as it would be past that by now.

Scanning by someone experienced in the procedure is far more reliable especially at around 35 days from likely mating.

I would go to another vet experienced with scanning at 35 days post likely mating date and then get the Alizin jab.

I know people who have been told their bitches were not pregnant only to have pups so would not rely on the vet purely from a palpation.

Alternatively demand an Alizin injection, as better an unnecesray mismate jab (it is a little painful at the injection site and can cause cramps), than an unwanted litter.

I would be looking for another vet, better the jab than pups so soon after a c/section risking the dam and pups lives

The older Vets were very skilled at palpating for pregnancy - it's all they used to have!  I'm not sure that the skill hasn't been lost or never acquired by many.  But it had to be done at 28 days +/- a day because that was when the whelps were like 'a string of pearls' and so very recognisable.

My son said that when he was feeling for pups he kept saying this is the bladder etc etc could everything but pups so wondered how he could miss a litter of puppies? We are all hoping he is right!

In this situation, "hoping" just isn't enough. You need definite answers and the mis-mate jab before it's too late.

I know,my son is taking her to a a 2nd vet today.I just saw her a few minutes ago because he was dropping my grand daugher off and had sasha with him,she has a perfectly small firm rounded pot belly so i now understand why he is still worrying.The vet he saw the other day said thss was due to having pups 6 months ago??

Why was he palpating down by the bladder? At this stage you start up at the ribs and work down, before being shown by mentors I too thought that like humans the pups would start down at the pelvis and grow up but they don't which explains in some breeds why pups can hide in the ribs so easily.

I trust if your son saw a change in her shape it isn't a result of having pups 6 months ago, her muscles may be looser making a pregnancy show earlier this time around as they may not have got their full tone back.

Hope he gets a better outcome from this second vet.

It was the change in shape that made him rush to the vets.I have no idea why the vet was feeling around the bladder,he was just pointing out he could feel everything apart from puppies i guess.

Any more news?

What was the eventual outcome?

> I know people who have been told their bitches were not pregnant only to have pups

Happened to me.  A mismate on day 28, and the vet told me that it was far too late, and she couldn't possibly be pregnant.   

Yeah right!  She was, and whelped just fine. 

My apologies for not replying sooner.My son took her to be scanned and she was not pregnant so a happy outcome.

thanks for update

What a releif