i cant decided if i should scan my girl shes in day 21 since matted but i think the scan will stress her out i no my girl and she wont like it what should i do?

Dont scan. You will find out for certain eventually. Not worth upsetting her. Although a scan is usually a well tolerated procedure. The dogs just stand there while it is done.

A  scan should not stress her out unless you are saying she is ultra nervous.
If it is because she does not like going to the vet then perhaps a private scanner would be better, I used one once and we were in the living area to do the scan.
Personally I find it difficult to wait but have it done close to 5 weeks but mine are  generally not bothered about the vet.

I scan at 4 weeks. In my large hairy breed the pups can be hidden until 6 - 7 weeks easily and when Merlot had her singleton she never looked or acted pregnant. I need to know for all sorts of reasons. I do not scan for numbers but to make sure one way or the other. Then I know what I am dealing with. Scanning is a simple procedure, not scary. I find it hard to understand why so many have problems with vets or even with a private scanner if you have a dog that is so terrified of the vet.  If she is pregnant she may well need to see the vet at some point if only to check up after the birth. If she is and you have complications she will need to be examined. I do not wish to insult anyone but if a bitch is good enough to breed from then surely being terrified of a trip to the vet to be scanned is showing an uncertain temperament ? What if something goes wrong during birth and the vet needs to visit and do something (Sometimes a bit uncomfortable) at your home, how will these nervous bitches cope ?? My girls pop in from puppies to get used to vets etc... it is all part of their socialization and is an important part too. To have a dog that you are going to mate is a responsibility and because you have no idea of what may happen is it not better to make sure before mating that she is steady enough to cope with all that comes with it ? Yes it may cost up to £50 for a scan but its a small price to pay and I know my vets are not scamming me. I respect and trust them to do what's needed and no more.
Breeding bitches should have ultra sound temperaments or should not be used in our  anti dog society.
Sorry just my views.
Aileen

thanks shes not terrified of the vets at all but very active and lively with strangers, she wont like being held down and wont keep still shes not a  nervous dog i just want to keep my girl as calm and happy as i can

oh and it has nothing to do with price!!

I find it hard to understand why so many have problems with vets or even with a private scanner if you have a dog that is so terrified of the vet.  If she is pregnant she may well need to see the vet at some point if only to check up after the birth. If she is and you have complications she will need to be examined. I do not wish to insult anyone but if a bitch is good enough to breed from then surely being terrified of a trip to the vet to be scanned is showing an uncertain temperament ? What if something goes wrong during birth and the vet needs to visit and do something (Sometimes a bit uncomfortable) at your home, how will these nervous bitches cope ??

I couldn't agree more Aileen! A bitch that cannot even cope with a SCAN, which really only involves standing there and being stroked at one end by the owner and another by the scanner, should not be bred from, full stop. In fact I'd say a scan would be a great opportunity for the bitch not sure about the vet to have a visit without anything bad happening at all. But then if I had a bitch THAT terrified of the vet, I'd take her in on a weekly basis just to be given treats. Otherwise what would I do if she needed urgent vet care? (And how would you get such a bitch hip scored before breeding, when you have to leave her at the vets?)

I have mentioned many a time before a problem dog of mine, MALE dog and neutered so no issues about breeding, who had a poor temperament from birth and then was seriously scared by a vet aged 6 months. This is a very nervous aggressive dog that doesn't even like to leave our house (although once put on a lead he will enjoy a walk, it's LEAVING the house he hates). A few years ago we had to have the vet vaccinate him outside our car in the car park, without even examining him. Today he can walk into the surgery (tail wagging!) and he can be examined. He still doesn't LIKE being examined, but he accepts it and it shows what can be achieved!

she wont like being held down

The bitch stands up during the scan.

My last scan was tricky..my girl was intent on snogging both vet and nurse....got very excited and took quite a while to convince her it wasn't a 'love in'.
But all mine are like that, they LOVE their vet. I must add though...none have ever had an unpleasant contact with her..all positive and routine.

Dont scan. You will find out for certain eventually. Not worth upsetting her.

Thank goodness, somebody who thinks the same as I do about scanning.   Each to their own and I'm not adding to my already written feelings about this.  LOL.

thanks i will take the wait and see approach if still uncertain in few weeks will think again

>my girl was intent on snogging both vet and nurse

Haha sounds like my lot, particularly Ellie. In 9 years I have not managed to break her of the habit of twisting round to kiss the judge on the table as he goes over her - last show she was so determined it looked like she was trying to go over the judge in reciprocation! :-p

Alib79   On the 15th you posted here that she WAS booked for a scan...

Why the dithering?  What exactly are you worried about?  Just weigh up what worries you most - that she might not like a scan, or that you don't know (or want to be sure) she is in whelp - and choose accordingly :)

I don't breed, don't have girls, but after many conversations about the pro's and con's AND reading the advice given regularly on this forum I would always scan.  I don't think anyone looks for accurate numbers but knowing whether it's likely to be a large litter or a small one can be critical when waiting for things to start, and more importantly how long to wait before asking for help.

Double check your dates though, I think you have a fairly narrow window for scanning

you could find someone to come to your home to do the scan? its what i did, much less stressful for the dog

yh she was booked in but read a few people say there girl had absorbed at 5 weeks not long after scan and i think it worried me incase a connection

Just consider how many women are scanned without losing the baby. :) Without the scan, such litters would just be assumed to have been phantoms.

I had my bitch scanned, even though I was sure she was pregnant, I just wanted the reassurance and to check the heartbeats even though I realise it only applies to that day.

They stand to have the scan and any decent Vet will certainly be very patient if your bitch is a little unsure about it all, mine thought it was lovely being the centre of attention!

alib79 as others have said its not an invasive procedure and takes no time to do.I would have her scanned but please dont rely on it for numbers.

>she was booked in but read a few people say there girl had absorbed at 5 weeks not long after scan and i think it worried me incase a connection

Before the days of scanning the lack of pups would have been put as a phantom pregnancy. Resorption was a theory but there was no proof until the advent of scans. Every pregnant woman in the UK has at least one scan, and the babies aren't harmed.

I have my girls scanned at 4 weeks in my home. They stand with their lead on and a treat in front of them (like at a show) and the scanner only took 2mins each side. I am not concerned about numbers as I know this can be wrong but as I have girls who phantom I like to be sure its not that so I can start to get to know any new people who are on my waiting list more.

Again, scanning isn't accurate in the same way x-ray is.   Scanning is, however, 'safe' - the actual procedure.   Again stress to the bitch (vet scan) and the risk of infection (vet scan) is always to be considered.   And again, if there is a need to know about a pregnancy having started, because of a mix-mating, fine.   Decisions have to be made.  But again (and again lol) a scan only confirms, or not, a pregnancy at the time of the scan.   Not that the pregnancy will carry to term.

5 weeks would be around the time a bitch might reabsorb - nothing to do with a scan happening to have been done at that time, I'd suggest.

If numbers and size are needed to be known, for me (and this is just my opinion) it's far better to have an x-ray done towards the end of the pregnancy, or even if there's a delay.   And re a need to know the numbers - if the bitch receives a shot to clean her out after whelping, the number via a scan surely is not relevant?

And re a need to know the numbers - if the bitch receives a shot to clean her out after whelping, the number via a scan surely is not relevant?

Personally I would never give such an injection -seems unfair to me to induce more contractions when the bitch has finished. The important reason for a scan is to check there isn't just ONE puppy. I have two friends who didn't know their bitch was expecting a single pup, as no scan was done. The first bitch started giving birth, the pup was overlarge and got well and truly stuck and died, and due to it being partway out, the vet had to cut it into pieces to remove it. The other bitch ended up with a c-section and a dead pup -labour just did not start and they waited too long. Numbers are seldom, if ever, accurate. I also would not consider an x-ray although know it is commonly done abroad. That involves so much more stress.

In fact, I've never had the after-whelping shot done either!   But then we've had a fair number of C.Sections, so 'empty' is apparent.

So we had a singleton 'litter'.   In that case x-ray, if the vet wasn't sure the bitch was empty, AFTER whelping, would be done.  Scanning only confirms, or not, the situation at the time of the scan.   So a scan shows one puppy .... not only is it not accurate, but that singleton puppy might not make it to the end of the pregnancy?    The tragedies you mention Goldmali, could happen, scan or not.   X-ray is done here in the UK, at the end of a pregnancy or just after whelping, in the UK, if it's felt necessary.  And for me, is no more or less stressful to the bitch, than scanning (other than if a scan is done in the home of course).   But you and me are probably not going to agree on this I don't think.  I just also prefer not to line the pockets of vets unless absolutely necessary.  

MamaBas I think you are missing the point Goldmali is trying to put across to you. If a scan shows a singleton pup there is a far higher chance of inertia and the subsequent loss of a pup if labour does not progress or indeed start at all. If one is aware that there is a singleton pup any lack of progress can be dealt with immediately and hopefully help to ensure a successful whelping.

I have never bred a litter and never will and have absolutely zero experience on this matter but can understand what Goldmali is saying and the reasons why a scan can be a lifesaver.

I think you must have had some pretty negative experiences with vets in the past but not all vets are out to just take money off people - I have a friend who is a vet and although she isn't my vet as her practice is not that local to me she has treated my dog whilst we were both away at an agility show and my dog had an accident. No charge for the treatment and the medication he needed wasn't charged for either. She has also helped out other dogs at shows and has never charged anything at all for her services - just helped out in an emergency  because she loves animals and sees it as her duty to help those that need her expertise. I have a great relationship with my vet who looks after my animals and never feel he is trying to make money out of me. Hopefully you will find a vet who you trust - there are a lot of them out there.

I think all this is more down to me being older!!!!!  LOL.   Years ago scanning wasn't felt necessary.   It seems to me that all this has only happened in recent years.   I have had small litters that could have 'sat' but fact is if mine went over by more than a couple of days (and yes, mine tended to have inertia) I'd take them to the vet, so there was no chance of any losses because the puppies just sat.

And yes, I have, since coming back to the UK, met up with some dreadful vets - how about one who didn't do a C.Section when I'd taken my bitch in for one, leaving it OVERNIGHT for the locum vet (the vet I normally used at that practice was on holiday) to open my bitch up.   She'd shut down.   Of the 9 puppies she should have had, only 5 survived, and one was lost shortly afterwards, with the milk they'd been trying to give them coming through his nose.  We sued and voted with our feet.  With hindsight none of this should have happened, but at that point, I still trusted vets!!!  

On another occasion, my bitch was in trouble which went on for a year before we finally lost her.  I was told SCANNING was enough.   This wasn't a pregnancy btw.  I took two outside opinions, including my previous vet up country (13 years and I had found a super one by then) who said she'd have x-rayed by then and probably opened her up.  Ditto with the other vet down here.   I went back to them and at that point the Sen.Partner appeared on the scene, did the x-ray and found her chest cavity riddled with tumours.  Secondaries.   I stopped counting the cost after it hit four figures, messing around.   We'd probably have lost her in any case but what we all went through before the end, has to be seen to be believed.

But all this happened way after I'd not felt the need to scan for a pregnancy.   Obviously if anybody finds a good vet, hang onto them!!!