Hi there I’m hoping I may be able to get some advice and opinions. My bitch is now on day 49 since being mated. She has previously had one very healthy litter. This time around she has shown all the signs of pregnancy, and she’s definitely heavier looking than her normal pre pregnancy state, however I started to worry a little As by this point last time she was looking a lot more pregnant.

We took her for a scan today and the vet couldn’t find any puppies, but the amount of fluid suggested there should be some. She was a bit concerned at this obviously, and did an internal examination to check for any discharge etc which was all fine. She has said to come back in a week for another scan to see if she can find anything.

I’m now worried sick - if she has no puppies then that isn’t the end of the world but why would she have all this fluid and no pups? She is acting her normal lively self, eating, drinking and toileting as she should be.

Does anybody have any experiences of anything similar please? Thanks in advance. I am so worried :(

I would be worried about a closed pyometra. Don't leave it long. I would go back and ask again if I were you.

Pyo isn't impossible, but it is also very possible that she just has one or two pups which are hiding and your vet is rubbish with the scanner (many are!).  The amount of fluid is not related to the number of puppies - you can have one or two pups and a whole load of fluid (making bitch look big) or not much fluid at all and lots of pups.

You can't really treat for pyo without endangering any pups she has, because the 'treatment' would be an emergency spay.  So I don't think you can act on that at this time, especially if she seems well in all other ways and is eating and drinking fine. 

If she is well in all other ways, I think it's more likely your vet is rubbish with the scanner!  Do you have access to a more experienced scanner who can come to your house and take a look?

> I think it's more likely your vet is rubbish with the scanner!

And even if he sees puppies, that only means there are puppies at the time of the scan.   Not that she'll carry to term.   I'd be waiting and hoping right up to the due date (or a couple of dates after) and then go in for an x-ray to confirm empty!!