Hi. I had my girl scanned at 24 days by a very reliable scanner, she said that she was empty and I left it at that , about a week ago I noticed my girl had a sticky discharge and filling out and now is looking quite big , I have never had a girl have a phantom but believe they are so close to a real pregnancy  she would have been due in 12 days  is it too late to have another scan or just  let her run her coarse .

24 days post mating is far too early according to any good scanner. They recommend 28-32 days post mating so i would find a more reliable scanner and get them to do it.

Thank you for your reply. Will book her in for another scan .

Just a quick update, I had my girl scanned yesterday and we saw 4 pups. The only signs she showed was getting fatter and breast a bit fuller but no pinking up.

My own very experienced scanner always offers a rescan at 35 days if the first at 28 - 30 days from last mating doesn't show anything.

Had my girl scanned today as its 30 days post 1st mating. The whelps are so small, the scanner thinks they are actually only 28 days. It's amazing how much they grow each day.

I'm having her rescanned in a weeks time to get a better idea of numbers as this girl is from a slow whelping line.

From my past (limited) experience, the earliest I'd scan is day 32. I've had an earlier scan this time because she's going away and it's definitely not as good as waiting a few more days :)

Good luck with your impending litter. Hope all goes well for mum and you

Same to you hun. Look forward to your updates x

Just a update my girl had 7 pups , unfortunately  we lost a very small one on day 3 mum also got metritis so now on antibiotics  for a week. Mum and pups doing great now , and I'm looking forward to a life with my new little girl.

......mum also got metritis.....

Mastitis?

No metritis . Inflammation in her uterus

Metritis is an infection of the uterus, usually caused by retained placentas or some inexplicable thing we don't fully understand yet.

Hope all continues to go well.

Your story (of the scanner saying she was empty and her then having 7 pups) is just one reason I don't scan.  That, plus the stress of the scan (sometimes), plus the fact that dogs can absorb puppies between the scan and whelping - so they are not really accurate reflections of how many to expect.

> Metritis is an infection of the uterus, usually caused by retained placentas or some inexplicable thing we don't fully understand yet.<br />

I knew that - just checking   

> Your story (of the scanner saying she was empty and her then having 7 pups) is just one reason I don't scan.  That, plus the stress of the scan (sometimes), plus the fact that dogs can absorb puppies between the scan and whelping - so they are not really accurate reflections of how many to expect.

My exact feelings re scanning.   If I did and was told empty, I'd STILL be hovering just in case, and by 7+ weeks, would be seeing puppies moving around.

This bitch was scanned on day 24 which is much too early. A week later and it would have been a different story.

I completely agree with you goldmali.

A scan is only as good as the scanner and timing is everything. Unless you know exactly when your girl ovulated, you cannot be sure if how far along she is.

I usually wait for day 35. I'm not interested in numbers really, just yes or no. My girls love to play the 'I'm pregnant, feed me' card and the result is also the deciding factor as to whether they need to go on maternity leave :)