My westie bitch is showing no signs of being pregnant (although she much more clingy than normal and following me everywhere), like enlarged nipples etc. Its been 20 days since she was mated. They had a 15 min tie, and we were positive it was the right time. Should she being showing signs by now? We are taking her to the vet in 3 days to be checked out, should we hold out much hope?
Thanks for any info you can giv me!
Kath
(Can't join the forum due to a technical fault with my comp)

Afraid it isn't always as easy as it may sound... It is very difficult to tell conclusively if a bitch is pregnant... even the profesional Vet gets it wrong often. It is very difficult to tell before 4 weks as the growing fetus has not yet embeded on the uterus wall.. they are floating free. You can get a scan done between 4 and 5 weeks but these can give false negatives. Often changes in your bitches temperament and behaviour are the only signs you get.
We usually have our bitches scanned at between 4 and 5 weeks but there are other who believe scanning can be harmful, this discussion is irrelavant at the moment.
Experienced scanning operatives can accurately detect the existance of pups long before the bones calcify (develop enough to become visable on an x-ray). The fetus is very vunerable at 3 - 4 weeks so don't prod the bitch if you can help it.
As with human reproduction you can have everything right but not get pregnant, the same goes for dogs. Even with Premate tests to check the bitch has ovulated matings can fail.
Time is the best indicator... if after 63+ days nothing, well its try again!

Sorry we cant give a definitive answer but that is life

All the best

Al

I wasn't sure my girl was pregnant until she reached 6 weeks! No tummy swell, no change in eating pattern or nipple size, then at 5 weeks she started to bleed, so I just took it that she wasn't pregnant, took her to the vet, she felt her tummy and said she couldn't feel anything, so scanned her, there on the screen were 4 pups the vet said possible more, then suddenly at 7 weeks it was like she grew over night!! She is now day 60 and HUGE!! I'm afraid it's a waiting game