hi can any one advise me
we mated are bitch on the 9th and 10th of jan  one tie was 35mins and the other was 45mins took the bitch to the vets when she was 4 weeks after mateing and the vet said that she was 90% sure that she was havung pup's and the vet said come back when she is six weeks so took her back today and she said that she is not having pups but after she said that there was no pups she said that she could scan her but i was to upset she only used her hands on the dogs tummy. is asked me if she had any discharge which she has not she has been on and off eating very sleepie to me her rib cage is a little bigger she has not lost any weight even with her not eating. last week she seemed to be eating more her teats are pink do you think she might be haveing pup.s or not. the stud dog that we used is proven.any advise from all you dog lovers is very welcome and thank you for taking time out to read and reply
thank you so much
carol

In my opinion palpation of the abdomen is not a 100% reliable method of pregnancy diagnosis. I'm afraid I belong to the 'wait and see' brigade. Your bitch would be due around the second week in March, so just keep an eye on her between now and then, and get prepared for a litter just in case. Patience is a virtue. All the best.
PS, do you have a copy of 'The Book of the Bitch' by Evans and White?
Dawn R.

Hi Carol, IMO yes it is still possible that she is, I presume that your vet didn't do a scan?  I have always thought that the best time to 'feel' a bitch is 21days, as an experienced person can feel the 'string of beads'
Don't feed her extra, when she gets to 5-6 wks post mating you should start to see her rib cage bulge, particularly after she has eaten. In the following weeks you will see her flanks fill out. It usually becomes obvious that they are pregnant and often overnight but bitches can do a very good job of confusing the most experienced breeders, especially with a phantom when they will also produce milk.
Keep us posted.
Debbie.

We once took a Pomeranian to the vets on the day that she had a litter of 4 pups.  We were told in no uncertain terms that she definitely had no pups and that we were imagining, the movement of pups.  As I said a few hours later 4 healthy pups, which is a lot for a Pom. !!