I was planning to get my westie scanned to confirm pregnancy, but have heard that early scanning can be dangerous to pups, causing re-absorbtion. I believe that scanning later is safer, but think that by that stage I will be able to tell by changes in my bitch whether or not she is in pup. Is the information I have correct?

Scanning is no more dangerous for bitches than it is for humans.

Scanning doesn't cause resorption, it just proves that it happens (which was suspected long before scanning was invented, but there was no way of proving it).

Our vet said there is a 10% on average re absorbtion rate from when they scan at 28 days which is one of the reasons she wouldnt tell me how many are there.  This time was the first time I had bothered but I am not planning on do it again unless I feel there is something wrong. She didnt say there was any risk to the mother or embryos though.

I would agree though that I am sure there is no more risk than when a human is scanned.

I think it must depend on your vet. I had my girl scanned yesterday and asked her what she thought about the risk of re-absorbtion cause by scanning. She said that the bitch was more likely to re-absorb through the stress of going to the vet and being scanned than the scan itself.

Alli

That makes more sense it was one of the reasons I didnt want to have mine scanned because she hates the vet but they were really good and let her go in at the end of surgery and she did know the vet quite well as we went to ringcraft together.  Didnt stop her being a rat bag though :)

Oh my girl was a horror, she was rolling about the floor as the vet tried to clip her tum :D we managed eventually. She refused point blank to be scanned lying down, so she was done standing up. I had to firmly hold her as she just wanted to jump up to make sure the vets ears were clean the whole time :D

Alli

My vet always scans my girls stood up!

all mine have also been scaned standing up
but mine do not go to the vets so its not stress full at all

Scanning is generally regarded as  safe.

Are you the lady who was looking for information about breeding westies for your daughter's project a couple of weeks ago ?? sorry if I am wrong. 

I agree that the trip to the vets and the actual scan can cause absorption, rather than it being the actual act of scanning. I dont  scan unless the bitch is pregnant but  think there may be just one or two pups (very small tummy for dates) and that would be at 7-71/2 weeks when the time for re-absorption is past and hopefully early enough not to cause an early labour. I certainly would not allow a pregnant bitch of mine to be manhandled , even if he/she was a vet. Mine have always been done standing up quite happily and calmly.
I cant understand why people cant just wait and see, its only a few weeks before you know.  Keep them safe at home and let nature take it course.:-)