I had my springer bitch scanned today and am now more confused than ever.  Vet said to look at her she very much looks pregnant but a scan came up negative.  He said that a negative result was always very dangerous as they could be carrying high in the ribcage although having milk was in indicator that she was far on.  At what stage do bitches get milk if pregnant?  He then gave me some medication to dry up her milk warning me that if she is pregnant she will miscarry?!  What do I do now, If she is I don't really want to take the risk?

One of my bitches got milk the week before her litter was due - another didn't start producing milk till after they were born.

Remember, as you didn't witness any mating, and she's been free to roam the farm, she could have mated with any dog she came across.

I know scan results can be wrong, but my sisters dog was looking pregnant and producing milk when she had a false pregnancy (she had been mated, but missed).

Fiona

I was going to say that she might be having a false pregnancy but usually there is a build up of fluid in the uterus, it sounds like this is likely though, i personally wouldn't give her the medication, if she is having a phantom it will pass in it's own time, as long as she isn't showing any server behaviour problems i would just let nature take it's cause and then if there is any pups in there they wont be harmed either.

Warm regards Susan.

Spaniels seem to be very prone to phantoms too...

when she is on the farm she is supervised and we have no contact with any other dogs around, the only possible mating would be with my, well thought out purchase of my dog, a kc registered pedigree springer spaniel

Just because you normally have no contact with any other dogs around doesnt mean that another dog hasnt mated her. A male can smell a bitch in heat for miles, and if she was always supervised you would know whether or not your own dog had mated her.

Have just read your other post & it could be that the scan is negative because a pregnancy is too early to be detected.  I would hold off giving her any medication, treat her as if she is in whelp then in approx 14-16 days repeat the scan as that would take her to approx 30-35 days if I've read your posts correctly ~ you said she was swollen 2-3 weeks ago.

It would be worth you joining your breed club & as others have suggested, buying The Book of The Bitch sooner rather than later.

I would also suggest getting your bitch eye tested now & then if it turns out that she is in whelp, to get your dog hip scored asap (as at 12 months he will be old enough to be done) plus any other tests that are available to your breed.

All the best

how many weeks was she at time of scan?

Nobody knows, Welshie.