Hi all, just back from vets for scan at day 43 and confirmed pregnancy! Having had two misses last year it was great news to hear and indeed came away with a scan  photo.  However her first litter a few year back only produced two, litter average for breed is between 4 and 7!  The vet today confirmed a puppy and she said she could only see one but could not say there was only one. My question is this; what are the possibilities of a single puppy?  My girl is showing much growth in size and presented nipple growth and pointing from around day 30 - would it be so obvious she was in whelp with all the signs and abdomen growth if there were only one.  My other question relates to diet. She has not gone off food but has become absolutely ravenous for food yet we have increased her intake to the required amount but she is like a starving beast!!! Reluctant to meet her excessive demands if there is a single pup for obvious reasons.  What would be helpful are responses from the wise breeders on this excellent site regarding contrary stories to just one pup on scan or other.

Love reading the posts, my salvation during times of breeding so thank you in advance

What food are you feeding her? She might be needing something that is missing in her diet, which is why she is ravenous at this stage, though she is probably feeling the urge to eat as she doesn't know when she will get her next meal :-) . You know she will be fed regularly, but she doesn't ;-) Also, when did you worm her last? Pregnant bitches are more prone to worms due to the hormone levels rising.

As to scans, unless it is someone who is very good at predicting size litters It wouldn't surprise me if there may be another one or two hidden somewhere. Don't be surprised, though, if she only has the one. It does happen. My breed regularly have large litters (13 or more have been known quite often) but my oldest bitch was a singleton pup. A bitches body will develop, even if she was having a phantom pregnancy, so her size isn't really an indication of how many she is carrying.

Edited to add: Just realised your bitch is a week further on than mine, so she will be ravenous :-) This is when the pups start to grow so she will want more. Some bitches want more than others. Try not to over worry (easier said than done.)

One of my girls had a singleton 2 years ago, she continued to grow as though she was full of pups, ate well too, scan confirmed just one and just one she produced.  A lovely one at that which we kept.

In my latest litter the vet said she could only see one pup on the scan, POSSIBLY two. We had TEN......

taggabags,
Beware if there is only one puppy it could be a big one. When she goes into labour keep an eye one her be extra carefull incase it is to big to deliver. Yes! bitches can just have one puppy, I hope not for you. Most have to have a c/section.

Denese

Thanks all, have started worming yesterday at 6 week stage, panacur granuals 1.8 mg per day as perscribed, in addtion she is regularly wormed out of whelp.  Food is Beta Active but now having some tinned Winalot for the worming powder as an additional feed.  Also have increase food by about 15 - 20% but will move onto puppy food in around 10 day (day 54) as suggested by vet.  I think it is the pack instinct making her appear so greedy i.e. feeding usually all dogs at same time in kitchen so have shifted to feed her in another room as she was even knocking the boys off their dinner to try to get theirs.  Will keep an eye if too big as surely if a singleton then not good, however prepared for C section as she is rising 7 now and although in excellent health and very fit (husband is a walkaholic) I am aware that at an older age it could be more tricky, just pleased she is not a maiden bitch.

On another note, plenty of vetbed here but want to replenish, any receommendates on web for good and cost effective sellers?

hi taggabags  if i remember correctly from our last litter, then your mum at this stage should be having 50% extra food per day.  Have you got the Book of the Bitch?  think it states in this book about extra feeding.  My girl would nearly bite my hand off for more food at that stage but she is normally very laid back about her food! 

With your scan i have often heard that they don't always show all of the pups.  The size of your girl does not have any relation to how many she will go on to have.  You may be pleasantly surprised!  Good luck.

I would be looking at improving the quality of the food, and just increasing the quantity a little for a suspected singleton.  Definelty feed a premium quality puppy food, which helps pups development, she needs the extra calcium, vitamins etc at this stage of puppy production.  day 54 seems a little late for the "extras".  I have a singelton puppy at the moment, scanned at 5 weeks for jsut 1, and 1 duly arrived, a large pup for the breed, but Mildred delivered her no problem.

the litter I am getting a pup from was expected to be a small litter of approx 3 but there ended up being 11!

Hi Gwen, spoke to very experienced breeder friend today who has suggested I introduce puppy food in a few days so you are right, vet said around 10 days but having read the book of the bitch I can see she was wrong.

Pleased to hear Mildred produced with no probs, hope my little lady does the same.

Best wishes

Friend used my boy told no pups had 5!