Went to my vets for ultrasound today as last time my bitch was mated she ended up having a false pregnancy. She even thought she was going through the birth (as did we) as she had every symptom going. So this time we have had her scanned. She is four weeks gone which should be picked up quite easily on a scan, but the vet is saying that he thinks she's postive, but that the pups should be more easily seen as there is the fluid sac, what he thinks is an umbilical cord and a little something else inside but not as big as they should be. His answer was that some dogs are very hard to scan and pups cannot be picked up sometimes. Has anyone else heard of this and what experience of scans have you had as this would be our first. He printed a picture of the scan off but there's not much to make out on it, although there is something there. He also said he could make out 3 other sacs, so i think it is a positive but she doesn't look as far gone as she should do.  Any advice would be gratefully received, thanks. Forgot to mention she has to go back in 2 weeks for the scan to be repeated.

i took my bitch to be scanned by the vet, he told me she was carrying 1 pup, i took her to Pat Hawker and she was empty, i will never let my vets scan again, i used Pat Hawker on my last litter and i was told at least 9 maybe 10, my girl went on to have 10 healthy babies.
My girl has been mated again (i dont think she has taken) but she will be booked in for her scan in 2 weeks time.
edited to say..... with pat Hawker, as vets are notoriously bad at scans.

Hi Icemaiden,

I took my girl for a scan on day 28. They wouldnt commit to how many but said multiple. Towards the end of the pregnancy they said they thought there was 5. She gave birth on saturday to 5! A vet was spot on!

I heard that vets are rarely right but in this instance they were. I am guessing it comes down to equipment and experience.

Good Luck!

my vet scans but wont give numbers , I use a pig scanner usually around 28th/30th  day, have been given quite high figures and find I have 2-3 less born than suggested but they could be absorbed, I prefer him to visit in the home than taking a possible pregnant bitch to the vet, less stressful.

Roni~

hi my vets won't do home visits for scans and we needed her scanning because of her last phantom, i just wanted a yes or no from him, i think i got a yes but not as clear as the scan should have been, so have to go back in 2 weeks for repeat. Someone mentioned she could have ovulated late and become pregnant later than we thought, as she only had the one mating. She should be 4 weeks but if ovulated late someone said she may only be three weeks. (not too sure about that, any opinions would be great) She has in the last 2-3 days gone off her food a little in the evenings and i have to soak her morning meal, but hasn't had any sickness.

forgot to mention, WILTSHIREONE congrats on your new arrivals, hope they are all doing well. x

Thanks Icemaiden,

They are doing fantastically and are now a total joy after the initial worry. All are due to double their birth weight by tomorrow, day 7.

Thanks :)

hi icemaiden ive just been reading about late ovulation and yes it can happen the sperm can stay there for a week waiting to inplant :) its in the book of bitches brillent book !!!!

It can defo happen as I have a pup here who was supposed to be born a week earlier,his breeder thought the bitch had missed
and 1 week later a singleton pup was born...My Baby Norman

> Baby Norman

Brilliant name :-)

I have a big boned breed and they are so deep that scans rarely show anything definate before 5 weeks, I have now given up going before 5 weeks and then we get a better view. Try again next week and you may find pups!!
My friend is an ultrasound scanner at the hospital and she refuses to scan brefore 5 weeks with my breed.
Hopefully another scan next week will confirm.
Aileen

Hi everyone, thanks for all the info. She is due another scan a week on friday (she will then be 6 weeks), so fingers crossed for that one. The vet did say he could see 'things' there, and she's definately acting the part (again). Lets hope they're a little bigger so i can have a definate 'everythings ok' as he was concerned they were'nt as big as what they should have been at this stage. By the way, love the name of Baby Norman. We're planning on keeping a male back out of the litter, so are trawling through names at the mo ourselves, lets hope it all turns out ok. Thanks again.