I took my dog to be ultra sound scanned last week, she should have been four weeks pregnant then, I didn't use my normal vet as they wanted to charge over £100! The vet I did use didn't really seem to know what she was doing, she has to use a different scanner as there normal one was being used for a emergency, so she couldn't really work out the depth and she said she didn't like the probe on it.  Anyway she couldn't see any pups at all on the scan but didn't charge and said to come back in a weeks time and they could scan again.

So is it worth me paying for her to be scanned again? Wouldn't of she seen something if she was pregnant?  My bitch is showing some sings she has put on weight and her nipples are bigger but she does get phantom pregnancies really not sure what to do as don't really want to go back to that vet again but don't want to pay £100 to find out she is not in pup!  How long would it before I will be able to tell if a phantom or not? Will i just have to wait untill she is nine weeks and see if any pups turn up!

Don't know where you live but try and find a scanner who is more experienced and won't charge you as much.

If you post your area, I'm sure someone will be able to recommend someone local/experienced.

Thanks for your reply I am based in swindon wiltshire.

Outside of my area - hopefully someone from that area will respond soon.

The one you had done at 4 weeks was free, right? I would certainly take her back at 5 weeks. By then puppies are VERY ovbious even to amateurs like me.

As to phantoms they can continue right to the end, I've known bitches strain as if in labour and then gather all the soft toys they can lay their hands but most are not as bad as that.

£100 does seem expensive for a scan, my vets charge half that

Thanks again for taking the time to reply, so there is still a chance she is pregnant then? i have to say that the negative scan had rather dashed all my hopes! Im happy to take her back if she might still be pregnant but wasn't sure if it was worth it after the negative result!

Oh yes, definitely still a chance, the thing with scans unless a vet is experienced they often miss pups, myself and others always double any amount a vet gives us and there have been cases GWEN very recently when told no pups and out they popped unexpectedly. :-) Pups can easily be hidden behind ribs etc.

£100 is ridiculous I've only ever paid between £25-35 some vets prices today. **Tut, tut** I'd go back as she didn't charge and hopefully she will have the first scanner available this time that she can work.

Or do you have an experienced breeder near you, who can palpate (feel) for pups?

The fact she has phantoms, well...... I guess it could be another, but scans are never 100% accurate unfortunately, I agree if you can get to a sheep scanner much more accurate too.

Best of luck!

And a blood test - very accurate.

My vet will never give a definate yes or no at 4 weeks. He generally has an idea but will never say for definate until 5 weeks. now I never bother at 4 weeks and always wait till 5 by which time as I said if they are there to be seen, they are very obvious.

I would go back and hopefully she will have a better machine to work with and good luck :)