Hi

I have a medium size breed(working) who has mated with our other dog (same breed). She is a very fit looking dog and is now coming up to 7 weeks , showing signs of being pregnant- first litter.
My vet runs a very small practice as I live in the countryside and has no facility to ultrasound. I took her in to him to check what he thought- she is wider is the ribs and abdomen, stomach dropped and nipples getting much bigger - yet the vet had a quick feel and simply stated he thinks she is 80% NOT pregnant.

Will a phantom pregnancy show these sorts of signs? Is she carrying the pups high or not pregnant? Does anyone have any sort of experience  wth this happening.

Thanks!

Yes phantom pregnancy can show similar signs BUT if a vet is going to palpate for pregnancy, it has to be done around 28-32 days after mating as that is when the embryos can be felt -later and they are not at all as easy to feel. So it was done at the wrong stage and hence she may well be pregnant. Does she have a clear discharge? That is the most reliable pregnancy sign. It could be a small litter of course but otherwise in a few days time I would expect you to be able to feel the puppies move if you rest your palm on her stomach or sides for long enough, when she is relaxed. Once you get to 55 days or more you normally see the pups move -but again if it is a small litter it is not as obvious as with a big one.

I did realise after it may be too late. She will be day 40-42 today. He seemed adamant she wasn't pregnant however was then advising me regarding her excercise!
I'll check for discharge- she's kennelled outside as a working dog. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

I would get her indoors now, so she gets used to where she will whelp and rear her puppies. 

Also at this stage you will need to gradually  increase food and also if your going to start the pregnancy worming regime with Panacur that will reduce the transfer of Toxacara larva to her pups by 98%.

She will be day 40-42 today.

She's only just coming up to 6 weeks then, not 7 , so won't look as obviously pregnant and it will definitely have been a bad time for the vet to palpate. If the signs are there then I would work on the assumption that she is pregnant.

I took some photos of my bitch at 7 weeks and she is only just obviously looking pregnant. 

Though a stranger might just think her plump.  She isn't as broad bodied as a Labrador, and a fit not quite 3 years old and a maiden bitch.

Welcome to the forum  Cath2096

Might be worth see if there are any breeder by you who do scanning

A google of canine pregnancy scanning for your area, will probably bring one up