I wondered how acurate people have found ultrasound scans to be in predicting the number of puppies born? so far we have had one bitch scanned with 6 who produced 7  and a bitch scanned with six who produced 8

will have to let you know, i had a bitch scanned last week, first time ive used a scan, it was a mobile scanner and i was told he was pretty accurate, he told me 6.

Never had an exact correct amount, but normally 1 or 2 difference.  We had our girl x-rayed 4 days before she was due, as we were told this would tell us exactly how many she was carrying.........they still got it wrong!   I think scans are purely to prove the bitch is pregnant, not to predict numbers!

Sarstaff, how much do mobile scanners charge.

Depends entirely on the skill of the operator!

I agree val. Our vet has told our friend exactly the right amount twice now.(but i could just be a lucky guess!)

sarah xxxx

Hi,

I was told my girl would be having 7 puppies and she had 11. I would just take whatever they say as a minimum amount although I have heard of bitches re-absorbing puppies and actually having less then seen on the scan, so who knows!!!

Debbie

The bitch we got our youngest from was scanned and the owner told to expect six pups, the bitch went on to have 10 :)

Accuracy depends on -

1- experience of the operator (but believe me even the pros get caught out ;) )
2- equipment being used, eg up to date large scanners are much better than very old mobile ones
3- the scanner needs to be set correctly - you can have a great machine & a good person using it, but if the settings are not spot on - it makes a difference.
4- breed / shape of the bitch being scanned. eg a bitch carrying excess weight is harder to scan than say a slim breed with a deep rib cage (ie fat st bernard would be much harder than a slim FCR)
Also it's difficult to predict numbers & once you get to 7+ it's difficult to know if you are counting the same ones twice.

However scans are very useful to give you an idea of the number of pups to expect - especially if there is a single pup or a litter of 2. Or if there is a very large litter it's good to know.

Scans can also pick up resorption sites if scanned at just the right time.

I have never even attempted to guess at numbers from a scan.  I only like to confirm that it is more than one.

have pm d you claudia