Ultrasounds

[TrinaJ]

Just wondering the frequency people get ultrasounds taken of their bitches to be told they are 'empty' and then end up having a litter.

My bitch was ultrasounded on Tuesday and I was told she was empty....which is great because this mating wasn't planned (she had a silen season and was with my boy pretty much the whole time), however I am now watching her closely to make sure she doesn't suprise me and have puppies.

[ish]

I've had a bitch whos ultrasound at 4 weeks showed no puppies, ultrasound at 6 weeks showed one puppy and she ended up having 2. The others I've had done have all been accurate though, puppies/no puppies

[Icemist]

Just wondering the frequency people get ultrasounds taken of their bitches to be told they are 'empty' and then end up having a litter.

My bitch was ultrasounded on Tuesday and I was told she was empty....which is great because this mating wasn't planned (she had a silen season and was with my boy pretty much the whole time), however I am now watching her closely to make sure she doesn't suprise me and have puppies.

How many weeks preg is she? If it is 4 or 5 you might be suprised, if any longer, I would think the ultrasound would have picked up any puppies.

I have found them to be spot on deterimining if the bitch is pregnant or not, but not with the quantity of pups.

[Libertybrook]

I use ultrasounds only as a way to confirm a pregnancy,

they are not always accurate, lol, so we found out on Monday we were expecting only 4 puppies

Amber had 8 !!

4 boys and 4 girls... we were all very surprised.... especially Amber ,lol.

and I have heard of girls still delivering a puppy or two even after the ultrasound showed them empty.

[SwaY]

I know of a dane done at 4 weeks no puppies, she had 8.

[TrinaJ]

As she had a silent season (I saw bleeding, took her to the vet, he did a swab, out of season, did a prog test 114.7 so she had recently ovulated) I am unsure as to the exact time... she had no swelling, only the one spot of blood, but Bandit was howling etc. At a 'guess' she would have been ultrasounded at 28 days.

Can I get a blood test to determine if she is pregnant?

[Andisa]

Trina - Do you know if Bandit actually mated with Jett?

Lizzy had an ultrasound at 6 weeks with her 1st mating - no puppies, she gained weight and looked very preggers - no puppies.

Maybe just wait it out and if she has a little surprise for you, if so sing out - I can be around with everything you need in a few minutes.

Piper had a funny season this time too - was very different. Hamish was interested in her from day 6 - 10 then nothing - she even stopped bleeding. I know there is no hope of an accident as he does not run with the girls and was not near her while she was in season.

Good luck.

[SwaY]

Can I get a blood test to determine if she is pregnant?

yes you can get a relaxin test done.

[TrinaJ]

Andisa, No I didn't see any tie at all, I didnt witness them doing anything but playing, so its highly doubtful. My main reasons for concern are because the judge at our specialty show asked me if she was pregnant, then 4 longtime breeders also said she looked pregnant to them.

Thanks Sway, if she starts looking like she is pregnant to me, I will take her and get the relaxin test done.

[lappiemum]

I was told by vets that relaxin wasn't that accurate an inidicator, mind you, they had the ultrasound equipment (and their prices are rather high).

[jerojath]

I use ultrasounds only as a way to confirm a pregnancy,

they are not always accurate, lol, so we found out on Monday we were expecting only 4 puppies

Amber had 8 !!

4 boys and 4 girls... we were all very surprised.... especially Amber ,lol.

and I have heard of girls still delivering a puppy or two even after the ultrasound showed them empty.

I've had similar experiences and now only ultrasound to confirm, rather than 'count'.

I had a bitch ultra-sounded and was told there were definitely four, maybe five but could be shadow. She whelped eleven.

[Andisa]

Andisa, No I didn't see any tie at all, I didnt witness them doing anything but playing, so its highly doubtful. My main reasons for concern are because the judge at our specialty show asked me if she was pregnant, then 4 longtime breeders also said she looked pregnant to them.

Thanks Sway, if she starts looking like she is pregnant to me, I will take her and get the relaxin test done.

Fair enough - if she looks like she has a little secret in a few weeks the offer is there for what ever you need.

All my girls phantom - weight gain - milk and all, perhaps Jett is doing the same.

[TrinaJ]

Thanks Andisa and to everyone who has replied.

[ellz]

I was always told if an ultrasound showed X puppies, to double it and that would be closer to the number.

I also only ever do u/s (and not all the time) to confirm, not count. So much can alter the results...timing, skill of operator, quality of machinery just to name a few.

My most recent experience with u/s showed a definite pregnancy at quite early on and he counted 6 puppies. She gave birth to 9 but two of the puppies were in double sacs so it is possible she may have reabsorbed a couple as well.

We also had her xrayed. The xray also showed 6 puppies together with a lot of fluid and what they said at the time was probably faecal mass. Upon opening her up for the c-section, they realised that her uterus was all twisted in, around and under itself so a count was almost impossible.

[lappiemum]

I was always told if an ultrasound showed X puppies, to double it and that would be closer to the number.

I also only ever do u/s (and not all the time) to confirm, not count. So much can alter the results...timing, skill of operator, quality of machinery just to name a few.

My most recent experience with u/s showed a definite pregnancy at quite early on and he counted 6 puppies. She gave birth to 9 but two of the puppies were in double sacs so it is possible she may have reabsorbed a couple as well.

We also had her xrayed. The xray also showed 6 puppies together with a lot of fluid and what they said at the time was probably faecal mass. Upon opening her up for the c-section, they realised that her uterus was all twisted in, around and under itself so a count was almost impossible.

Just curious Ellz - had you had any issues with that girl prior?

[ellz]

First litter, the big test will be what happens if/when I mate her again.

[sandgrubber]

Ultrasound is not a commodity. You have to know something about the quality of the machine and the skill of the operator before you can say whether results are likely to be meaningful.

I stopped using ultrasound to confirm pregnancy when Murdoch Uni stopped offering the service at a reasonable price. They not only confirmed pregnancy, but were generally on the mark about numbers, and they also let you know how many pups had been absorbed. They were moving toward doing sex determinations. Then they stopped offering the service.

If it's just to confirm a pregnancy . . . I'd just wait a couple weeks. By then you should have a pretty good idea. Ok . .. if your girl phantoms, ultrasound may tell you what's going on.

Edited March 15, 2010 by sandgrubber

[SBT101]

I am going through thte exact same sitiuation at the moment. I had a ultrasound done on Kimba at 4 weeks and no puppies. She is now 6 weeks and I am going to go and get another one done as I do think that there might be at least 1 in there. If not, then at least I will know.

[lappiemum]

Hope its good news then.

We're booked in for Monday ourselves.......

[SBT101]

At leas I will know for sure. We are planning on travelling to Perth mid April for some shows ( entries due this week )and also for a day at Adventure World. So might even get her in this week so if she is pregnant, I wont be wasting my money on the enrty forms.