scanning for pups

[kbt2661]

just had a quote from my vet to scan my potentially pregnant bitch. Between £56 and £76

. It has only been two weeks and I like to know what is going on, really want to know if she has taken or not. Vet won't scan until 5 weeks so they can tell how many pups, I still just want to know if she is. Is there any other way of telling and does that seem a lot to you experienced breeders for a scan?

 

[Faithkat]

When I bred I never had any of the bitches scanned. At two weeks you may not get a conclusive scan and pregnancy is usually obvious at about 4-5 weeks anyway. The bitch may well be sicky, go off her food and the nipples will get much bigger and very pink. Puppies don't grow bone until the last fortnight. I wouldn't bother having her scanned, personally.

 

[Maesfen]

There isn't much point scanning her now cos if she's not in pup you can't do anything about it until the bitch comes in season in another 6 months, can you? If I was you I would hold your horses and wait until the vet suggests but you should be able to tell by then if she is or not anyway just not the number! I don't know about cost cos I don't get mine done, it's a waste of money if they're not in pup (to me anyway). If by any chance she did not hold and she was a maiden bitch anyway, then I would get her scanned before her next season to see that everything was as it should be just in case there was something that needed sorting out. Hope that makes sense!

What type is she and good luck anyway?

 

[kbt2661]

Not wanting to upset JAK as we have been there before when I was looking for a stud dog on here last year, sorry JAK - she is a WHITE GSD, EEK

She is a maiden, and really just want to know if she is or not, I agree that scanning is probably a waste of money as if she isn't then I can't do anything and if she is and carrying loads I will just panic so best to just wait and see but vet recommended 5 week scan, yeah I know - cha ching £££££ thank you very much. I think I will cancel scan and just wait and see - as for the signs you mentioned she will often make herself sick in the mornings anyway - eating grass etc she does however seem more mature and lethargic but that could be the heat. I want puppies!!!

 

[kbt2661]

Thanks Forester, I think I agree and won't bother having her scanned, just wait and see, just want to know if she is or not, see my reply to Maes re the signs not really any of those and if anything she has more of an appetite as she is often quite fussy about her food but is eating when it is put down.

 

[JAK]

If you are really desperate to know if she IS in pup & roughly how many she's having (as I always am, well, the latter part anyway! LOL) now's the time to get her scanned if I remember correctly!

I used to go to a lovely lady in your part of the world I think but I honestly can't remember her name & she was very poorly & I fear she may no longer be with us anyway!

I'm pretty sure she used to advertise in one of the breed club magazines but I can't remember if it was collies or BSDs! Your best bet is to get in touch with one of the national shepherd clubs (the White & Longcoat GSD club for example), as they usually keep lists of people who do this!

Not sure if your vets' quote is expensive or not, as it's so long since I had it done, I'm completely out of date with prices for such things! Wouldn't choose to have the vets do it myself, as they just don't do enough of 'em for my liking & their litter size predictions are sometimes rather off the mark! LOL

Don't let anyone tell you she needs her tummy all shaved off either for a scan - they don't! (Most bitches love it btw & some go all soppy - mine LOVED it & used to drag me up the lady's drive, 'cos she used to stuff 'em full to bursting point with sweeties from a big jar & they ALWAYS remembered her from their previous visits! LOL)

 

[kbt2661]

Thanks for reply Jak, I am going to hold off on the scan as she is only two weeks, have one booked for 5 weeks but may cancel that as on thinking about it it will just be wasted money coz if she is she is and if she isn't then there's not a lot I can do about it. The dog has a 100% success rate so I should just really wait and see. I have to take her to get her booster and wormers anyway in the next couple of weeks so hopefully we should be able to tell something by then. Thanks again for advice, will keep you all posted - fingers crossed!!!!

 

[Lynnes]

I had mine scanned and most peeps (not all) in my breed scan. I cannot remember what stage in the pregnancy she was scanned but I did know she was pregnant. I didn't get her scanned just to confirm whether she was pregnant as I already knew by tell tale signs. A huge reason for scanning is to see approximately (only approximately) how many pups she is carrying so when they arrive you have a rough (only rough) idea in case there are any left etc - also if there is only 1 pup you have to make your vet aware as 1 pup most of the times causes problems.

 

[JAK]

Oh sorry, I misread post - I thought she was already FOUR weeks in whelp, not TWO! Oopsie!

Tbh, one of the main reasons we used to scan was to get an idea of litter size but it doesn't really help with 'bookings', as of course, you still have no idea how many of each sex they're going to have! LOL

And of course, to make certain they WERE in pup, especially if it was a first time bitch or stud dog, or if the bitch or dog were slightly older, with possibly reduced fertility etc.

Have fun with your puppies!

 

[JAK]

[ QUOTE ]
...also if there is only 1 pup you have to make your vet aware as 1 pup most of the times causes problems.

[/ QUOTE ]
One of ours had just the one in her first litter (elderly stud dog!), resulting in the inevitable caesarian, as it was a HUGE pup, no way she could have managed to squidge him out herself!

 

[kbt2661]

ok now I am thinking maybe I should have her scanned. She is a maiden but the stud is not. He has a 100% success rate and has been used for 2 years. The most puppies this dog has sired is 12 and the least is 5. oh decisions decisions

 

[JAK]

If you're going to sit there worrying, thinking "Oh, what if she has 12, how will we manage?", then have her scanned if it will ease your mind a bit!
If it gives you peace of mind, or you are so curious you just can't wait, then it's money well spent but if you're not bothered about whether she has 4 or 14, then leave it!
For me, it's part of the 'fun' of having a litter & that's why I do it mainly!

 

[Lynnes]

Molly was scanned with 7 to 8 puppies. 6 puppies were delivered within half an hour of each other but as she was scanned I knew there was possibly some more still there. Phoned the vet several times as I thought there was still puppies left, during the night she started contractions again and pushed a further 2 out - one was dead and it was blocking the last puppy way out - last puppy alive. I should have insisted in an oxytosin injection once contractions had stopped but I trusted the vet who said that if any puppies were left they would still be alive - unfortunately they were wrong.

I would never enbark on breeding without getting my b1tch scanned.

Good luck xx

 

[milor]

I agree - my bitches are scanned at 5-6 weeks and although not totally accurate this does give me some idea of how many pups to expect - I paid £35 last time - but I don't use my vet - a local well known breeder does it for me and she's very experienced and good with the dogs. i would expect vets to charge more but £75 does sound a bit steep !.

 

[celebrity6]

Just had my dog scanned. Last time we were waiting for the pups to be born and nothing happened - she had us fooled for 9 weeks.
The scan is usually done between 4 and 5 weeks of pregnancy.
The vet would only confirm she was expecting, although we could make out the pups. If pushed he may have counted them for us. It only cost £16, the standard fee for a consultation.