scans to confirm pregnancy

[mandy n]

Hi everyone, i'm interested to know if any of you have your bitches scanned to confirm whether they are pregnant or not, or do you just wait for signs a bit further on. If you do scan does anyone know what it will entail, as cockers are very hairy i wondered how that affects the pictures.

[Coco]

as cockers are very hairy i wondered how that affects the pictures.

  That's a funny thought.

I don't breed but some friends I know who do have scanned to confirm and see the size of a litter at about a month to give them a head start on finding/confirming homes for the pups. The size of the litter is usually wrong but it has helped them to a degree regarding the homing issue and saved the is she/isn't she question, also a go ahead to get everything bought for whelping etc

[doughy]

My friend had her Cocker scanned at about 4 1/2 weeks we were both there counting how many pups we could see we counted 5 and she had 7 !

[cupcakebarb]

When I thought Bramble had been caught I had her scanned and they saved her tummy!  She was bald for awhile but not pregnant!

[bluegirl]

If it's a first pregnancy then a scan at least confirms pregnancy as you may be a little unsure of the symptoms, but as regards checking how many pups I'd say forget it. I was told 3 to 4 on my girls first pregnancy and she had 11 .

[loujo]

Alfie's mum was scanned and the breeder was told there was 5 puppies, 8 puppies were born!

[*AmandaB*]

The rpoblem with scans is that the 'Picture' doesn't cover all the womb area and some hide behind each other too, it is a very expensive not very accurate procedure, have a fell when they get bigger your guess would be just as accurate!

[Sharon]

With our last litter I counted 8, Inca went on to have 9, so I wasn't far out, I find after 30 days it's more difficult to count, my girls have a small area of their tummies shaved before the scan because the fur does distort the picture.

Twice with my Jasmine, first time I was told no puppies she had 7!!  Second time again no puppies and she had one BIG pup.

[AnnieM]

I had Amber scanned, it cost me £20 by a sheep scanner, (they are supposed to be more accurate) she didn't shave her tummy, said it was unecessary and within about 5 seconds of scanning her she said, she is definitely pregnant another 5 seconds later she said 5 puppies.  She then took the scanner off and said I will do a re-check and show you it all, she did and took a bit longer this time, about 40 seconds,  when she counted she could only count 4 puppies, so would only confirm 4, she had 5.    A friend used the same scanner on her tollie and was told 5 or 6 puppies and she had 9.  She did say though that there could well be more as they can't always see them all, they can be hiding behind each other, or up under the ribs etc.

If you are having one scanned, my advice would be to find a sheep scanner they seem to be more accurate than vets, as they do it far more often.  Don't use it for definite numbers, just for a confirmation of pregnancy and a rough idea of how many.  I wanted her scanned as it was her first litter, I wanted a rough idea of how many, (I had a big waiting list  ) I didn't want to up/change her food if she wasn't pregnant and there was so many things to plan, buy and get ready.

Good luck.

[sam jane]

I had Tilly scanned by a "pig scanner", he artificially inseminates pigs and then scans them later to see if they are pregnant. He didn't shave her and was very reasonably priced. Scans are more to confirm pregnancy rather than to count the pups.
I am not sure if it is true but I was told that sometimes pups can be reabsorbed after scans if they are stressed about them

[KarenB]

Didn't get Rosie scanned, just left it to nature, would of been nice tho to know roughly how many pup's as your never sure when there finished.

[mandy n]

thanks everyone, its great to get lots of opinions, my vet said from about 4 weeks they can just feel to see if they are pregnant rather than scan, but he could scan her for £50 .

[bluegirl]

Guess it depends where you live as well as to price of scan.I live in Lancs and here it is £21 for first scan but if you have subsequent scans even postpartum it's £11

[Milliemoppet]

I had my girl scanned - it is very simple as they use ultrasound so it doesn't matter if they are hairy.  What's good about it is that you know how many pups to expect.  I used a lady that travels all over the country - she scans all sorts of animals.  If you want her number let me know.  She is really lovely and gentle.

[Sharon]

Ultrasound scanners still have a better picture when the probe has direct contact with the skin