Hi Which day do you find is the best for scanning my vet said they can scan from day 21-31

and do you scan later on to check everyting or do you x-ray and which week do you do this?

Thanks

I've always had mine done around day 28 and don't usually do anything after that.

My vet prefers to scan around day 35

By then I would usually be pretty certain if my girls are in whelp anyway.  I have my Vet palpate day 25 - 28 with a scan if he is unsure at day 28 - 30.  He is usually pretty sure one way or another so rarely have a scan.  He has never been wrong whether he has given a positive or negative diagnosis.

is there any other reason to scan other than to confirm pregnancy can the scan pick up any defects? the vet told me that she can tell me roughly how many pups she is usually only 1 out either way and as my bitch only had two pups last time i would like to know if she will have more this time.

if she confirms the pregnancy by palpitation should i not bother with the scan?

I have only ever used scans to confirm pregnancy as most vets can be wildly out, other than detecting a small litter of one in breeds where this would be a problem.

When all is said and done the number is not relevant as they have yet to be born and reared, and of course pups can be still born or die soon after, so I don't like counting my chickens.

It can be useful after whelping to confirm that all pups have been born if in doubt.

If the Vet is certain after palpating then I personally woudln't bother with a scan.

This is a large breed with large head my vets worry would be possible c-section if they grow to big if she only has singleton we did get two good ties 1/2 long each so hoping she does not just have one/two i have waiting list so no probs there and of course one for me

A vet would know when palpating if they could feel only one, if they feel a string then it won't be a singleton.  Of course a bitch can absorb some or all of a litter up to about 6 weeks in whelp, so a later scan before due date may be useful if whelping difficulties are likely/high risk

Thanks Brainless

My vet palpated at around 21 days, I think, then we scanned at 32 days also. Th evet was sure after the palpation, but I still wanted her to scan so I could see the pups and hopefully get a rough estimate of how many pups, as this was my first whelping, with my mentor on the phone but 1 1/2 hours way. The vet was very honest about not being able to give an acurate estimate of pups, but I asked anyway. She said probably 7 or 8, but could equally be 6 or 9, so quite a broad figure, but she had 9. I did also weigh my bitch regulalrly throughout her pregnancy though, and just before whelping she had gained 9KGS, which was all pups, not body condition, so I did guestimate that that would be 9 pups at lb each plus about lb per pup for fluid/placentas etc. Of course, I might have just been lucky!

It was nice to have the scan though, to see the pups little heart beats. My bitch loves any sort of attention, so was fine with the scanning, so I didn't see the harm.