My vet always smiles and tells me I have a "gift". As I can usually tell if a bitch is pregnant by 21 days after the 1st tie. The embryo's are usually pea sized at this time as they have only been in the uterus for a few days.
By 28 days...I can usually tell how many pups are in the litter. Now...this is only with small dogs, as I never owned or bred larger dogs.
If I cannot palp the pups by 25 days...I am 100 % certain the bitch did not "take". I haven't been wrong yet, LOL
The earliest I have palp'd and confirmed a pregnacy was 18 days.
And yes I agree...inexperienced hands will not know what to feel for, and could possibly do damage. I had a wonderful mentor who took her time with me and shared her "gift". : ) |