First, you have to have someone that knows how to take an xray...exposure time is critical. Then you have to have someone that knows how to read an xray and can determine what they are seeing. Timing is necessary....you cant do xrays before 48 days and expect to be really accurate...those little skeletons need to be calcified and that has taken place by day 48.
I always have ultrasounds done at around week 4-5....to determine live babies, as well as number of babies. I have my xrays done on day 58......I use that to determine positions, number of babies, and to measure puppy/ pelvic ring ratio, to determine that they are going to fit through the birth canal.
I am fortunate enough to have a vet that is great with taking and reading ultra sounds as well as x-rays....she seldom gets it wrong, and when she has, it has been by only one puppy shy.....I would be real uneasy if she looked at an xray that has been properly done, and missed it by 3 or more pups!!! |