Xrays - Do any of you NOT get them?

[Breny]

Just after reading a few threads I thought I'd ask if there are any of you that do NOT get xrays on your pregnant girls and if you do not, why you don't.

So far I have. But I think it was more for my curiosity. They have been accurate each time but he has never been able to tell me if he forseen any problems. I basicaly just got the head count.

So I'm just curious, if you don't? And why? , if you don't?

[MyFairLacy]

For those who x-ray the week before whelping, I'm curious to know how accurate you and your vet have found them so far as predicting c-sections or natural delivery?

[EmrldShdwQueen]

My mentor doesn't do them...she's never had an issue so far.

I do them right now, but I sort of agree with you Breny...I think it's more for my curiousity.

I think the point where it would really help is if a puppy had a head that was too big to come out naturally. I think a YT member who posted in the nursery section recently had that problem. I'm not sure how much else could be predicted from them though...

[katelin]

I get them as a safety net so I know when mom is done whelping. However, last time we had a "surprise" puppy. I always ask if everything looks good for the birth, and we have never had a c-section or serious problem. However, I don't think they are reliable for predicting how the birth will go. It just makes me feel better to have one.

[bjh]

I have been breeding Yorkies for 12 years and have never x-rayed. I have had to have 1 c-section during that time and that was a 5 lb female with one large puppy. She had a c-section after labor started and mom and baby were just fine. I have a friend that x-rayed twice and both times the vet was wrong on the number of puppies. A vet generally cannot tell for sure if the mom will be able to pass the puppy just based on the x-ray.

[Breny]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

For those who x-ray the week before whelping, I'm curious to know how accurate you and your vet have found them so far as predicting c-sections or natural delivery?

I xray on day 58 or later. Mine have been dead on everytime so far.

[Breny]

Originally Posted by bjh

I have been breeding Yorkies for 12 years and have never x-rayed. I have had to have 1 c-section during that time and that was a 5 lb female with one large puppy. She had a c-section after labor started and mom and baby were just fine. I have a friend that x-rayed twice and both times the vet was wrong on the number of puppies. A vet generally cannot tell for sure if the mom will be able to pass the puppy just based on the x-ray.

Thats exactly what my vet told me. But I ask everytime I have the xray He tells me the same thing.

[Breny]

Originally Posted by EmrldShdwQueen

My mentor doesn't do them...she's never had an issue so far.

I do them right now, but I sort of agree with you Breny...I think it's more for my curiousity.

I think the point where it would really help is if a puppy had a head that was too big to come out naturally. I think a YT member who posted in the nursery section recently had that problem. I'm not sure how much else could be predicted from them though...

I know of a few who don't xray too. I also get them so I know how many there are for the birth but yes my curiosity just kills me, and I just have to know how many she has

[luckylady]

I had an xray done with the one litter we had so far and will continue to do so for all future litters. Being new at it all is the main reason I had it done the first time....I will continue to have them done to get an idea of the best possible puppy count, size, and any possiblity of complications. I know that it may not always be totally accurate and some complications are not predictable, but any bit of information beforehand is helpful. IMO
BTW - 1st xray clearly showed 4 puppies - no forseeable problems....it was RIGHT ON!

[Sugar's Mom]

i get an ultrasound at 28 days JUST BECAUSE i can't hardly stand to wait to know if she is pregnant. The last two showed three and the moms had five. LOL I have never gotten an x-ray simply because while it can show you if they are lined up good or are coming backwards, there is nothing you can do about it anyway and YOU will know right away if your mama is in trouble. Every time I get ready to whelp a litter, I am prepared to have to run to the vet. If it is free whelped, I can breath easy. So I guess I always expect the worst and am tickled when it all goes well. I never leave my girls side unless I run in here to the computer right fast to tell you guys how it is going. i know my girls well and know right away if I am going to have to run to the vet.

[katelin]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

i get an ultrasound at 28 days JUST BECAUSE i can't hardly stand to wait to know if she is pregnant. The last two showed three and the moms had five. LOL I have never gotten an x-ray simply because while it can show you if they are lined up good or are coming backwards, there is nothing you can do about it anyway and YOU will know right away if your mama is in trouble. Every time I get ready to whelp a litter, I am prepared to have to run to the vet. If it is free whelped, I can breath easy. So I guess I always expect the worst and am tickled when it all goes well. I never leave my girls side unless I run in here to the computer right fast to tell you guys how it is going. i know my girls well and know right away if I am going to have to run to the vet.

HA! I have a sonogram too at about 30 days -- just because I'm so excited and can't stand to wait any longer to have the pregnancy confirmed. Nice to know someone else does it for the same reason.

[dudley1984]

Unless I feel something isn't going right I don't x-ray. Of course, at the first sign of trouble during whelping I go straight to the vet for help. Fortunately, there's an excellent emergency hospital 10 minutes from my home, open 24/7. Out of 20 or so litters I've had no catastrophies, 2 c-sections and had an impressive puppy survival rate according to my vet. Best wishes, Dudley

[katelin]

Originally Posted by dudley1984

Unless I feel something isn't going right I don't x-ray. Of course, at the first sign of trouble during whelping I go straight to the vet for help. Fortunately, there's an excellent emergency hospital 10 minutes from my home, open 24/7. Out of 20 or so litters I've had no catastrophies, 2 c-sections and had an impressive puppy survival rate according to my vet. Best wishes, Dudley

How do you judge how many puppies your mom is having or when she is done whelping? I have a friend who's yorkie waited several hours (3 or 4 I think) between her 3rd and last puppy. There was a problem with the last puppy and mom had a c-section for the last puppy. They saved the puppy, but it was born with a large external hernia and needed surgery immediately.(Not that an x-ray would have shown any of this). So how do you judge when all the puppies have been born?

[Ellie May]

I just don't see the importance of an xray. Maybe I'm missing something. I mean, even if there is one big pup, I would still let mom try by herself. The counts aren't always accurate and there can always be surprises. Why not xray after she is done whelping if you think there is a need or is that not safe?

[dudley1984]

Originally Posted by katelin

How do you judge how many puppies your mom is having or when she is done whelping? I have a friend who's yorkie waited several hours (3 or 4 I think) between her 3rd and last puppy. There was a problem with the last puppy and mom had a c-section for the last puppy. They saved the puppy, but it was born with a large external hernia and needed surgery immediately.(Not that an x-ray would have shown any of this). So how do you judge when all the puppies have been born?

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A couple of times I've seen a late arriving puppy show up after I thought Mom was done, but so far no problems. More than once I've had the Dr. look at an x-ray and say "definitely 4 pups, maybe 5." You certainly would want to err on the side of caution; with experience you develop a sense of things not going right. Whenever I reasonably can, or if in doubt, I go to the vet right after the birth anyway to have my girl looked at; they usually like to give a shot of oxytocin at that time to help clear out the uterus and stimulate milk production.