Need some info.
 

Okay the only reason I am asking is because I have never experienced this before. A friend of mine has a female that went into heat for approximately one week then resumed heat about 2 months later. She was in standing heat mated with the male and tied once that she is sure of. She took her female to the vet for palpitation because she wan't absolutely sure the bitch was pregnant. Vet felt and confirmed uterine swelling and felt what she described asa little bigger than pea sized. The vet then scheduled an xray for the bitch at 43 days. I wasn't asked about this until after the xray was done or I would have advised her to wait. Anyway the xray showed nothing but dark spots which were the stool and she said there were some very faint white areas towards the ribcage area. Anyway after I talked to her I advised her to just wait and keep an eye on the female because the xray was done too early and it is possible she is actually pregnant. I stopped by to see her yesterday and the female has gained some weight but has a very small amount of her tuckup still but has exhibited all the signs of pregnancy. I felt very faint movement when I had my hand on her belly. So after all this info here is my question. Could she be pregnant with just one pup and if so how can you tell.
Any and all help and advice would be really helpful as the bitch would be due the first week of April.

I can't help but will bump this up for you.

The only way to know for sure is to wait until at least 50-53 days and have another x-ray. Well, I should qualify that and say it isn't the ONLY way, but the best way I know of.

We usually do our x-rays at day 55-60 depending on the female and when we think she may deliver. It is very possible that she only has one puppy especially if this is her first litter. It sounds like she went through a split heat cycle, those can be frustrating and a bit tricky but once you get your girls pattern down it is easier.

Do you know how far along she was when they palpated?

This is her 2nd litter. Her first produced 4 healthy pups. She was at 26 days when they palpated her.

Sunnie I doubt my friend is going to pay another $105 for another office call and set of xrays. The male she used was 3.8# and her female is 8.5#.
Like i said I haven't had experience with this type of situation. I have had normal pregnancies and free whelping so I don't know what to tell her other than to wait and see what develops in the next few days. since she would be starting her 8th week thursday.

I dont get this..I thought all vets KNEW puppies wont show this early.
Now 2 posts in as many days,
Do you think your friend can ask for more xrays free of charge.
I've seen on here where the vet offered some of the people after not seeing anything. I just cant understand a vet charging again for something that was done far to early in the bitches gestation...:confused: He owes her JMO

I said the same thing but she is a kinda meek person and just accepts things. I told her that if her bitch has pups that I want to go in with her when she take her in for a checkup and I will talk to the vet that I see who actually has experience with smaller dogs. I told her that they should check her female and the pups and do the dewclaws and tails at no cost to her. I think there are just way too many vets that are trained to take care of larger dogs and not enough that specialize in the smaller breeds. Plus it wouldn't hurt to have the receptionist that do the scheduling to know which vets have experience with smaller breeds so they can be seen by them especially in an office with more than one vet. I do know that I will never take my females in to see anyone other than the vet I have dealt with for years unless I question them first.

Well 26 days is too early to palpate and a day can make all the difference. I palpate our girls starting on day 28...if I do not feel something grapesize...we try the next day...I know they will have them 5 weeks from the day they are grape size...this has really helped me determine a due date too...

If she were my girl I would take her for an x-ray on day 60 as it sounds like she may have ovulated after her first breeding, as all puppies are born 63 days from when they ovulate.