Scans for pregnancy - necessary ?
 

Is it necessary to scan a dog for pregnancy around day 24 - if so, any idea of the rough cost ?
Also, can the Vet determine a pregnancy in a dog towards the end of the fourth week of possible pregnancy (they say day 24)without using scans, and is it true they can be exact on the number of pups ?
Is it that necessary to know how many pups ? (Considering you go to the vet if they have had the puppy sac visable for half an hour with no pup being born ?)
If my wee one is pregnant, it will be my first time being an overlooking mum - so I am reading up all the info I can, but cannot find this out. Will probably phone our vet this week anyway and probably take her in for a check up.
I am at home all the time, so if she is pregnant I will be around the whole time and for the birth, and I was brought up on a farm so have seen many births of all kinds, though not dogs ! I watched many lambs, calves, guinea-pigs, hamsters and kittens being born !
(I have homes for any pups I have, and I will probably keep one myself.)
Any advice would be greatfully appreciated - but most of it I can find out from books and friends, though I know a fair bit already.
It's just this scanning process !
.........DEBRA:animal-pa
:thankyou2

1. The "possible" Mum to be !
2. The "Dad"
pics below :

Is she pregnant already?

I've bred dogs for a long time, though not Yorkies, two of the terrier breeds.
i've never had them scanned so can't give any advice about that, sorry.

I took my girl to the vet yesterday. she is at day 39. He felt her stomach and said she feels pregnant to him. He did not try to count the puppies. He said we could do a scan but they aren't real reliable.

He said an xray is more accurate. That cannot be done till day 50 or later.

My vet said the xray would be $58, he did not charge me for yesterdays visit.

Since it's my first time and her first litter, I believe I will take her in for the xrays around day 55.

YEH....THANKS all for all that sound advice ! :D
You have told me stuff I don't have a clue about, so thanks so much for that ! ;) :D
Jeanie - that is great to know the rough price....our vets always charge consultation fees too, but it gives me some idea.
Yes, Meggie, she was mated 27 days ago....so I am waiting and counting ! She doesn't LOOK pregnant to me, and I can't feel anything moving, though I don't press or anything.....and her nipples aren't huge or milking, but only have a wee bit of padding in them....though they say it is in the last week or two you notice the changes.
She was mated by my male to hopefully have one or two pups. She is three years old and this will be her first and last pregnancy if it works. I would keep one if she has any, and I have friends (retirees) who can't afford huge prices, and whom I have said I would let them have one if she has any. They are small dogs, so perfect for them, and if anything happens to the new owners then I can take them back and keep them. Also I can walk them all together which will be great !
Maybe she isn't pregnant....don't know if I would go through all that again if she isn't. I would maybe just get her neutered like my other female.
Thanks again....will take that all on board, and phone the vet to see if they need to check her or not.
:animal-pa DEBRA

What highlandyorkies you have bred your bitch!!!! lol sorry i couldnt help but tease i hope you are not breeding willy nilly and all your dogs are up to the kc standards and at least have a leg on each corner and 2 ears sorry tee hee !!! i am sure you will get me back for this later only joking please dont pick on me forever for this xx:D :D :D

lol ;) :D

Maybe she is !
 

Ooooooooh !
Today, Tammy has been very quiet, sleepy, and more lovey than usual. I washed her, and was delighted to see that on day 28 she now has 6 nipples with padding under them, and has a definate wee belly on her which was never there before ! :D I am very excited ! After thinking she wasn't showing any signs, though she was sick once a few weeks ago - which she never is, and has been burpy, which is not normal for her - I am thinking she could be !!! :D :)
If I hadn't washed her I might not have noticed her tum so easily until a few days more into her cycle.
Ooooooh ! I hope she is !!!
I have gently been feeling for pups, (no pressure though just in case I hurt her)but have now read up on it, and I am just away to have a feel again.
Haven't taken her to the vet after most think it's not necessary, though I may yet at some point...I'll see how it goes.
:animal-pa happy excited Debra:excited:

Sounds like she is.
Some of mine had "morning sickness" too.

Sometimes it's only in the last couple of weeks that you can be certain. As I said, I never had the scans or Xrays, you'll know soon enough & personally I try to avoid too much interference or unnecessary vet visits in early pregnancy, too many sick dogs there!

NEWS and NEW PICTURES !
 

Still looking as though she is pregnant - day 31 today.
Here are some new pics taken a few hours ago of the parents, and of my three and of me and my three !
1. Tammy and Casper (parents maybe)
2. My three Yorkies, TARA, TAMMY and CASPER
3+4. Debra and Tara Tammy and Casper. :animal-pa

I am going through the same thing with Darla..the waiting game...although the past couple days I believe I have felt movement and my daughter says she felt something tonight too!! Darla's tummy is getting very firm also...so I am 90% sure she is pregnant..

Good luck with your possible pregnancy and keep us posted!!

Dawn

Thanks for that Dawn......I am no good at waiting, and being my first time I am sooooo excited !!! Have wanted to do this for 7 years now !

What day is your Darla on ? Is she further on than mine ?
Tammy is day 31, her nipples have padding underneath, are firm, and today are very pink. She has a deffo wee belly dropping down when I washed her the other day, and she never has that....she is quiet, sleepy, loving, easily upset by noise...and barks at slightest noise - not like her !!! Not playing as much as she usually does, either.

It's doing my head in....roll on a week or two when the signs are more obvious !
At least you have felt movement ! Lucky you !
Is she further ahead ? :animal-pa DEBRA x x x x

If our calculations our right..Darla is day 43!! I had to add that up on the calander lol...I have been going by weeks..wow not far to go now...I am happy we can go through this together!!

This will be fab....I'll keep in touch, as you are ahead of me ! PUPPIES !!! :D
Where in Canada are you ?
My family are Canadian - my mum, gran, anties and uncles are canadian, and all my gran's family are still out there ! :animal-pa

Debra,

I am in Ontario...where is your family from?? I will definetly keep in touch with you about our babies!!

Dawn

Wow. Have family there, and my mum was born in Brooks Alberta, they lived near Ponoka, had a farm on the prairie, have relatives near Vancoover and Toronto and all over the East....my mum has done a family tree, and even my Dad who is Scottish has close Canadian relatives too. All my life we have had Canadians over every year to stay at my Grannie's. She is dead now, though still has some bro's and sis's left over there - but my Mum keeps in touch with them all, and has been back several times. I am desperate to go, and will one day as we've so many friends and relatives and I am the only one who hasn't been over ! :D

What size is your female Darla ?

:wink: Debra x x x x

I have a friend in Ponoka!! I am about 4 hours from Toronto in a small town. You really should come to Canada if you get the chance..I sure know I would love to see Scotland if I could!! One of my best friends was born in Scotland and lived there until his early 20's and has lived here ever since...still has his fabulous accent!! Darla was 5 pounds before she got pregnant..imagine my suprise when the vet weighed her in at 6.3 pounds!! You can really feel how heavy she has become...its unreal!!

Dawn

I live on the outskirts of Inverness, and have lived in the Highlands all my life. Where is your friend ? :D

Yes, I'll come to Canada sometime, and you should come and see Scotland...especially the Highlands - you'll love the scenery !

Darla isn't much bigger than Tammy then !
Tammy is normally 4lbs, but I haven't weighed her recently.
All the show lot were going on at me that she should be 7lbs ! .....but my male is small too, so hopefully no problems ! You can never be certain anyway, no matter what their size !

I'll be off to bed in a mo....it's 5am here, lol....will never get up in the morning. If I don't reply next time I'll catch you tomorrow. ;)
Love Debra X X X X:animal-pa

Pics of Tammy's belly
 

Any opinions welcome !
THIS IS TAMMY'S PAGE THREE DEBUE, HEE HEE - TOP SHELF STUFF !
Any of you used to having puppies and know what a pregnant bitch looks like ?
Well, I am very excited and so rather impatient, lol.....what do you think looking at these ? :D :rolleyes: :D

Tammy is now day 31plus or at least day 29.
Her nipples were very pink last night, and I felt tiny ripples of movement today, though knowing my luck it is just wind, lol:D One of my three Yorkies (?) was sick after their breakfast this morning, and all tried to eat it again before anyone else got it, eeeeek !
Tammy is still very tired and wants loving more.

Can you tell yet if she is pregnant ???
Thanks for any comments.....DEBRA:animal-pa

pics 1-3 are Tammy's belly today(Monday26th)
pic 4 is of her bits.;)

Wait till the end of her 5th week, you'll really be able to tell....she'll be poochy towards the bottom of her tummy, just between her legs. Is she acting more affectionate, has she had morning sickness?

I can pretty much tell right away with my girls....their personalities really change....they become coy and affectionate.

Thanks for that advice !
She is bigger between her legs on her belly than she ever was before, and her belly drops down when she stands.
It looks puffy.
Also, yes, she is affectionate and coy and tired and cheesey. She was like this before though, but without the tiredness and long sleeps and odd sickness - only one deffo episode though in week two, and possibly one today, but can't be sure it was her who was sick ! (They all wanted to eat it, yuc....had to grab them away one by one before I got it cleaned up !)
She wants to snuggle with you all day, is going out to the toilet to wee a bit more than usual, and is coy all over...especially if I want to look at her belly - she never let me before - having rescued her from terrible conditions last year - but she lets me look now and is all cheesey and cute when I do, like she knows what I am looking for. I am speaking to her all the time about does she have any POOPIES in there ??? ...and she knows fine !
She is very noticebly wuffing all the time at the slightest thing, and jumps down off her bed and tears around the livingroom loudly barking - then straight back to rest again ! This is unusual for her.
Apart from that I haven't a clue !!!
Will be counting the days ! ;)
:animal-pa Debra x x x x

Congrats!!
 

I know what you are going through. The first time my Davie had puppies, I should say puppy, I was so excited. The best thing about breeding is that I still feel that way every time one of my girls are bred. Our last litter was born in November and I still miss every one of Lexie's 6 puppies.

AW !!!!
Did you keep that one pup ? :D

You do know about increasing her meals now don't you. A bit of cottage cheese as a side dish with couple of meals.....I usually increase meals to 3 times a day plus a bed time snack...once puppies are whelped I really speed up food intake. Cottage cheese, whelping pudding (if you'd like I'll send you the recipe, although I've posted it on several threads) plus right after whelping I give her can of goats milk with equal parts of water, a tablespoon of light Corn Syrup and 1 egg yolk....helps to build up her energy levels and bring in milk.

Yes, we named him Sonny and we gave him to my Mom who lives with us. Our females have had 3 litters since.....I love being a puppy Mom. I have sold all of the 15 other puppies, many to friends and people at work. I am very picky at who get to buy my puppies and so should you. I will try and post some puppy pics of the last litter of 6, they were so cute!!

Mardelen - Yes, thanks...she's been getting a level teaspoon of puppy food with her normal meal, and more dog biscuits during the day up until now. I have got "the book of the bitch" which is very good....but haven't heard of the things you give, so will list them.
I'd love your recipe for whelping pudding....you can either pm me it or let me know which threads it is on. I would be very greatful for any help like that, being a novice - so thanks a lot ! x x x ;)

I am in contact with the breeder who I bought my male, the sire, from ...and she is helping me with the pedigree papers if I need help, but I will fill them out myself at first to see if I get it right.
Tammy has amazing amount of OZMILLION champs in her pedigree - 6 of them and another Ozmillion sire too. Casper has one Ozmillion champ in his, but he is a Scottish dog and we don't show as much as the English as we don't have the same amount of shows. Tammy came from England and is unrelated to Casper and Tara who are Scottish, though Tara's grandfather is Casper's father, which I didn't know until I bought him. It is fascinating to read their lines.
There are no shows up here where I am. Not for 100 miles in one direction(East) and more than that South.

I hope it all works out ok, and I will be keeping one at least. She will probably only have 2. ;)

Mum of Sonny - Aw....he will be special, bet your mum loves him !
Don't worry have had two people who want one who are struck off my list as unsuitable - one posh woman who has the money, but hasn't a clue, despite having a Yorkie,(poor thing) and another one who I am avoiding like the plague as she spoils her grand-daughter who used to be a friend of my daughter's, and she wants one ! Her gran said she will let her have one of mine. The girl is 16, a heavy smoker, the house is so smokey that there is a haze in the room and you stink when you come home, and she wouldn't look after it - so neither of them will be getting one !!! They haven't even trained the gran's pup ! A lovely dog spoilt by bad manners and being too fat.
So I will be keeping them all myself unless a very good home hopefully with fit retirees is offered - and they will come back to me for life if anything goes wrong !;) :D :)

Thanks, :animal-pa Debra x x x x

Please take good note of what Mardelin has said here, she's given you very good advice.
you really do need to be thinking of increasing her food now, good quality protein, not just extra dog biscuits, & especially make sure she gets the extra calcium. That is why the cottage cheese is good.

A shortage of calcium can lead to very serious consequences after whelping. It can lead to eclampsia which is a very serious, life threatening condition & involves emergency dashes to the vet for calcium injections or she could even die. I'm not trying to scare you, just make you aware of preventing complications. I have not bred Yorkies, but have bred & shown two breeds in the terrier group for over thirty years, so have dealt with lots of situations. I always give my bitches extra calcium in the last two weeks of pregnancy & while they are nursing.Also make sure she is getting enough Vitamin D, to be able to absorb the calcium. I give them Stress to be on the safe side.

Yeh Meggie, you are so right, and thanks so much for the extra advice....I trust you all to keep me right;)
I was told before I came onto this forum to feed her actual puppy meat which has the extra protein, which I have been doing in tiny amounts since day 1, and intended to increase that about now, but you have given me much better advice on what to feed her, and I will be going shopping today, and will add those to the list, so thanks !!!!! I really mean that ! :D
:animal-pa Debra

Cottage cheese is wonderful to add as a side dish to mom's meals....remember do not give any calcium supplement tablets until after whelping time. This too can bring on eclampsia. I continue the whelping pudding until weaning time.

Here's the whelping pudding recipe I promised you.

Post Whelping Pudding

16 oz. water
1 pkg. Knox Gelatin
(micro. to disolve)
15 oz. can evap. milk
2 tabls. vanilla yogurt
2 egg yolks
2 tabls. white corn syrup
mix all ingred. in bowl let set in fridge
until thickens. Spoon out as needed.

THANKS FOR THE RECIPE !

I think I am confused now, so check what I have listed to see that I am feeding her correctly.

Do I give puppy meat along with Tammy's breakfast just now ?
(Was told to do this, before I joined forum ??)

I give two side dishes (2 teaspoons ?) cottage cheese a day.
(as well as three of her own food)

Once puppies come - give more food.
right after whelping - 1 can goats milk with equal parts water.(....do I give her any before she has pups or would she then get too much calcium ?)
- 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup
- 1 egg yolk

- whelping pudding

Hope that is right.
Do I give puppy meat/any goats milk before she has puppies ?

Thanks again, Debra x x x:animal-pa

Sorry I havent responded sooner lol...we had a terrible storm on Monday and my computer has been down until today...talk about withdrawls!!

My friend is much old than I am I met him when I worked for him as a teenager..he and his wife both came here in the 70's and they came from Inverness!!! I have seen so many beautiful pictures..and Scotland is a dream trip for me...I would definetly check out the highlands if I ever venture out that way....I read all the posts since I was on last and got lots of great information from them...your little ones belly looks much like Darlas!! Any kicks yet??

Dawn