Ok had x-rays today, vet said there were 3 puppies but said there was no way to measure them :/. He's only been our vet for two years and we've only been to him for check ups and stuff
Maybe I'm just being paranoid but I don't think he's very knowledgeable. Like for instance he told me not to let her eat the placenta. Everywhere I've read has said to let her eat them. Souls I trust his reading of the x-ray?

I would listen to experienced breeders like Yorkiemom1 for advice on placenta, I think she says to let them eat just one, as more will give her diarrhea. I'm sure she will verify.

I would be very concerned having this vet be your "on call" person, with limited experience. What if she needs an emergency c-section or has problems.... will he be qualified to help and safe your momma and babies? I would consider lining up another vet in case things don't go well.

Thank you! That's a really good point. Think I'll start looking for one

If this vet does not know how to measure a skull with calipers, and then move to the pelvic ring and see if that skull measurement will go through the pelvic ring, I dont think I would trust him for ANYTHING!!!

Placentas contain concentration or hormones that have "grown" those babies, exchanging nourishment and hormones and everything good between puppy and momma.....I will let my mommas eat one or two, but if they get much more than that, they just vomit it all up....it is enriched blood and they just dont tolerate all that blood in their stomachs.....and it also gives momma diarrhea. BUT, the great thing about the placentas is the hormones it contains, HELPS WITH THE BONDING BETWEEN MOMMA AND BABY. In fact, if i have a c-section done, I will clean the baby, suction pup out, dry pup off, but then I will rub that placent on the puppies....when momma wakes up, she will "clean her babies up" and she is smelling/licking that TRACE AMOUNT of placenta off her babies, and bonding with those babies by licking that placenta off those babies.....it doesnt take alot of placenta rubbed on baby to stimulate this powerful instinct in momma.....and I will let her eat that one placenta that comes home from the vet after the c-section.....
This is important for the bonding between momma and her babies.....

Meanwhile.....I would find another vet that is more knowledgable. You really need to know if you are going to have problems with momma passing these babies, and if he ends up having to do a c-section, I am terrified you are going to loose the momma as well as your babies! Measuring puppy skeletons even with a piece of paper.....you look at that puppy's head width right on the xray film in the light box, and you take a pen lay the edge of the piece of paper like a ruler or straight edge across at the widest part of that head, and mark on your paper....then you move your marked edge on the paper, and you position it across the widest part of the pelvic ring......you will be able to tell immediately, if that pups head will fit through that birth canal! This is elementary! ANY vet should be able to measure anything he can see on an xray!!!

Thank you so much for your reply! I have already found a new office to bring her to in case on an emergency. All of your info was really helpful. The vet didn't show us the x-rays so I'm going there to pick them up in a little bit. I may bring them into her new vet for a second opinion. I don't know if this vet didn't know how to measure or didn't feel like it, either way I'm not impressed with him overall.

Excellent idea!! (Here is a thought for you and that old vet....maybe he didnt take xrays at all since he didnt show them to you.....and since he said you cant measure pups on xray.....maybe he has no xrays done on your momma, maybe he just CHARGED you for the xrays.....my suspicious mind....just a thought.....)

When you take the films to your other vet, have him/her show you how to measure a skull on a pup, and then compare it to the opening thru the pelvic ring. If it looks like these babies are not going to pass, if I were you, ....what day is she??.....if she is day 60 or later, I would go ahead and schedule your c-section.....if they have to do an emergency c-section, I think they may charge more for it.....if it is elective, there is no confusion, no rush, no anxiety....

Oh it crossed my mind too. ;) They gave me a disk and it's not letting me save the picture to share it. I'll take one with my phone, the quality will be poor but honestly the x-ray isn't super clear anyway:/
Please tell me what you think

Picture of the x-ray

Another one

She is at day 55

I did the measurement with the paper like you said and there is still a lot of room on both sides of the pelvic ring. I feel much better :)

Sounds like you have about another 8-9 days to go. Hope it all goes smoothly.

Yes we do :)
Thank you. I am so ready to meet these babies!

Hope they come out healthy and you post pics. Of them :)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Now, you can do something your "old" VET says he cant do!!! And it didnt take you 6-8 years of vet school to learn how to do it!! Yes, it looks like so far, you have enough room......it will get a little tighter because this last week, those kids take off and will grow, but I think you still have no issues with passing thru the ring! Hopefully, no one gets sideways in there...! Praying for a safe delivery!