How many puppies can you count? Understanding your bitch's x ray.

There is nothing here we post that we have not learned hands on, hopefully not through a mistake or failure, but sometimes yes, that is the case.

In the case of completing an x ray on your pregnant bitch, we have learned through trail and error what works best and is the most effective use of this technology.  We understand how exciting breeding your bitch has been, and the thought of waiting to confirm her pregnancy is almost unheard of, however at Conquistador K-9 we do not use early ultrasonic testing and opt to only perform third trimester x ray exams.   If you have no opinion on the matter, know that in the least an x ray will give you some piece of mind and prepare you for the impending whelping by alerting you to how many puppies you should expect and also if there are any visible complications with puppy placement.

55 days pregnant

Here you can visibly see the puppies spine and cranium outlines, we count 8 puppies here and notice no placement that seems concerning.  We can determine more closely her due date based on the formation of the skeletal outlines of the puppies.

Radiographic imaging of the abdomen is most accurate for determining pregnancy during the last trimester (43 to 63 days after ovulation). After 42 days, the fetal skulls and spines are visible on radiographs. As pregnancy advances, the bones of the front legs become visible, followed by the bones of the rear legs, the pelvis and the ribs. Finally, the fetal teeth become visible around 56 to 61 days after ovulation.

Prior to 40 days, the enlarging uterus may be visible on radiographs, but it may appear very much like the surrounding intestines. The contents of the pregnant uterus may be difficult to distinguish from an abnormal non-pregnant uterus before fetal skeletons develop. The physical and medical condition of the bitch will help to identify a diseased or a healthy pregnant uterus.

As the pregnancy nears its end, the number of fetuses can be determined radiographically by counting fetal skulls.