Pregnancy monitoring (ultrasound, X-ray, due date)
Ultrasound from week 3, X-ray to count the puppies or kittens late in pregnancy, assessment of the foetal heart rate and a plan for the birth, so that you know when and what to expect.
What it involves
Pregnancy monitoring is a series of examinations spread over 9 weeks, which tell us whether a bitch or queen is pregnant, how many foetuses she has, whether they are developing normally and when — to within 1–2 days — to expect the birth. This lets you prepare your home, plan a possible caesarean section and react quickly if something goes wrong.
The main tool is ultrasound: as early as 21–25 days after mating we can see the gestational sacs, and from about day 28 the beating hearts. In the last week we take an X-ray, because the foetal skeletons are then mineralised and can be counted accurately — this is the only reliable method of establishing how many young are due. Towards the end of pregnancy ultrasound is used to measure the foetal heart rate: a fall below certain values indicates danger and the need to intervene.
The on-site laboratory lets us measure progesterone — which determines the timing of ovulation and birth — and check the mother's health (blood count, calcium, glucose).
When it is used
We arrange the first visit 3–4 weeks after mating, the next around day 45 (assessment of development) and on day 55–58 (X-ray and birth plan). If we know the date of ovulation from a progesterone test, the timetable is more accurate. Monitoring also applies to unplanned pregnancies — it allows you to make an informed decision and prepare for the birth.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- The bitch was mated 3 weeks ago and the owner wants to know whether she is pregnant.
- A free-roaming queen has gained weight and has enlarged nipples.
- A bitch of a breed with a narrow pelvis (bulldog, chihuahua) — a possible caesarean section needs to be planned.
- The due date has passed but the bitch has not started giving birth, and the owner does not know whether to wait.
- A pregnant bitch has a vaginal discharge or has lost her appetite.
- The owner wants to know how many puppies to expect, so they can check whether all of them have been born.
- A previous pregnancy ended with foetal death or a difficult birth.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
At the first visit we give the bitch or queen a general examination and perform an abdominal ultrasound. If the date of mating is uncertain, we measure progesterone, which helps establish ovulation retrospectively. In mothers with chronic disease or in at-risk breeds we perform a blood count and biochemistry to detect anaemia or calcium or glucose disorders before the birth.
How it proceeds
We perform the ultrasound with the bitch or queen lying down, after clipping a small strip of fur on the abdomen; it takes 10–20 minutes and does not require sedation. The owner sees the image on the screen and hears the foetal heartbeats. The vet measures the gestational sacs or heads, which allows the stage of pregnancy to be estimated, and assesses the condition of the uterus and placentae.
An X-ray at the end of pregnancy takes a few minutes; we take one or two images at a dose that is safe for the foetuses. The result is immediate: the number of skulls and spines is the number of young. At the same visit the vet assesses the size of the foetuses relative to the mother's pelvis.
Finally we set the birth plan: the expected date, how to take the temperature (a fall of about 1 °C signals birth within 24 hours), when to call, what to prepare and — if indicated — the date of a planned caesarean section.
Aftercare
We discuss the results straight away and record them in the patient record. The owner receives a timetable of further visits, feeding advice (switching to food for pregnant animals from week 6, with no additional calcium) and instructions for observation before the birth.
Call if a green or brown discharge appears without labour, strong straining without result for 30 minutes, a gap between young longer than 2 hours, or if the due date has passed by more than 2 days.
Frequently asked questions
From when can ultrasound detect pregnancy in a bitch?
At the earliest around day 21 after mating, and reliably from day 25 to day 28, when beating hearts can be seen. An earlier scan may give a false negative result.
Are X-rays harmful to the puppies?
Taken after day 55, in one or two images, an X-ray is safe — the foetal organs are by then fully formed. Earlier an X-ray is pointless, because the bones are not visible.
Will ultrasound show how many puppies there will be?
Only roughly — the foetuses overlap. An accurate count comes from an X-ray in the last week.
When does a caesarean section need to be planned?
When there is one very large foetus, a breed with a narrow pelvis, a previous difficult labour, or when the foetal heart rate falls at the end of pregnancy. We make the decision together at the visit on day 55–58.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Do you have questions about pregnancy monitoring?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.