Importing a bitch in whelp - Page 2

K9queen,

I ultrasound all my bitches to confirm pregnancy as you can clearly see heart beats.  Never had a problem with it EVER.  I think if ultrasound was dangerous then it wouldn't be used in human women who are pregnant!

Vickie
www.PowerHausKennels.com

We have also had good luck and bad luck....
Personally...if we purchase or breed a female in Germany...we prefer to wait till she is 3 1/2 to 4 weeks in whelp to ship her back to us...
We have had 1 absorb puppies, sent before 4 weeks......but cannot be sure that the "stress" of shipping caused the absorption..?!
Robin

Currently ultrasound is the best method for determining and staging pregnancy in the bitch and is becoming routinely used by many breeders. Ultrasound technology utilizes the safe and non-invasive method of soundwave imaging for detection of embryos/fetuses. Though the expert can detect embryonic vesicles as early as 19 days following breeding, typically screening is performed at or after Day 25 when the actual embryos can be visualized. Additionally, by this time, heartbeats are also usually discernable.

Ultrasound is particularly helpful for differentiating between pyometra and pregnancy in bitches. Furthermore, in addition to diagnosing pregnancy, ultrasound is currently being assessed for its ability to detect fetal distress during pregnancy, which would be indicated by decrease in the heartbeat rate of fetuses (normal rates reported at 200 to 255 beats per minute).

Limitations to use of ultrasound do exist. Often, for best visualization, an area of fur must be shaved on the bitch. Additionally, several factors including the skill of the technician, the temperament of the bitch, and the size of the litter when attempting to estimate litter number will have bearing on the quality of imaging. In regard to the latter, it may be more difficult to determine the number of fetuses accurately in bitches pregnant with large litters.

All accounts that I have been told of are risky..Many lost the whelp by absorbtion or ahorted after got to the USA.

I would not import a bitch in whelp.   My money is too tight  and I cannot risk it.  Some have had both happen. It is a
 like many say      " A roll of the Dice."

YR

PowerHaus, I am glad ultrasounding works great for you. My repro specialist vet's opinion on ultrasound is that should only be used if there is a problem. Yes, it is perfectly safe in humans who are pregnant for 9 months, not 9 weeks like a dog, and therefore have a much stronger and thicker lumen. My vet is extremely skilled at palpating for puppies at 4 weeks and can generally give a fairly accurate number. If she cannot palpate (which can be difficult on certain breeds or in the case of only one or two puppies), there is a very good and reliable canine blood pregnancy test kit. I don't believe in ultrasounding a bitch as I have seen too many cases that resorbed or aborted shortly after the "routine" ultrasound or had many fewer puppies at term than what was ultrasounded. I personally don't feel it is worth the risk. I am sorry for sharing my opinion on here as it seems that there are the select few on here that are expected to state opinions and they don't care for anyone else's and quite brutally say so in a vast number of posts I have read. There are many people who claim to know all, but that is not my claim at all and few actually have the credentials to back up their claims. Over 7 years as head veterinary technician, surgical technician and x-ray technician with numerous continuing education hours in reproduction and orthopedics and radiology, at a very large and busy Veterinary practice specializing in pure bred dogs, having more breeder and professional clients for AKC conformation and performance animals and working dogs, specializing in reproduction, doing onsite frozen semen collecting, storing and breedings by surgical implants, planned c-sections on problematic breeds, and OFA x-rays, straight from Dr. Keller himself, more than any other single Veterinarian in the country, taking and reviewing 1000's of x-rays every year. But, my opinions, meant simply to try to help and further benefit this board, obviously aren't welcomed by the regular posters. I'm sorry for imposing.

K9queen:

I certainly welcome your postings.. Please share with us any kind of information or your opinions at any time.

Join in and do share with us.   I see no reason not to be able to read what you post. I see none trying to negate your thoughts.

Thank you for your Interest, and I hope others will make you welcome also.


YR

K9queen,

I did not mean to come across in the way you percieved!  Everyone's opinions are welcome here otherwise it would not be a discussion board!  I am just a forward person, sorry if that offends you.....thicken up your skin and stay a while............

I have almost exactly the same job related experiences as you with one exception.....my vet DID do ultrasound and was very FOR it.  I have never lost a litter due to ultrasound in 12 years, nor have I seen any bitch loose/abort a litter in clinic.........just sayin.

Vickie
www.PowerHausKennels.com

Thats a load of information & thanks. yes I have 3 firm buyers for the moment. I am hoping to retain any bitch puppies for future breeding. I am hoping for the best. My heart says go for it but then there is this small fear that things can go for the worse like abortion. Long as she delivers I can pull them thru.

Thats a load of information & thanks. yes I have 3 firm buyers for the moment. I am hoping to retain any bitch puppies for future breeding. I am hoping for the best. My heart says go for it but then there is this small fear that things can go for the worse like abortion. Long as she delivers I can pull them thru.