Risk of palpation for pregnancy - Page 1

Have you read or know of the risk of palpation for sacs?

I mean can a fetus be damaged by a vet?

If the vet is gentle all should be fine, I have never heard that it could cause damage I believe palpation is best done at 21 days.

I personaly prefer to ultrasound and will do my girl on 22nd October when she will be (I hope 30 days pregnant) fingers are crossed.

Maybe you and I will both be on puppy watch next month.

Vets usually do know how carefully to go, and exactly what they are feeling for on palpation.  I have
heard very few stories over the years of a vet maybe doing damage that way.  But I have heard several
anecdotes about over-enthusiastic, non-vet. trained owners hurting the whelps by palpating their bitch
themselves !  If in doubt, don't;  and a scan is always best. JMO 

My 2 cents worth--I had a lot of breeding books and it told how to do it and what you should be expecting to feel, etc. But I never tried it because I was always so scared of squeezing on too hard. Not long ago the vet who was very gentle, showed me how to do it. This dog turned out to b e empty and I sort of thought so which is why I didn't pay bigger bucks for a scan or xray. Later on I tried it with Voo and I was so excited when I felt the little lump, not only because I was for sure but also because yay I had done it. Now I'm not for sure if you can keep on and count them that way. I only felt the one and just quit. So I would agree that if the vet is gentle and takes his/her time that it is just fine....................