X-ray before puppies are born? Yes or no? - Page 1

Please, i need an opinion: Shoud i X-ray my bitch before geting puppies out, to get accurate number of puppies inside, so after delivering them to put progesterone (provocation) injection? Thanks

I always do an xray between 7 and 8 weeks.... have never had any trouble. I like to know how many are there and that way if momma starts getting tired, I have an idea how many are left in case she needs an oxytocin injection during the whelping.... After the pups are born, I also runher into the vets really quickly for a brief overall exam and another oxy injection.... I've done this for years and it works for me.. I do always have oxy on hand in case she needs it , although never before the first pup is born!! Hope this helps

I agree with Sport Dog! An ultra scan is okay, just to "count the chickens before they hatch", but x-rays should only be taken, if medically necessary. I always have my females x-rayed after they have whelped, just to make sure all the pups were born. Good luck with your pups!

I litlle bit "more" confused now:) I want to "count the chickens" only becouse i'm afraid placenta stays in the bitch, and get blood poisoning. Any sugestions valuable. Thanks

Sport Dog, I xray because I like to know the numbers so I can gauge how things are going and where we are during the birth itself, etc.... could give a crap about the fiscal end of it... look at my books and you'll see.. if I was in it for the money, they would look a lot different... My bitch is whats important to me and that she comes thru the whelping just fine. I do ultrasound at 4 weeks to determine if there is a pregnancy We xray the bitch while she is laying on her back and I count skulls and spines, still not foolproof but I like to have everything in order going into it.... Have been doing this for 20 years and it has served me and my dogs well I was just giving my opinion, like the person asked... seems a lot of folks in this forum are just always looking for an argument

It is obvious from Blitzen's posting that he/she is an experienced person, who has whelped before.However, I beg to disagree with one statement "1 or 2 properly exposed X-rays will not cause damage to the bitch or whelps".It may not cause damage to the bitch but you cannot say that with confidence on the pups.Here is the reason: Radiation induced damage based on dose will occur as a) Non-stochastic effect- meaning that there is a threshold dose below which there is no discernable toxicity. Good example is radiation induced cataract. b) Linear toxicity-meaning no dose is a safe dose- good example will be DNA damage and bone marrow toxicity.This is the reasoning why pregnant humans are not to be X-rayed on the belly and a Chest X-ray requires a belly shield with lead.I am extrapolating this information on dogs. We all know that a growing fetus is a rapidly dividing group of cells and therefore is very vulnerable.We also know that animals that have a shorter lifespan develop more in utero, particularly the brain (those who have watched discovery channel will know that a wilderbeest calf has to be up on all fours and start running behind mom within minutes of birthing to avoid being eaten by predators).We also know that most of wolf/dog behavior is innate (pre-wired) and so their brain development in utero has to be significant.For these reasons, I believe that X-rays during gestation can cause damage to the growing pups.Also note that X-ray count of the skulls is far from accurate, as mentioned above.So whichever way you look at it, there is no justification in doing it.An ultrasound after birth, if there is suspicion of retention of products of conception, is justified.Personally I will not buy a puppy from a breeder that routinely shoots X-rays for head count. Good luck with safe whelping and best wishes for a healthy litter.

Dkiah, My posting was not to start an argument with you.I am not a breeder and have not whelped a single litter. I respect your 20 years of experience.However, I do have enough knowledge and background to offer an opinion on Xrays and their effects on biological systems.Therefore, just like you offered your opinion, I offered mine. They just happen to be on opposite poles.No personal attack was intended in my posting. We all have a unified goal here: We love dogs. Best wishes.

When my mom bred her doberman, she had an ultrasound done instead of an x-ray just to confirm pregnancy. Mom had it done for the peace of mind knowing that there was a pregnancy, not a uterine infection. The head count was completely wrong on Cleo as the vet said five and we had nine.

The best way to xray a bitch for pregnancy is as Dkiah said, place her on her back. That way you can get a much better head count than if she's on her side. I don't know why or when vets started to xray for pregnancy by placing a bitch on her side. It just makes good sense to roll 'er over and see both horns and their tiny contents. Those fearing the effects of xrays could alternatively have the bitch ultrasounded initially to determine whether or not she is bred and save the xray for postwhelping. Frankly, I seldom did much other than to have the vet palpate at 4 weeks and then again after the litter was whelped. If he felt there might be a retained puppy, he would xray. If not, just a shot of post pit and the bitch went home to the puppies. I never had any problems.

Blitzen I recently had a vet, a repro specialist, do an A.I. and he told me to bring her back at 28 days for an ultra sound and told me not to let any one do a palpation on her. I have had many dogs palpated with no ill affects and I just said, "OK". Didn't ask him why.