Pregnancy Scan

[Tungulria]

What is the going rate for pregnancy scanning to confirm whelp. I've seen mobile people online advertsing it for between £20-40. Asked my vet practice and they want £89.90! Not convinced I am going to bother and certainly not at the price. But wanted to know whether it was worth shopping around or that price is about right. Appreciate need to find someone competent and that may cost but seemed like such a big jump.

[neilly1690]

think my vet charged £50.00 ..try another vet ...

[Strathcraig]

£30 quid here, for 2 scans, second was "free". All you're looking for is evidence that pups are on there.

[cuda]

If your rural - look out for Lamb scanners, my farmer neighbour asked the guy who scans his ewes and he said it would be the same as the ewes - £20 a scan.
As an added bonus these guys are supposed to be better than the vets at interpreting the scans - after all they do it a lot more often than the vets.

In the end I never scanned, pretty obvious she was pregnant but would use these guys if I felt I needed to know.

Incidentally, she had 7 pups at the end of last week

Charlie

[LJR]

My Vet charged £23, much cheaper than our local mobile scanners. I only had one done to confirm pregnancy, we saw four on the scan and she had eight

[Tungulria]

She's only 2 weeks gone an already I am pretty sure she has taken but due to the fact that I have had several people already appear interested curious to know for sure so as not to disappoint anyone. I know it would be another 2-3 weeks yet before I could have her scanned anyway and for £20-30 it's worth doing but I couldn't justify £90 to confirm what I think I already know.
I do know osme sheep farmers so will ask them. Thank you!

[James]

We charge £15 if you come to us.

[PrairieBoy]

Never have an ultrasound done on your bitch in the first trimester (3 weeks). This is the period of differentiation of cells when they basically start forming different tissues/organs/parts of the pups.
Ultrasound is known to damage DNA, which can lead to unknown results.
While ultrasound visualizes soft tissue, it can also be used to break up kidney stones in adults at different frequencies/vibrations.

Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool intended to promote treatment protocol that results in targeted beneficial results. Your bitch is either pregnant or not pregnant and ultrasound will not allow that to be altered.

Use of ultrasound for cosmetic results is frowned on and potentially dangerous, especially in the hands of the uninformed.

I never use it on a bitch for these reasons.
Experienced fingers can tell when a bitch's stomach muscles have become slightly more pliable under the influence of relaxin.

[Tungulria]

Well went to the vet that does my docking this morning and paid half what my normal vet wanted and............... pregnancy confirmed! I was 99.9% sure anyway but lovely to have it in black and white.

[vicky payne]

Sorry but knowing if a bitch is pregnant and how many is a very valid diagnostic reason to ultrasound. Some bitches show the signs of pregnancy,including abdominal enlargement and milk production but are empty. A small litter may not cause much noticeable change ans carries a higher risk of dystocia.

If you have any studies on the dangers of diagnostic ultrasound I'd love to read them. I know the precautionary principal is applied but was as yet unaware of hard data. The ultrasounds used to break up stones or scale teeth are rather different than those used diagnostically.

I agree scans should be minimal and would suggest one at 28 days from mating as being most accurate. An experienced vet is just as good as a sheep scanner; after all we may do less pregnancy work but we can find tiny adrenal glands! One complaint I often hear is that we won't give numbers...and I understand the frustration with that but we are advised not to by our insurers as breeders have tried to sue when the expected number does not arrive! None, some, lots is all you really need to know but if you have a good relationship with your vet they may give you more accurate numbers as long as you understand pups can be lost at any stage.