Pregnancy Ultrasound (U/S)

Pregnancy ultrasound confirms pregnancy in mid-gestation, therefore answering questions of potential false pregnancy, as well as providing us with some information about litter size and due date. Fetal viability can be assessed, and if multiple fetal absorption sites are observed, diagnosing and treatment for hypoluteoidism (insufficient levels of progesterone, a hormone that is needed to maintain pregnancy) can be initiated. Ultrasonography also helps to early diagnose pyometra and mucometra, helping us initiate treatment early. It can be done as early as day 24 after ovulation, if ovulation date is known. We recommend to perform pregnancy ultrasound between days 27-32 post breeding. If performed later, accurate staging of pregnancy and fetal count becomes difficult. There is a common misconception that ultrasound waves can be dangerous to developing embryos, however, in research settings, bitches that were ultrasounded daily for the length of the entire pregnancy delivered good size litters with healthy pups who lived long normal lives. The procedure is short, and delivers valuable information, therefore, like in human medicine, the stand is that the benefits by far outweigh the risks. A printed copy of an image is provided to the owner for no extra fee.