Dog ultrasound, poop or puppies??

Question

I know Ive asked this but Im wondering if anyone has experienced this or even heard of it..Is it normal for the vet to detect poop that he couldnt tell if it looked like puppies?? He said it looked like poop because the images seemed linked together, and that he couldn't tell. It was only 20days since mating. I am going back to get another in 2 weeks or so but has anyone encountered this problem? And is the poop even in the same place as the puppies? Ive heard that early in the pregnancy the puppies can be higher in the rib cage.

Yo Lo... this is something that many breeders have never heard of first of all, let alone a vet can tell me. My female has champion bloodlines and so does the sire, as well as very good temperments and her pedigree has many chamions. thank you. i just need an answer, not any lectures please.

I set up an ultrasound next week, she would be 5 weeks (34days) if pregnant. So if she is then they will definatly be some visual signs.

Answer 1

Hi there.

The puppies would be located in the uterus, which lies in your dog's abdomen, in the same area as the intestines (where the poop is). So, the poop isn't actually in the same PLACE as the babies, but can easily be in the same visual plane of the ultrasound (which works by shooting soundwaves along one plane of the body at a time). This could cause confusion, especially early in the pregnancy when skeletal features arent fully formed and the fetuses are of the same tissue conssitency as the uterus and placenta nearby.

As for WHEN the fetuses can be viewed, the fetal heartbeat is normally first seen more than 23- 25 days after conception. Fetal movement is seen after day 34-36 days.

Using x-rays might be a bit more useful once the pregnancy (if she is in fact pregnant) is a little further on.

It sounds like it might just be too early to tell for sure about the pregnancy using ultrasound, but a re-check in a few weeks should give you a definitive answer.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

IT is LATER in the pregnancy that puppies would be under the rib cage.....after the uterus grows. It does not start out up near the ribs.
Clearly, the intestine runs along the abdomen and out the body, so some portion of the intestine is hear the uterus. It is possible for fecal matter to look like small developing embryos.

An experienced ultrasound tech or vet should be able to tell the difference. Heartbeats, looking like "fluttering" can be seen on the ultrasound. All that I have had done, heartbeats were seen.

Like I said before, conception can occur up to 5 days AFTER the last breeding, therefore your date can be off by that amount.

Have another one done.....maybe someplace else.

Champion lines are great, but I hope BOTH male and female have had ALL their health clearances through OFA. There is NO EXCUSE for breeding unhealthy dogs!!

Answer 3

Honestly it probably was poop. From what I remember 20 days is too early to see anything definite on the ultrasound. Probably at your next appointment you will be able to see something if there is any puppies to be seen. Reading an ultrasound is pretty tricky and a lot of times things all look the same. Getting an x ray will need to be done even later in the pregnancy because it is done to count backbones and if done too early the puppies are a lot harder to see. Well like I said this is what I remember from working at a vet clinic. I hope this helps

Answer 4

No animal has poop in the same place as their babies. This sounds funny because the ultrasound should also detect heartbeat. Anyway any ultrasound further along in pregnancy will show more. If you have a stethoscope you should hear puppies heartbeats. My cousin rented a professional baby stethoscope (the kind that use the jelly when she was pregnant so you could do that if you were so inclined it will work on the dog too.

Answer 5

It's never happened with me. It may just be too early to tell!! I love the picture of your dog!! I also have a Boxer!! CUTE!!