Did we X-Ray Our Pregnant dog to early?

Question

We x-rayed her at 39 days from last breeding, the vet saw no pup's, if there are pups did we hurt them by x-raying to early?

Answer 1

I have always waited until day 50, myself. However, I have heard that 45 days and after is the best. Before then, you would usually do an ultrasound.

I doubt that there will be any ill effects, but I think this is a concern you should have addressed with the vet, when you were there.

Answer 2

Since you cannot see the skeletons on x-ray until after day 45 then do not go by the x-ray. If it was 39 days after the last breeding, conception may not have occured for a few more days, so you might not really be at even 39. I never x-ray until day 50 or later. It is posible that they confirmed pregnancy on ultrasound and she reabsorbed the litter, but I would not go by any x-ray done at day 39. And I would be asking the vet why they would do one at that time. Only repeatedly x - raying the pups can hurt them so leave them be for a few days and by day 50 you can start to x - ray them again.

Answer 3

I have NEVER known a vet that would x-ray at 39 days.
That is early. You should have done an ultrasound.

45 days is usually the magic day. Not before.

It should cause no problems....but then I would hesitate doing another.
WHY would the vet x-ray on day 39????

Answer 4

Nope you did not x-ray to early, I have always heard at 30 days you can x-ray to see so if you did it at 39 days and there is nothing showing well I would say she is not pregnant then. Did your vet not give you any additional advice or information at your appointment? I sometimes think some of these vets just rush you in and out charging the bills but not giving out much in the way of info to pet owners. And no if by some fluke she is pregnant the x-ray would not hurt the pups anymore than if you could see them if they were there. But I highly doubt she is pregnant.

Answer 5

as an xray tech who has worked vetrinary radiology- the low doses we use are lower risk and limited to not cause damage- but we carry the risk of exposing genetical tissue in growth form can still cause mutations- thus you really wont know if there is damage till born, or later on- then reference the incident to radiation exposeure.
By all means dont worry about it- we expose ourselves and our pets to natural radiation every day. If it was a long exposure radiation or multiple doses I would worry, but no sence to fret over the small stuff

Answer 6

You may x-ray at 40 days without harm, but you may not see anything, that doesn't mean she is or isn't pregnant. Ultrasound would be more accurate or a relaxin pregnancy test. Even x-rays done at term don't always show all the puppies.