Doppler for Fetus heartbeats

I was wondering if anyone out there has used this before?

I have read about using the doppler fetal heart rate monitor (the same kind pregnant women uses) to do a head count on unborn pups, and it being way more realiable then ultrasounds and ofcourse x-rays!

Purchasing one of these very handy tools (I've got the top of the range 3 mHz one), and I must say, I'm impressed.

It is said that the doppler can even do pregnancy 'deteciton' from around 40 days, but in my case I really didn't check as I was pretty sure that even my 3rd try to get this particular bitch pregnant would've counted for nothing.

BUT, we've done sonars, and confirmed a pregnancy, and the following x-rays reveiled 3-5 pups. Now this was basically a miracle in itself, as the specialist vetrenarian hospital (small animal reproduction) gave her a 25 % chance of getting pregnant after huge vaginitis, and then the following AI on the VERY LAST day of her season. But they also predicted that if she does fall pregnant that it will only result in only 1 or 2 pups. OBVIOUSLY due to the lateness of the evential insementation.
THUS we really didn't expect pups, and defenately not more then 2.

When they sent me the x-ray pictures I could see the problem. The bitch had resonly ate, and her bowels basically obscure the 'picture'. One could clearly see 3 pups, but another 2 is 'dodgy'. Might be pups... or nothing.

SO, then I took out my little doppler and started listening for the heartbeats, more or less where I've seen them on the x-ray. And believe it or not, I can clearly distinquish 5 heartbeats!

How cool is that. I'll see after the birth if this was acurate or not. But I'm curious if someone else has used this before, and if maybe some had used it succesfully in pregnancy detection in the first place?

I've not used this myself but have recently bought an ultrasound scanner that has doppler - more for my neurosis about heart problems than counting puppies.

I will give it a go with the screen off & see if I can count heartbeats by the doppler rather than the image

a few people i know use this... i think it seems more sucessful the smaller the breed.....

nick and cath i think use it in bernards

heather which scanner did you buy and WHY??? its a minefield!!!

I got a Sonoscape6V, mainly for the bigger screen size as I can't bear squinting at tiny things & that its idiot proof (ish)

I have scanned myself & am NOT in whelp lol though you would think so after I ate whole tub of brandy butter ice cream last night. Nom Nom!!

im glad to hear your not in whelp.... though the scanning yourself part ive done alot lately lol

i shall look it up- the only thing stopping me is knowing which one to buy!

cheri

Too much choice never a good thing, have a look at the company I got mine from, they are really helpful & you can ring & ask stupid questions lol

www.vetimagesolutions.co.uk

Ok, since I've last asked my question, I can tell you that in the end we had 4 puppies. I've read somewhere that sometimes you can 'pick up' a major artery from the mom, and this also sounds like a heartbeat. But aparently the 'rate' will be rather different then those of the pups. Since I only picked up the '5th pup but once, I guess I 've picked up the mom instead of the pup.

The very big PLUS is that after 3 pups were born, the bitch basically 'stopped', and relaxed as if she were done. After 6 hours, I thought to maybe just 'make sure', and I put the doppler one. Low and behold there was still another heartbeat inside, so I KNEW she were not finished.
After a shot of oxytocin the puppy was born in about 5 minutes.

So ya, this tool is indeed handy. Not only for head counts, but also to monitor fetusses during the birthing process.

In the meanwhile another bitch is pregnant. Today is day 36 after an AI mating. I've tried to pick up heartbeats eve since day 32, but so far nothing.

Has anybody tried this in the meanwhile? Any suggestions on when it will be possible to pick up 'life' in a giant breed? The 'norm' is between 30 - 35 days, but I suppose this is for smaller breeds. I though since Saint pups are big (in comparisson) I should be able to pick it up early, but aparently not.
Or ofcourse the bitch is not pregnant (aaaawwwwwhhhh)

And then, how exensive is the sonar machine? In SA it's totally outragious, and only big Vet practices have one. Is there a smaller option available that I can try to purchase?

Ebay sell them for around £1000 but come from china, im too looking at several companies at the moment

i was told the larger the breed the LATER you will hear on the doppler as the thickness of the mums body will make it harder to pick up puppies ... also if its a small litter and carried up high in a bernard its harder... ive still not used a doppler but a friend with danes has and she can pick up on her small breed much faster ( yorkshire terrier)

if in doubt i jab them with oxytocin, always have a bottle in my fridge just incase
glad your last pup came out ok

cheri x

fingers crossed for your bitch x