The X-Ray

Well I just could not leave this picture alone today. I started searching the internet for pictures of other x-rays showing puppies. I found tons of them and they usually looked just like this one that I found here on blogspot at Journeywithpugs.blogspot.com
This picture was obviously taken with the mother on her back. You can clearly make out not only the mothers spine and rib cage but the 6 puppies inside as well.

Now this is the original x-ray I got of Callie. She was laying on her side with her head to the left and her tail to the right.
I am not sure about you but I couldn't make out anything at all. I was really beginning to worry that she was experiencing a false pregnancy when I first saw it. All the dark coloring you see toward the top is her organs. But the Vet did show me the very faint outline of two skulls. However like I said it has been bothering me how unclear it was. I could barely make out Callie's ribs and they should be pretty obvious. So I took the picture and started playing with the contrast, brightness and exposure. I am still not confident in the results of the x-ray but at least now you can actually make out 2 skulls and 2 spines.

Ok so maybe you still don't see it. I will try to show you what I am talking about.

So as far as I can see. I see green puppy for sure. I can make out his head and even his spine attached to the skull. Then I see blue puppy's skull closer to her tail. However further down below green puppy I see another spine??? I have labeled that one in red. There is also still a huge area that I just can not make anything out in at all no matter how long I stare at this screen. So perhaps reds skull is in that area some where. There really is just no telling. Doing the x-rays late in pregnancy are supposed to give the breeder a bit of peace of mind. Knowing how many puppies you are expecting. That way you know when your girl is done and when she is just taking a rest. It really is important to know that because if she does retain any puppies or placenta's the situation can turn deadly for her fairly quickly. She may actually seem ok for a few days and then take a real turn for the worse. As a breeder I already love the puppies but my main concern is for my girl Callie. I have to do whatever it takes to make sure that she is safe. Having said that I do not think it would be wise to expose the developing puppies to any more radiation. However I am so unsure and nervous about this that I am thinking the best thing to do is to go ahead and start taking temps and watching for signs counting from the first day of breeding. Then once she does deliver whenever I think she is done I will take her to the vet for an x-ray then just to be sure there really are none left. That is the plan at this point anyway. I will start taking her temperature twice daily starting this Friday which is day 56 from the first breeding. I may be totally wrong and the vet may be totally right. She may not be due for another week and may only be carrying two puppies, the vet certainly has more experience then I do. I would just rather be safe then sorry. I would hate to think that I have an extra week and not be taking temps and leave the house for a while and come home to Callie in the middle of, or after whelping her puppies.