Pregnancy Testing
At Vet Marlborough in Blenheim, we provide reliable pregnancy diagnosis for dogs, cats, and other pets.
We prefer abdominal ultrasound because it is safe, accurate, and causes minimal stress for your pet. Our experienced vets use ultrasound to confirm pregnancy early, check the health of developing puppies or kittens, and give pet owners peace of mind.
If you are searching for dog pregnancy testing, cat pregnancy scans, or veterinary ultrasound in Marlborough, New Zealand, our caring team is here to help.
Book an appointment today at Vet Marlborough to ensure the best care for your pet.
How We Diagnose Pregnancy in Dogs, Cats and Other Pets
Abdominal palpation
Abdominal palpation can sometimes allow a vet to feel puppies or kittens in the abdomen after about day 30 of pregnancy. However, this method can be unreliable, especially in animals with large abdomens or excess body fat. Because of this, any suspected pregnancy detected by palpation should always be confirmed with a more accurate test, such as ultrasound or X‑ray.
Relaxin blood test
Some early tests can detect pregnancy between day 21 and 28. However, they may occasionally give a negative result even if the animal is pregnant. If a test shows a negative result, a follow-up test is necessary to confirm pregnancy.
Abdominal ultrasound
Ultrasound can detect pregnancy as early as day 21, but it is much more accurate at day 28–30. Ultrasound cannot reliably count the number of fetuses. Only an X‑ray can provide an accurate count.
Abdominal X-ray
The skeleton of puppies or kittens does not calcify until late in pregnancy. X‑ray diagnosis is only possible after day 45–50. To count fetuses accurately, it is best to wait until day 55. An abdominal X‑ray reliably shows the number of fetuses, helping the veterinarian plan for whelping and identify any potential complications.