Our Services

Puppy Screening

All Puppies screened are done so in their home environment so that no traveling or transportation of young puppies is necessary. Two Pupscan team members will carry out the procedure at a fixed appointment time.

For the first eight weeks of a puppies life, their hips and elbows are predominantly cartilage which is the blueprint for skeletal development. Over time, this skeletal blueprint is set and it becomes progressively stronger through mineralisation (ossification occurs) which allows the puppy to grow in strength and assists in walking.

Through our puppy screening process an image is acquired by means of an Ultrasound. What age a puppy can be scanned depends on breed and sex. Through our research we have learned that both breed and sex have an effect on how fast a puppy develops, with some breeds able to be screened as late as 20 weeks of age.

Ultrasound is a non-invasive method that does not require any hair removal or sedation, nor does the puppy need to remain still and in a fixed position. By allowing the puppy to freely move the joint attempting to be imaged, a full examination of each joint may be obtained.

Ultrasound imaging allows the internal body structures to be viewed by recording echoes or reflections of ultrasound waves. These images are taken while the puppy is in a natural load bearing position and are normally collected within 15 minutes. Some puppies may not be as co-operative as others so a little more time is allocated to reassure and relax that individual puppy.

No puppies are placed under stress or forced to co-operate and it is essential that each puppy is comfortable and confident during the procedure. This is because in the early weeks of life, puppies should not be exposed to traumatic experiences as this may lead to a predisposal of aversion to other procedures later in life.

During the scanning process the breeder/owner can see the puppy’s joints moving in a natural state and observe the structure of either the hips or elbows. Ultrasound conductive water-based gel is applied to the area to be scanned, this gel is non-toxic and easily wiped off. If any residue remains on the coat it may be brushed out when dry, leaving no damage to the coat or skin.

We encourage breeders/owners to get involved at the time of scanning to help give understanding and knowledge of each puppy. This knowledge is both enlightening and valuable in terms of puppy growth and development, not just for the present litter but also for future litters.

Once your bitch is verified as being pregnant and you wish to have your litter scanned please contact us to arrange a provisional appointment as soon as possible.

When your bitch has whelped, and your litter is on the ground, we ask that you contact us to confirm the number of puppies born. When we receive conformation that your litter has arrived safely, we will secure the date and time for screening.

Pregnancy Screening

Ultrasound pregnancy screening is being relied upon more and more to primarily confirm a pregnancy. However, early pregnancy screening not only provides basic information, but also information about the intra-uterine environment which is an important aspect of pregnancy that is often overlooked.

The intra-uterine environment includes capacity, viability, amniotic sac volume and mobility of the pups.  In late pregnancy the puppy’s skeletal development can also be assessed. These are key factors that will all play a part throughout your bitch’s pregnancy.

By using modern and appropriate Ultrasound equipment, these aspects of your bitch’s pregnancy can be evaluated to identify the heart chambers, eyes, teeth, joint development, and movement depending upon the stage of pregnancy.

We at Pupscan start pregnancy screening from 21 days of mating (second mating) if applicable. We encourage breeders to engage during the scanning process and to discuss any concerns they may have.

If you are thinking about booking a pregnancy screening, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss with you your requirements.