The Vet Image Solutions Facebook group is a fantastic learning resource for those looking to learn more about canine reproduction and scanning. Recently, Jennie from Lincoln Canine Scanning shared this scan with the following comment:

English Bulldog 43 days?? Water pup here, could see it better on the screen but moved just as took the picture - abdominal wall seen with fluid around anterior abdominal wall.

jennie

Her post received a lot of interest. Jennie explained how she knew she'd just scanned a water pup:

"It looked very different to the others, so much so it took a while to define it was a viable pregnancy, I had to keep the probe still and slowly alter the angle . In cross section it was obvious re the fluid, but the abdominal contents appeared compressed and a longitudinal section didn't give the appearance of a fully formed skeleton. It wasn't until I saw a heartbeat that I confirmed it was actually a pup."

As fascination in the topic grew, Cat explained that "there is a theory to do with rhesus negative/positive, I believe it shows on a scan very much like fetal hydrops does." Vet Image Solutions sonographer Yvette Lovis elaborated:

"Cat is right, we talked about the canine equivalent surrounding blood incompatibility between stud and bitch, when hydrops re occurs in littlers of the same pairing on level 2. Also regarding re absorption, boney ossification is the limiting factor, so if a pup dies after 35 days and there is very little or no bone present, reabsorption can take place. You would only know this had been the case if like Jennifer you were able to follow it up, if the pup's heart beat continues and it continues to grow the hydrops continues and then you can get a water pup.."

3 weeks later, Jennie shared with the group the astonishing results of the pregnancy:

jennie water

jennie water 2

jennie water 3

All images are copyright Lincoln Canine Scanning. Many thanks to Jennie Lil for allowing us to share these images. The breeders of Lincoln are lucky to have such a professional scanner in their community!