pregnancy question

Question
Hi, I hope you can help. Chance my 3 1/2 y/o choc lab went into heat in april. We mated her w/another choc. They spent a good week and a half together, were witnessed mating. 60days would put her at 6/10/06 for delivery. At 45days I took her for an xray. She looks pregnant, a week ago I tried to see if I could palpate any puppies. When I let go slowly I felt several taps on my finger tips. Anyway, xray showed no pups. The vet said she probrably has a thyroid problem causing a false pregnancy, or she was less than 42 days. (which he doubted, even though he didnt try to palpate her belly) My question- finally, my girl was returned to me about 5days after the first mating- is it possible that she could still be pregnant?

Answer
I very much doubt it.  Sometimes breedings just don't take or for some reason the puppies are reabsorbed.  I think you need to a lot of research before trying again.  Start with the www.akc.org discussion of breeding.  Move on to a good book such as Successful Dog Breeding, by Chris Walkowicz, DMV, 1994.  

If she has any hint of a thyroid problem, you may want to reconsider breeding her at all.  Only the healthiest, best behaved, outstanding members of a breed should be bred.