x-rayes during pregnancy

Question
my peke girl is 51 days pregnant today,I phoned my vet to book an x-ray to see if the birth channel is big enough to deliver the pups,the vet said x-rayes can have a negative effect on fetal growth,is this true?

Answer
Hi Maryna:

I'm unsure as to why your vet would say that - at her degree of gestation the fetal skeletons have already become formed so in my opinion, knowing the litter size & if any potential problems may be present via a simple radiograph or X-ray far outweighs the minimal risk of radiation from an X-ray. Personally I have never had any problems as a result of having an X-ray done after 50 days gestation & I've been breeding since 1985. Most vets these days even have digital X-ray machines which are even safer & offer a better, clearer image. If you're still uncertain, I would urge you to try contacting another vet for a second opinion. Wishing you the very best & I hope you're able to resolve this matter very soon! Please feel free to let me know if you have any additional questions & I'll try to help in whatever way possible. The following link discusses overall care but specifically mentions ultrasounds & X-rays (radiographs) so I thought you might find it helpful.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_giving_birth_to_puppies.html