16 The Breeding Journey Flashcards
Why breed? (3)
- to preserve the breed in a healthy way
- dog sports
- gap between preference and whats available
what to consider before breeding?
- is it ethical?
- time
- money: lucky to even breakeven on a litter (vax, microchip, xrays)
- risk of having puppies (stillborn and risk to mum)
Preparation: the bitch
- study her pedigree (can breed away from weakness)
- evaluate temperament (nature) and structure (pick stud that complements features)
- health testing
- understand particular reproductive cycle
- progesterone testing and further reproductive testing as necessary
Bitch health testing (4)
- hips
- eyes
- elbows
- genetic testing (specific to breed)
* never mate carrier to carrier
Prep: stud dog
- study pedigree
- evaluate temperament and structure
- health and dna testing
- coming to agreement with owner
- registered with dogs vic
- cost (what happens if no viable puppies)
- travel
- who supervises
Gestation (pregnancy) - 4 weeks
- DONT FEED EXTRA CA, will have disasterous outcomes; can inject after each puppy to give strength to keep going
- normal exercise
- normal diet (no puppy food, no extra Ca)
- behavioral changes (very subtle)
Gestation - 8 weeks
- worm the bitch
- set up whelping box
- behavioral changes: sleeping more, less tolerant
- nutrition: slight increase in quantity of food
why is it important to worm the bitch?
- eggs and larvae can stay dormant in a dog and whelping (giving birth) can stimulate
- can cross through placenta to the puppies
- must worm puppies every 2 weeks
Day 63: things to look for
- temperature drop
- 3x daily from day 59 (37.3-37.9)
- 63 days from ovulation (NOT mating) 36.6 - behavioral changes
- nesting
- restlessness
- very intolerable of other cats and dogs
Whelping: things to know (4)
- breech birth
- placenta count
- secondary interia
- never feed a cold pup
breech birth
when a puppy is not in the correct position when he enters the birth canal
-typically will be coming out tail and bottom forward while one hind leg is extended in the opposite direction
placenta count
wont always come out in the same order; need to count to make sure nothing is retained (will get infected)
secondary inertia
uterine inertia: absence of effective uterine contractions during labor
- secondary: uterine inertia that occurs when the contractions are initially vigorous then decrease in vigour and the progress of labour ceases
- administer calcium, exercise
why cant you feed a cold pup?
wont be able to digest food; food will sit in the stomach, ferment and rot away
Behavioral development and socialisation (puppy) (3)
- socialisation (to other dogs, humans, cats)
- habituation (sensory); make them get used tot he normal senses
- environmental enrichment (toys, training, food)