Canine Reproduction

Question 1

Breeding should be a big decision

Answer 1

Avoid indiscriminate mating - should be planned
* There’s probably enough in this world

Raise puppies only if there is a demand

Question 2

Spay

Answer 2

Ovariohysterectomy: Removal of ovaries and uterus

Question 3

Neuter

Answer 3

Removal of testicles
Neuticles - product to make dog look intact

Question 4

Benefits to Spaying

Answer 4

No pups
No heat cycles
No uterine cancer
No uterine infection (pyometra) - very common w intact females, can kill them
Reduced risk of mammary tumors - estrogen effect
Decreased roaming
* Reduced strays attracted to bitch during estrus
* Bitch won’t try to escape to be bred

Question 5

Benefits to Neutering

Answer 5

No pups
No testicular cancer
Decreased urine marking
Decreased roaming
Maybe less aggression and dominance behaviors (?)
* Debatable
* Aggression is often not correlated

Question 6

Negative Aspects of Spaying/Neutering

Answer 6

Risks of surgery
Slight changes in conformation
* less estrogen (Epiphysis: long bones closing needs estrogen) - can make females taller
* Increase in orthopedic problems

Bladder incontinence - increases with spaying
May be increases in some cancer rates
Decreased activity level
* obesity(?)

Question 7

Best Age to Spay/Neuter

Answer 7

Some debate
In the past vets say - “6 months of age”
May not be best
Probably depends on breed (or size)
* Smaller breeds - 6 months may be okay
* Larger breeds - 1 year or even older may be better (better to wait longer and mature first)

Question 8

Breeding the Bitch

Answer 8

Should wait until at least 2nd cycle
Bitches are not “polyestrous”
Make sure bitch is healthy, dewormed, etc
* Successfully carry pregnancy
* Won’t pass pathogens on to puppies (maybe?)
* May be more difficult to treat when pregnant

Question 9

Selecting a Sire

Answer 9

• Important to choose wisely
• Can be complicated decision

Question 10

Accessory Sex Glands

Answer 10

• Main purpose - add fluids to sperm to help them move through female tract
• Prostate gland
• Different species have different glands

Question 11

Dog penis

Answer 11

• Has a bone inside - called the os penis
• Penis inside body, muscle retracts for erection

Question 12

Live Cover Breedings

Answer 12

• Tend to be cheapest and simplest - but difficulties may be present

Male or female mating for first time
* May need to restrain female
* May need to position the male

Mate daily over a 4 day period

Question 13

Artificial insemination

Answer 13

• Semen: fresh, chilled, frozen
• Insemination: vaginal, transcervical, surgical
• If bitch does not accept male, minimize the number of breedings
• Locate an experienced vet or breeding specialist
• Can use fresh, chilled or frozen

Question 14

Benefits of Chilled and Frozen

Answer 14

• No transportation of dogs
• Shipping semen is cheaper than shipping animals
• Shipping internationally possible
• Frozen lasts indefinitely
• Frozen when dog is young and in prime
• Minimizes contact between dogs

Question 15

Negative Aspects of Chilled and Frozen

Answer 15

• Timing is critical and adds cost - only when female is in heat
• Shipping adds cost - overnight
• Insemination requires trained experts
• Frozen semen insemination is recommended to be surgically placed in female which adds risk to the bitch
• • Because sperm aren’t necessarily the healthiest when frozen, so they don’t swim well

Question 16

Indications of Heat

Answer 16

Sexual heat in female (6-12 months of age)
Bloody discharge - not menstruation
Sexual desire intensifies
* Will receive male
* Very difficult to control dog at this time

Cycle time about 21 days
Long anestrous period - periods of time when she’s not cycling

Question 17

Gestation

Answer 17

About 63 days from breeding
Mammary glands swell last 3 weeks
Milk leaks during last week
Body weight may increase 20-55%
* Be careful they don’t put on too much fat

Question 18

Pseudopregnancy (fake pregnancy)

Answer 18

Not uncommon in canines
Every appearance of being bred:
* Mammary glands swell
* May produce milk
* Maternal instincts are present: Nesting, Mother inanimate objects
* Weight gain

But no pups
May want to decrease feed to speed recovery

Question 19

Metabolizable Energy Requirements of Bitch

Answer 19

• First 30 days of gestation - 100% normal for breed and size
• When she starts giving milk and feeding pups, start feeding a lot of extra feed
• By weaning, back to 125% feed

Question 20

A Place to Whelp

Answer 20

• Provide location 3 weeks prior to whelping
• Whelping box: Warm, Quiet, Secluded (from dogs, cats and people)

Question 21

Care of Bitch and Puppies at Whelping

Answer 21

For most bitches a suitable environment is the only requirement - can handle well on her own

Question 22

Whelping: What to Expect

Answer 22

Signs of whelping:
* Temp drop from 102 to 99
* Restlessness
* Desire for seclusion

Active labor

Question 23

The Newborn Pup

Answer 23

Enclosed in membrane sac (placenta) when born
Bitch will break membrane with teeth
* Release liquid inside
* Special attention bull dogs and boxers - trouble opening placenta

Handle as little as possible until eyes are open

Question 24

Newborn Puppy Care

Answer 24

• Born eyes closed, ears closed, no teeth (come in about 2-4 days)
• Start crawling at a week or 2, then walk
• Weight will double in first week
• At this point, female will take care of most things

Question 25

Early Training

Answer 25

Expose them to many things
* Noises
* Handling
* May be able to start housebreaking (litter training)
Don’t let them bite you

Question 26

Pup Nutrition

Answer 26

Colostrum
Feeding
* Start eating and drinking around 3 weeks
* Weaning at 6-8 weeks
* Make sure to add water
8-12 weeks good time to separate from litter