Natural Breeding and Mating Flashcards
When must a breeder have a license?
If breeding 5+ litters per year
What year was the Breeding and Sale of Dogs Act established?
1999
What is ‘flagging’ ?
This is where the bitch moves the tail to allow mating to take place
What is the phrase given to the first lot of ejaculate in dogs?
first fraction
Which fraction actually contains the sperm?
the second fraction
What is ‘the tie’?
once the thrusting has stopped the dog dismounts and turns 180 degrees and they will stay like this for ~20mins
What fraction is designed to flush sperm into the uterus?
the third fraction
Which species mating process is quicker out of the dog and cat?
cat
What induces ovulation for cats?
the barbs on the penis which causes pain and induces the ovulation
How can you tell when a female rabbit is receptive?
the the vulva is swollen and pink/red
What type of ovulators are rabbits?
induced ovulators
When are reptiles stimulated to mate?
after hibernation
Which reptiles have a hemipenis?
snakes and lizards
What problems can occur at mating?
not tying properly height difference between dogs unpleasant/past experiences wrong environment inexperienced queen/bitch/tom/dog human presence penis not retracting
What are the optimum ages for breeding cats?
at least 1 year and no older that ~4/6
What are the optimum ages for breeding dogs?
studding at 1 year bitches 18months (not during 1st season)
What factors will influencing breeding?
healthy
skeletally mature
at an age where temperament and conformation can be assessed
free from infectious diseases
What are the optimum ages for breeding horses?
when physically fit but fertility will decrease after 12 years old
What are the optimum ages for breeding rabbits?
male 5-8months.. repo life ends at 5-6years
female 4 - 7 months .. repo life ends at 3 years
What are the optimum ages for breeding guinea pigs?
Female from 12 weeks but before 10 months
males from 4 months
Gestation period for a dog
56 - 72 days (average 63)
Gestation period for a cat
64 - 68 days
Gestation period for a rabbit
29 - 35 days
Gestation period for a horse
342 days
Gestation period for a guinea pigs
59 - 72days
Gestation period for a hamster
15 - 18 days
Gestation period for a bird
eggs laid every other day but incubation for up to 18 days
Gestation period for a chinchilla
114 days
When will signs of pregnancy become apparent in the bitch?
35th day of pregnancy
What are the signs of pregnancy in the bitch?
colour of the teats darken
mammary glands enlarge
white or opaque vaginal discharge
abdominal enlargement
What are the signs of pregnancy in the queen?
abdominal enlargement
mammary enlargement obvious from day 40
What are the signs of pregnancy in the guinea pig?
considerable weight gain
may see young moving near birth
Does the pregnant bitch need more nutritional support?
no she doesn’t if she is getting a balanced diet
may be doubled during the last half of pregnancy
Does exercise for a pregnant bitch need to be changed?
no, keep exercise the same although not in hot weather
What additional help does a pregnant rabbit need?
just nesting material needs to be supplied 2 days before birth
What is pseudopregnancy?
phantom pregnancy/false pregnancy also known as pseudocyesis
What are the clinical signs of pseudopregnancy?
develop 6-12weeks
largely behavioural
nest making/adoption of objects
abdominal enlargement/mammary enlargement /lactation
How can we treat pseudopregnancy?
often resolve spontaneously
remove all bedding and toys so can’t adopt
use buster collar to stop her licking at the mammary glands otherwise may prolong lactation
drugs can be given to suppress lactation
hormonal may be needed in severe cases
neuter (all signs need to be resolved first)
exercise can also help
