Natural Breeding and Mating

Question 1

When must a breeder have a license?

Answer 1

If breeding 5+ litters per year

Question 2

What year was the Breeding and Sale of Dogs Act established?

Answer 2

1999

Question 3

What is ‘flagging’ ?

Answer 3

This is where the bitch moves the tail to allow mating to take place

Question 4

What is the phrase given to the first lot of ejaculate in dogs?

Answer 4

first fraction

Question 5

Which fraction actually contains the sperm?

Answer 5

the second fraction

Question 6

What is ‘the tie’?

Answer 6

once the thrusting has stopped the dog dismounts and turns 180 degrees and they will stay like this for ~20mins

Question 7

What fraction is designed to flush sperm into the uterus?

Answer 7

the third fraction

Question 8

Which species mating process is quicker out of the dog and cat?

Answer 8

cat

Question 9

What induces ovulation for cats?

Answer 9

the barbs on the penis which causes pain and induces the ovulation

Question 10

How can you tell when a female rabbit is receptive?

Answer 10

the the vulva is swollen and pink/red

Question 11

What type of ovulators are rabbits?

Answer 11

induced ovulators

Question 12

When are reptiles stimulated to mate?

Answer 12

after hibernation

Question 13

Which reptiles have a hemipenis?

Answer 13

snakes and lizards

Question 14

What problems can occur at mating?

Answer 14

not tying properly
height difference between dogs
unpleasant/past experiences
wrong environment
inexperienced queen/bitch/tom/dog
human presence
penis not retracting

Question 15

What are the optimum ages for breeding cats?

Answer 15

at least 1 year and no older that ~4/6

Question 16

What are the optimum ages for breeding dogs?

Answer 16

studding at 1 year
bitches 18months (not during 1st season)

Question 17

What factors will influencing breeding?

Answer 17

healthy
skeletally mature
at an age where temperament and conformation can be assessed
free from infectious diseases

Question 18

What are the optimum ages for breeding horses?

Answer 18

when physically fit but fertility will decrease after 12 years old

Question 19

What are the optimum ages for breeding rabbits?

Answer 19

male 5-8months.. repo life ends at 5-6years

female 4 - 7 months .. repo life ends at 3 years

Question 20

What are the optimum ages for breeding guinea pigs?

Answer 20

Female from 12 weeks but before 10 months

males from 4 months

Question 21

Gestation period for a dog

Answer 21

56 - 72 days (average 63)

Question 22

Gestation period for a cat

Answer 22

64 - 68 days

Question 23

Gestation period for a rabbit

Answer 23

29 - 35 days

Question 24

Gestation period for a horse

Answer 24

342 days

Question 25

Gestation period for a guinea pigs

Answer 25

59 - 72days

Question 26

Gestation period for a hamster

Answer 26

15 - 18 days

Question 27

Gestation period for a bird

Answer 27

eggs laid every other day but incubation for up to 18 days

Question 28

Gestation period for a chinchilla

Answer 28

114 days

Question 29

When will signs of pregnancy become apparent in the bitch?

Answer 29

35th day of pregnancy

Question 30

What are the signs of pregnancy in the bitch?

Answer 30

colour of the teats darken mammary glands enlarge white or opaque vaginal discharge abdominal enlargement

Question 31

What are the signs of pregnancy in the queen?

Answer 31

abdominal enlargement | mammary enlargement obvious from day 40

Question 32

What are the signs of pregnancy in the guinea pig?

Answer 32

considerable weight gain | may see young moving near birth

Question 33

Does the pregnant bitch need more nutritional support?

Answer 33

no she doesn't if she is getting a balanced diet | may be doubled during the last half of pregnancy

Question 34

Does exercise for a pregnant bitch need to be changed?

Answer 34

no, keep exercise the same although not in hot weather

Question 35

What additional help does a pregnant rabbit need?

Answer 35

just nesting material needs to be supplied 2 days before birth

Question 36

What is pseudopregnancy?

Answer 36

phantom pregnancy/false pregnancy also known as pseudocyesis

Question 37

What are the clinical signs of pseudopregnancy?

Answer 37

develop 6-12weeks largely behavioural nest making/adoption of objects abdominal enlargement/mammary enlargement /lactation

Question 38

How can we treat pseudopregnancy?

Answer 38

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