SAFE PET REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES

More precise timing of the breeding events is required when there is limited access to the stud, when artificial reproductive techniques are going to be used, or when the quality of the semen is questionable. The ability to accurately time breeding is of practical and economic importance to breeders. Optimal timing helps breeders in the following ways:

·        Maximizes pregnancy rates and litter size (Semen and stud fees are expensive.)

·        Allows the breeder to plan travel for matings

·        Allows optimization of time for assisted breeding techniques (artificial insemination [AI] using fresh, chilled sperm)

·        Allows optimization of time for breeding when access to the stud is limited to one or two matings

·        Prevents unnecessary use of male

·        Helps with the planning of matings when the same male is used on two bitches simultaneously

·        Allows optimization of time for breeding in bitches that have a history of unreceptiveness or show silent heats

·        Ovulation timing for fair estimates of expected whelping dates

Ultrasound is the ‘gold standard’ for detecting pregnancy and assessing the viability of the fetuses.We start detecting developing embryos as early as 30 day post-breeding, and the viability of the fetuses can be determined throughout the pregnancy.

The advantages of abdominal ultrasound as a way of diagnosing pregnancy:

·        It’s easy to perform;

·        It’s low-stress on the mother (the pregnant animal can often be ultrasounded in a relaxed standing or recumbent position with only basic restraint);

·        It does not usually require the use of drugs or sedatives that might harm the babies;

·        It is very accurate at diagnosing pregnancy and it can be used to detect pregnancy at all stages of the gestation period from about 30 days gestation to full term.

·        It as a means of diagnosing pregnancy is accurate in dogs as well as cats;

·        It can still be used to make a diagnosis even in a very tense, handling-resistant pet. Abdominal scanning can still be performed through even the most tense and tight abdominal muscles;

·        It may be possible to determine litter size with abdominal scanning;

·        If there are only one or two fetuses present, these are usually able to be detected by thorough abdominal ultrasounding;

·        The viability of the babies can generally be assessed on abdominal ultrasound;

·        Ultrasound may provide some indication of when medical and surgical intervention is required in order to help pets give birth;

·        Aging the fetuses is possible using abdominal ultrasound;

·        False positives and negatives are less likely with abdominal ultrasound;

·        Ultrasonography is safe for the unborn puppies and kittens.

Our team can x-ray your dog and cat 52 days after breeding. On day 52, we are able to give you almost accurate count of the number of puppies in the womb ( some puppies/kittens could be ‘hiding’ behind another puppy/kitten or the mother’s spine. Rarely are x-ray counts off by more than one puppy or kitten), which will let you know how many puppies to expect during the delivery process.

The advantages of abdominal radiography as a way of diagnosing pregnancy:

·        Abdominal radiography is easy to perform;

·        Abdominal radiography as a means of diagnosing pregnancy is accurate in dogs as well as cats, provided that it is performed at day 52 and beyond;

·        Abdominal radiography can still be used to make a pregnancy diagnosis even in a very tense, resistant pet. Abdominal radiography can still be performed through even the most tense and tight abdominal muscles;

·        It is usually possible to determine litter size with accuracy on abdominal radiography;

·        If there are only one or two fetuses present, these are usually able to be detected on abdominal radiography;

·        Radiography may be able to provide some indication of when medical and surgical intervention is required for a female pet giving birth (e.g. if the babies are too large in size to pass through the canal or if a large new coming baby appears to be stuck within the canal);

·        Aging the fetuses is possible on abdominal radiograph;

·        X-ray visibility and accuracy is not usually adversely affected by the presence of gas, feces or tissues within the abdominal cavity (unless the animal has been eating lots of bones – bony feces will interfere with the vet’s ability to spot and count the “bony” fetuses);

·        The animal’s belly does not need to be shaved for radiography to be performed.

·        Radiography is safe for the unborn babies, if done only sparingly.

The other method of artificial insemination that we offer at Weldrick Animal Hospital is surgical insemination. Surgical insemination can be done with any type of semen, fresh, chilled. Timing is absolutely critical for this type of breeding to be effective. Usually multiple vaginal smears and progesterone tests are required to get the timing exact.
Surgical breeding is as the name implies – surgical. General anesthesia is required, then a small incision will be made in the dam’s abdominal wall, her uterus will be pulled up, and the semen is injected directly into the uterine horns. Your pet will have an incision that will need to be monitored and it is recommended that she be kept quiet for 10-14 days. It will be NO VISIBLE suture after the surgery.

Without intervention, birthing difficulties can lead to the death of the puppies and often of the mother. Consequently, caesarean section rates are high in these breeds, up to 86% in the Bulldog and Pugs. Some breeders opt to have ‘elective’ caesareans in their bitches to avoid inevitable problems during birthing.

Below are a few signs to watch for that may indicate that your dog/cat is having difficulties delivering her puppies/kittens and needs emergency veterinary care.

o   Your pet is actively pushing for 30-60 minutes without producing a puppy/kitten.

o   Weak contractions for 2 hours or more without producing a puppy/kitten.

o   Signs of illness include vomiting, fever, pain, and bloody discharge.

While many healthy pregnancies in dogs and cats can proceed unaided, in some circumstances an elective C-section may be recommended. Your pet may need a scheduled C-section if:

·        There is only one puppy/kitten – that may not produce enough cortisol to induce labor in the mother.

·        Newborns are very large.

For dogs:
Your dog suffers from any underlying health conditions
If your dog needs a C-section, it will most likely be scheduled 63 days from ovulation which should put the procedure within 24 hours of your dog’s ideal due date.
If you’re curious as to how many C-sections a dog can have, the general rule of thumb is two to three. This is in order to preserve the mother’s quality of life and the quality of life for future puppies.

With any dog’s C-Section females MUST be tested and found DNA negative for Brucellosis (this is a zoonotic disease and people can be exposed). You can order this test from your local clinic or with us.