Frequently asked questions

OVULATION TIMING

Prospective methods include progesterone assay, as described above, and examination of breeding history. Many bitches ovulate on or about the same day of their cycle from one heat to the next. Retrospective methods include vaginal cytology and examination of whelping history. The abrupt transition from the complete cornification seen on cytology during estrus to the complete non-cornification seen on the first day of diestrus happens six days after ovulation.

Whelping occurs 62 to 64 days after ovulation. Good record-keeping of dates from first discharge noted, breeding dates, and whelping dates allows you to count back and figure out on which day of the bitch's cycle she ovulated.

BREEDING TIMING

In dogs with no history of infertility or reproductive tract disease that are to be bred by natural service, there is nothing wrong with presenting the bitch to the stud dog when she has been in heat about seven days, and breeding the dogs every other day while the female will stand to be bred and the male is interested. The technologies described above are important for (1) bitches that do not stand to be bred after having been in heat 7-10 days, (2) lack of interest of an experienced male when the bitch will allow mounting, and (3) dogs that have been bred as described above with no success.

2) CHILLED SEMEN BREEDINGS

Some breeders may wish to breed dogs that are geographically distant. It is difficult and expensive to ship dogs. Shipping refrigerated canine semen may be a better alternative in some cases. Accurate breeding management, to pinpoint day of ovulation in the female dog, must be performed. Optimally, insemination is performed twice, two and four days after ovulation; two separate shipments are required. Semen is collected from the male dog by a veterinarian, placed in a liquid medium called an extender, which nourishes, buffers and protects the spermatozoa in the sample, chilled to refrigerator temperature, and shipped. It is desirable for the semen to be inseminated into the female dog as soon as possible after collection. Shipment may be made counter-to-counter via a commercial airline or using an overnight service such as Federal Express or UPS. Kits for this procedure are not maintained at the University of Minnesota, but can be ordered directly by the breeder either from commercial supplies such as Synbiotics and Camelot Farms.

3) SEMEN FREEZING

We do not freeze canine semen at the University of Minnesota. Please contact either Smith Veterinary Hospital (952-736-8278), Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital (651-451-4404) or Stillwater Veterinary Clinic (651-439-3200).

4) MISMATING AND PREGNANCY TERMINATION

Dogs may be bred accidentally, or may get away from the owner when they are in heat with subsequent possible breeding. The average female dog is most fertile when she has been in heat about a week, and remains fertile for about another week. Several options exist for pregnancy termination.

Ovariohysterectomy (OHE) - Ovariohysterectomy is spaying. Pregnancy is terminated by physical removal of the ovaries and uterus. This is a successful and permanent contraceptive technique. Your veterinarian may not be comfortable spaying your dog when she is in an advanced stage of pregnancy, so please contact them as soon as possible after the accidental breeding. This is the preferred method of pregnancy termination in dogs that are not specifically intended for breeding.

"Mismate" shot = Estrogen - Estrogen injections terminate pregnancy by altering movement of the fertilized egg(s) into the uterus. For estrogen shots to be effective, they must be given after the dog has released eggs from the ovary (evidenced by concentration of progesterone in blood greater than 4-10 ng/ml) but before she goes out of heat (evidenced by assessment of vaginal cells on a swab). If the shot is given before she ovulates, it will not work. If the shot is given after she has gone out of heat, there is a relatively increased risk of inducing uterine disease (pyometra). We do not administer estrogen mismate shots at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Prostaglandin - Prostaglandins are a class of hormones that are naturally released in dogs at the end of their heat cycle. Prostaglandin F2alpha is the drug most commonly used for pregnancy termination in dogs. It terminates pregnancy by stopping production of the hormone progesterone, which is required for pregnancy maintenance, and by causing uterine contractions, which physically break down the pregnancy. Prostaglandin F2alpha can be used safely throughout pregnancy, allowing us to definitively diagnose the dog as pregnant before any medication need be given. Pregnancy diagnosis should be done one month after the accidental breeding. If the dog is not pregnant at that time, nothing need be done. If she is pregnant, prostaglandin F2alpha can be administered twice daily for four days. At this point of pregnancy, the pups will be reabsorbed, not aborted. Side-effects of the drug are short-lived, and include vomiting and salivation. Prostaglandin F2alpha is the drug preferred for pregnancy termination in dogs at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Dexamethasone - Dexamethasone is a form of cortisone. It terminates pregnancy after mid-gestation, allowing us to definitively diagnose the dog as pregnant before any medication need be given. Pregnancy diagnosis should be done one month after the accidental breeding. If the dog is not pregnant at that time, nothing need be done. If she is pregnant, dexamethasone is given orally for 10 days. Side-effects are greatly increased thirst and urination and passage of dark discharge from the vulva. This treatment is inexpensive and only 80% successful.

5) VAGINITIS

Dogs may develop vaginitis as puppies (puppy or juvenile vaginitis) or as adults. Underlying causes of vaginitis that have been identified include urinary tract infection or anatomical abnormalities within the vagina. Many cases of vaginitis have no apparent cause. The main clinical sign is vaginal discharge, which may look like mucous, blood, or pus. If the discharge is not excessive and the bitch is not bothered by it, no treatment is necessary. If an underlying cause can be identified, that should be corrected. Culture of the vagina and treatment with an appropriate antibiotic for at least one month may be helpful. Refractory cases may require long-term, low-dose antibiotic therapy, or concurrent treatment with an estrogen (diethylstilbestrol [DES], as used for urinary incontinence), corticosteroid, or treatment as for allergies. These drugs are not recommended for use in dogs with juvenile (puppy) vaginitis. Dogs with juvenile vaginitis may benefit from being allowed to go through one heat cycle.

6) WHY SPAY-NEUTER YOUR PET?

Referenced articles about pros and cons of spay and castration surgeries are available on this website under the “Books and articles” link on the left sidebar of the homepage.

We strongly recommend that all animals that are not going to be used for breeding be spayed or neutered. There are millions of dogs and cats euthanized in humane societies every year in the United States. Only those animals that are genetically superior should be bred. Some recent articles advocate spaying or neutering when animals are over one year of age, or not spaying or neutering at all. Some studies document increased incidence of some cancers in spayed and neutered dogs compared to intact dogs. However, the incidence of these disorders is still so low that it cannot outweigh the great benefits of these procedures, described below.

FEMALES

Female dogs and cats are spayed. Spaying is ovariohysterectomy, surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus. This prevents the animal from coming into heat and from getting pregnant. The surgery can be performed safely anytime after 7 weeks of age in cats and 3 months of age in dogs.

The benefits of spaying are:

- The animal will no longer be fertile.

- The animals will not go into heat, which is associated with bloody vulvar discharge in dogs and specific, usually undesirable behaviors in both dogs and cats.

- Animals spayed before they go through their first heat are at greatly decreased risk of developing mammary cancer late in life.

The disadvantages of spaying are:

- Immediately after surgery, hemorrhage may occur into the abdomen or the suture line may come apart. These side-effects are uncommon and usually are readily repaired by your veterinarian.

- Spayed dogs and cats may be predisposed to obesity. This can be controlled with proper diet and exercise.

- Spayed dogs may develop urinary incontinence, in which they leak urine where they lie resting or sleeping. This can be controlled with medication and may be mitigated by spaying no earlier than 3-5 months of age.

MALES

Neutering is the term commonly used to describe surgical reproduction control in male dogs and cats. The surgery is more correctly called castration, which is removal of both testes. The surgery can be performed safely anytime after 7 weeks of age in dogs and cats.

The benefits of castration are:

- The animal will no longer be fertile. This is especially important in male animals for population control, since a single male animal can produce many more offspring than can a single female animal.

- Castrated male dogs are less likely to develop benign prostate disease or prostatic infection with increasing age.

- Castrated male cats are less aggressive, have less foul-smelling urine, and are much less likely to spray urine.

- Castrated male dogs are less likely to roam or to mount other animals or humans.

The disadvantages of castration are:

- Immediately after surgery, hemorrhage may occur into the scrotal sac. This side-effect is uncommon and usually is readily repaired by your veterinarian.

- Castrated dogs and cats may be predisposed to obesity. This can be controlled with proper diet and exercise.

- Castrated dogs are at increased risk for cancer of the prostate, which is uncommon but highly malignant, and may be at increased risk for other cancers.

7) WHELPING

Whelping usually occurs with relatively few problems. The dog can usually get through it

with little help from the owner. This sheet is to provide information to help you decide when an abnormality is present.

Most dogs whelp about 63 days after breeding (normal range = 58-71 days). To determine exactly when she will be due, start taking your dog's rectal temperature 2-4 times daily, starting about 55 days after breeding. To take your dog's rectal temperature, you can use a human oral thermometer. Lubricate it with a little Vaseline, make sure the thermometer bulb is totally within the anus, and leave it in for at least one minute. When the dog's temperature falls to below 100 degrees F (usually below 99 degrees F), she should begin to whelp within 24 hours, and will probably begin in 4-6 hours. You should have a place set aside for her that is warm and private. She may pick a place for herself and start nesting behavior there as she nears whelping.

Following is a list of supplies it is handy to have on hand:

- Clean towels

- Iodine

- Thread or dental floss

- Postal or small food scale

- Vanilla ice cream

- Your veterinarian's phone number

Labor starts with a long stage in which the uterine contractions begin, the reproductive tract relaxes, and the cervix opens. The abdominal contractions may not be visible, but the dog will appear nervous and restless. She will be panting and may vomit. This stage lasts 6-12 hours.

The second stage will be the actual birth of the puppies. You will usually see fetal tissues protruding before you actually see a pup born. The puppies will be born covered by a membrane that the dog will rupture with her teeth. She will also bite through the umbilical cord of each pup. Abdominal contractions will be evident at this stage, but it is usually best to leave the bitch alone. Dogs can voluntarily stop giving birth if they are disturbed, so you should make sure she's in a quiet place. You may need to help the pups if the mother does not. Do not try to pull the puppy if it appears to be stuck, since it is very easy to harm the pups. If the mother does not clean the pups, you should dry them with a towel, wipe clear all fluid from the nose and mouth, and rub the puppies vigorously. If the bitch does not sever the umbilical cord, you will have to do it. Wait for 5-10 minutes and then tie the umbilical cord in two places with thread or dental floss. The closest tie should be 1-2 inches from the body of the pup. Cut between the two ties, cleaning the end of the cord on the pup well with iodine. Leave the pups with the bitch; even though she may not let them nurse, they need her warmth and physical contact. Many bitches will eat a special treat like vanilla ice cream while whelping. Vanilla ice cream is good for them during whelping as it provides energy and calcium. When you first see the hard abdominal contractions signaling the second stage of labor, you should give your dog several hours to have the first pup. Once you see fetal tissues protruding, she should have a pup within 30 minutes. Once she starts delivering, give her 2 hours between pups. Most dogs will have a pup every 30-60 minutes; some may have several and then rest a while before finishing. If you are unsure about whether whelping is progressing normally, please call.

The third and final stage of labor is that of expelling the placenta or afterbirth. The dog usually expels the placenta for each pup after it is born, and sometimes expels two placentas after delivering two pups. You should clean these away; there is no good physiological reason for allowing the bitch to eat them. Try to count to make sure you have seen as many placentas as pups since these may be harmful to the bitch if left in her uterus.

After whelping is completed, make sure all of the pups nurse within 12-18 hours. The first milk they receive is very important in providing them with immunity to many common diseases. It is also important to make sure the puppies are warm enough; they should be kept in an environment of about 85 degrees F for the first several weeks of life. Be careful in your use of heating pads or heat lamps. It is very easy to burn the pups.

The mother may have a green to red-brown vulvar discharge for up to three weeks after whelping. This is normal, and is of no concern as long as it is not foul-smelling and the animal seems fine otherwise. You should continue to monitor the temperature of the mother for several weeks after whelping, at least once a day. It is normal for it to be slightly elevated (102.5 - 103.0 degrees F) for 2-3 days after whelping. Inspect the mother's mammary glands daily to check for the presence of milk, any abnormal swellings, and pain. Please call if you are concerned about what you see.

The puppies should be weighed at birth and daily thereafter. They may lose a small amount of weight the first day, but should gain steadily after that, doubling their birth weight by 10-14 days of age. Tail docks and dewclaw removals, if standard for the breed, should be performed within the first five days of life. We do not crop ears in this practice; we can recommend a veterinarian for you if you want this procedure performed.

The puppies should be started on a mash of puppy food softened with warm water, or baby rice cereal, at about four weeks of age. They can be weaned off the mother over the next two to three weeks. First vaccinations should be given at six to eight weeks of age. If at any time you have concerns or questions, please call.

Below is a checklist of reasons to call for help:

- The dog has started labor and is not progressing within the time limits listed above.

- The rectal temperature dropped over 24 hours ago and the dog has not started labor.

- The dog appears ill; depressed, feverish, fatigued.

- You have trouble getting the puppies to breathe early on, or to suckle later.

- You're not sure if the dog is done whelping.

- You have any particular concerns or questions.