(Preamble to Breeding Protocols)

Everyone who loves his or her dog would like to be able to clone it so that they may have it forever. Unfortunately, that is not possible. The closest thing to cloning is to breed your beloved pet and to get its offspring. It sounds like a good idea; however, what will you do with those puppies that you do not keep? Because of the heavy burden on society that pet overpopulation causes, breeding your pet should not be a frivolous decision. Please consider, before you do, the breeding management protocols listed below. If you should have any questions about them, please consult your family veterinarian.

To insure a productive breeding, an uncomplicated whelping, and a healthy litter, we suggest the following protocols. A health examination, with appropriate laboratory testing, is essential in determining breeding soundness. Protocols for management of the dog, the bitch, pregnancy and lactation, and newborns are discussed below.

The Dog (Sire): General Health

• Must be healthy, in good physical condition and parasite-free.
• All appropriate vaccinations must be current.
• Must conform to breed standards if progeny are to be registered.

Breeding Soundness

• Must test negative for Brucella infection.
• Must have adequate, viable sperm.
• There can be no deformities of the penis or of the testicles.
• The penile sheath must be free of infection.
• There should be no physical defects, which would prevent his mounting of the bitch.
• There must be no heritable defects.

The Bitch (Dam): General Health

• Must be healthy, in good physical condition and parasite-free.
• All appropriate vaccinations must be current.
• Must conform to breed standards if progeny are to be registered.

Breeding Soundness

• Must test negative for Brucella infection.
• Pelvic (birth) canal must be free of defects.
• Mammary glands and nipples must be normal.
• There must be no hernias, either umbilical or inguinal.
• Should there be a vaginitis or vaginal discharge, a culture and sensitivity is needed.
• There must be no heritable defects.

Preparation for Breeding

• At the first signs of proestrus, or the first stage heat (vulvular enlargement, bloody discharge), present her for a physical examination, a complete blood count, and a fecal test.
• Ten days from the beginning of heat, present her for a vaginal cytology examination to determine the stage of estrus and the appropriate time to begin breeding.
• The three stages of heat (proestrus, estrus, and diestrus) last for approximately 21 days. During that time, she will attract the interest of all intact males; therefore, you must maintain her in a secure fashion to prevent a mismating with an inappropriate sire.

Breeding

• Do not breed the bitch before her third heat cycle. The first heat occurs at approximately six months of age and then every six months thereafter.
• In order to bracket ovulation and to insure a large litter, breed every 2-3 days until she refuses the sire.
• Should she refuse the sire or if he were unable to breed her, then consider artificial breeding or artificial insemination with sperm from a sperm bank.
• Trying-up is the means that nature has provided for the ejaculate to be deposited in the cervical region. Once intromission has occurred, the penile bulb will engorge to the point that it will not allow extraction of the penis from the vulvular opening. The engorgement subsides upon ejaculation thereby allowing the two to disengage.
• Remember that the bitch will stand for breeding with any and all intact males during heat. There can be a different father for each pup in the litter, but there can be only one father per pup.

Pregnancy Management

• The average, normal gestation period is 63 days; however, each bitch is an individual and she may vary slightly from the norm.
• Every 21 days, monitor the pregnancy by performing a physical examination, a complete blood count, and a fecal examination.
• Seven days before the whelping due date, the number of fetuses may be determined by X-ray examination.
• A high quality dog food must be fed during pregnancy and lactation to maintain the good health of the dam and her litter. We prefer Hills Canine P/D ®

Preparing for Whelping

• A quiet space, out of the flow of normal household traffic must be provided. The use of a whelping box is preferred.
• Approximately 7 days prior to whelping, her mammary glands may begin to become enlarged with milk.
• As the time nears, she may become restless, stop eating, and urinate frequently.
• The normal rectal temperature is 100-103 degrees Fahrenheit. By monitoring her temperature, an estimate of impending labor may be done, for when the temperature drops to 99F, she should generally present the first fetus within 6 hours.

Whelping

• Once labor begins, and it is a strong, nonproductive labor for 6 hours, veterinary intervention may be required.
• There is no set time between deliveries, ranging from minutes to hours. Again, I use 6 hours of nonproductive labor as a sign of the need for veterinary intervention.
• Most bitches will eat the fetal membranes (placenta) during the process of the cleaning the newborn. This is natural and assists in milk letdown and promotes mothering instinct. As a downside, it may produce diarrhea.
• The bitch and her pups need to be presented for examination within 24 hours postpartum. At that time, they will be examined, she for retained fetuses, and the pups for any abnormalities and defects. She will be given an injection of oxytocin to stimulate milk letdown and to flush and placental remnants from the uterus.

Newborn Management

• As each fetus is presented, if she does not remove the fetal membranes, then you must do so.
• The umbilical cord is tied with heavy thread next to the abdominal wall and the cord is then cut approximately one inch beyond the ligature.
• The mouth must be cleared of any obstructions, such as placental fluids and tissue and of meconium (fetal feces). Aspirate the pharyngeal area with an infant ear syringe to insure an open airway.
• Vigorously massage the newborn to stimulate breathing.
• Newborns are accustomed to the bitch's body temperature and they are subject to chilling, which can have fatal results; therefore, be prepared to provide a warm environment for them. Heating pads can be dangerous.
• In those breeds that require tail docking and dew claw removal, it is done at 3 days of age.

Lactation

• Nature has insured the survival of the mammalian species by the production of good quality, wholesome milk to feed the newborn. The first milk is called colostrum and contains antibodies, which transfers passive immunity to the newborn until the newborn's immune system can produce its own.
• The dam's ingested nutrients go to produce milk first. What is leftover then is utilized by the dam for her own use. If the leftover nutrients are insufficient, then milk fever (eclampsia) may ensue.
• Therefore, it is extremely important that the same high quality diet that was fed during pregnancy continue to be fed during lactation.
• Her mammaries must be examined daily, looking for signs of mastitis (redness, heat, pain, discoloration, hardness, and discolored milk). Mastitis milk is harmful to the nursing pups.

-Dr. John N. Case, Jr. is the owner of the Clinic for Animals. 5201 N. State Road, Tamarac, Florida. Phone: (954) 739-4500. Dr. Case has a small animal practice.