|
For some reason, people seem to be embarrassed about bringing their pets to the office to discuss reproduction. Instead, they always seem to call on the phone. Needless to say that gave me an obvious title for this article, but I saved the publisher the necessity of editing! Read on about some of the more common calls I get.
- When will my dog come into heat, and how will I know it?
Heat cycles, or estrus, is the dog equivalent of a menstrual cycle. As with humans, the cycles begin at the onset of puberty, which is anywhere from 8 to 14 months of age (larger breeds reach puberty later than smaller breeds). Proestrus is the first stage of heat and consists of the swelling of the vulva and a clear brown-red discharge. Your female dog will have no interest in male dogs at this point; that is, not until the all important hormones switch and she is ready to ovulate, or release, her eggs. During estrus, or standing heat, the discharge will change to a more red-brown color and will get thicker; she will now be ready for her stud muffin. As a rule of thumb, proestrus lasts seven to 10 days and estrus another seven to 10 days.
- So, when is the best time to breed my dog?
When your life is at a point where you can deal with two to 12 needy puppies! Seriously though, people usually breed their dogs on days nine, 11, and 13 of the cycle. The problem with this method is that often the first day or two of the cycle go unnoticed. Your veterinarian can do vaginal swabs and look under the microscope to tell you when to get the male and female together. In other cases, hormone levels, such as progesterone or leutinizing hormone (LH), need to be checked. Both of these tests help pinpoint ovulation, because you want to breed about two days after ovulation. In all honestly, I recommend letting nature take its course; it usually does. Get the male and female together every other day starting at about five to seven days after you first notice signs of heat. When she is ready, she will let the male do his stuff. If you are serious about breeding and you are not getting results, go see your veterinarian.
- Why don't I ever hear about heat cycles and timing with cats?
Good question, young grasshopper. We all know cats are way cool, and their reproductive cycle confirms it. Cats are what are called induced ovulators. When their ovaries start to grow eggs, the females actively seek out the males. Then, when chico and chica hook up, she ovulates after the boot-knocking session. The act of sex induces her to ovulate. They do not miss. There is no timing necessary. Rabbits are also induced ovulators.
- I think my dog got out and got pregnant; can you give her a "mismate shot"?
Nope. Not me. There was a time when veterinarians commonly used a drug called ECP, or estradiol cypionate, as a mismate shot. (Some doctors may still use it.) It is not a safe drug; in fact, it has been outlawed in Canada (according to my associate). I used to make owners sign a release of liability before using it, but now the medical associations are saying to just plain not use it for mismating. It can, and often does, cause life-threatening uterine infections. Another drug, PGF2alpha, is much safer, but it is not yet approved for use in the United States. Your best options are to either have your dog spayed (an ovariohysterectomy) or let her have the puppies. This may not be the advice you want to hear if you have a valuable breeding bitch, but it is the best medical advice for your pet.
- How can I tell if my dog is pregnant?
If she is eating pickles and ice cream at night, she is pregnant. Unfortunately, there is not a specific hormone test (as with humans) to tell if dogs are pregnant. There are other methods, though. Your veterinarian can often feel the puppies two to four weeks after breeding. Radiographs, or x-rays, can show the fetal skeletons starting at 45 days; this is the best method for counting the number of puppies and should be done so you know how many to expect. Ultrasound is very accurate at assessing pregnancy but not the best for counting pups; it can be done as early as three weeks after conception. A new blood test checks for the hormone Relaxin and is appropriately called Reprocheck; it can have false negatives in early pregnancy, though.
- I heard you can artificially inseminate a dog; they were pulling my leg, weren't they?
No, they were not. A.I., as it is commonly called, is very easy to do and quite successful. Some dogs can't figure the act out or have no experience; other females won't stand for the male even though the time is right. You can use fresh, chilled, or frozen semen. Fresh is the best; it is collected from the male when the time is right for the female and inserted into the vagina using a pipette. Chilled is usually shipped from across the United States and needs to be used 24 to 48 hours after collection. Frozen can be stored indefinitely and used when needed after thawing. We have a facility right here in Miami, too.
- Help, my dog is having puppies; what should I do?
You should have gone to your veterinarian for a pre-partum checkup and some advice on birthing or whelping before she was due to deliver! A six-minute video that is used in my office would have filled you in and been very calming. Relax, though, and remember your Lamaze breathing; most dogs take care of this by themselves.
Labor occurs in three stages. During the first stage your dog will be restless, will pant and probably will try to make a nest. This may last half a day or so. Contractions and the birth of the pups mark the next stage. Puppies will be born every two to four hours, sometimes faster and sometimes slower. Do not disturb her during this time as you may interrupt her labor; this would be a bad thing. Your dog should not have more than 30 to 60 minutes of contractions without delivering a pup. If she is contracting very forcefully during this time and there are no puppies, you need to take her to her doctor. If she is not in any distress but hasn't had a puppy in four to eight hours, don't worry; after eight hours or so, go see your veterinarian. The last stage is the delivering of the placentas, which will occur five to 15 minutes after each pup. The mom will usually chew the umbilical cord, but if she doesn't, simply tie a piece of thread about an inch away from the puppy and cut the cord. You can do it.
So, that was pretty easy, right? Breeding is kinda like Murphy's Law: the harder you try to breed your dog the more difficult it can be. Know what you are getting into before you embark; your veterinarian can give you good counsel. Please make sure before you breed your pet that you have good homes for all the puppies; there are too many unwanted dogs needlessly killed each year in this country. Sorry to leave you on such a bum note, but it needed to be said.
-Dr. Stephen M. Sheldon, practices at and owns Hammocks Veterinary Hospital in Miami, Florida. A University of Florida graduate, he is past president of the South Florida Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the Veterinary Cancer Society. He can be reached at (305) 388-0880. Visit his website at www.hammocksvet.com.
|
New
