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Trace Pheasantry, Inc.
Whistling Wings, Inc.
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Jim Zindl
18
NAGA News January/February 2015
Dog Reproduction by Mark F. Michelotti, VMD,
Center Animal Hospital, State College, PA
Canine Breeding, Whelping
and Pediatric Care
T
he objective of breeding is
to produce healthy offspring
that represent their respective
breeds well and have no congenital
or inherited defects.
1.
PRE-BREEDING screening for breeding soundness
and selection of potential
breeding stock includes a complete
physical exam to check for any disqualifying congenital
or inherited abnormalities, like misaligned
jaws, heart murmurs,
large hernias, retained
testicles and conformational defects.
Optional tests include
well positioned X-rays
of hips and elbows
(+/- shoulders), eye
certifications (CERF),
cardiac and patellar
certification.
Evaluate prospective sires and dams for
a desirable disposition
that well represents the breed and
their likely adoption into a family
home setting.
Both the bitch and stud should
have current vaccinations including
the Core vaccines, DHPP (Distemper,
Hepatitis, Para influenza, Parvo)
and Rabies, and in some areas Lyme
disease and Leptospirosis vaccine. A
bitch that is not current on her vaccines may not pass maternal immunity in utero and to her nursing pups
via the important first milk containing colostrum.
A fecal sample should be checked
for intestinal parasites and the animal dewormed if indicated. Parasites
not only weaken the bitch, but can be
transmitted to the pups both in utero
(roundworms) and through the milk
(hookworms). A heartworm/tickborne disease screen (heartworm,
Lyme disease, Anaplamosis and
Ehriclichiosis screen) is recommended prior to breeding so infected dogs
can be treated prior to breeding.
Abortions, reduced fertility,
sterility and chronic infections of the
genital tract can result from canine
brucellosis so a brucellosis test is still
recommended for all breeding dogs
and may be required
by some breeders.
Taking a series
of blood samples to
determine when the
first rise in serum progesterone occurs can
be extremely helpful
in determining the
best time to breed,
especially for dogs
that have not been
successfully bred
in the past, in cases
where dog availability
to breed is limited,
or when considering
artificial insemination with shipped
chilled or frozen semen.
2.
BREEDING
The canine ovarian cycle
averages every 7 months,
ranging as short as 4 to as long as 13
months. Onset of a dog’s first cycle
also varies with small breed often
at less than one year until 18-24
months of age. This is especially
common in dogs in fairly strenuous
training programs.
The normal “heat” cycle lasts
17-28 days, counting from when the
first sign of vulvar swelling and a
pink, blood tinged vaginal discharge
is first noted until the dog is no longer receptive.
Proestrus, the initial phase, typi-
cally lasts 6-11 days with an average
of 9 days, but as brief as 3 or as long
as 25 days, beginning when vaginal
bleeding is first seen and ending
when the bitch will accept a male.
During this phase males are attracted
to the females, but most females will
refuse to breed. The vulva is typically maximally enlarged during this
phase. The dominant hormone of
proestrus is estrogen produced by
the follicles on the ovary.
Estrus, “standing heat”, the most
important phase of the cycle, ranges
from 2 - 18 days, averaging 10 days,
starts the first day a female allows
a male to breed and ends when no
longer receptive. Besides the willingness to accept a male as evidence by
“flagging” of the tail, standing solidly
for the male to mount and sometimes a swayed back posture, other
clinical signs typical of estrus include
a decrease in vaginal discharge that
often changes in color to light pink or
even straw colored and a less swollen vulva. Occasionally a bitch will
not display receptive behavior at any
time during her cycle. In these cases,
checking a series of blood progesterone levels will be critically important
to determine when to breed.
Sperm from a natural breeding has a fertile lifespan within
the uterus of at least 4 days. Get a
natural breeding every 2-3 days during the period of standing heat. It is
very important to continue to breed
the bitch until she refuses to be bred.
The period of maximum fertility is
the final 4-5 days of standing heat,
regardless of how long she has been
allowing the male to breed.
When “side by side” or fresh
chilled semen Artificial Insemination
(AI) is used, run a series of progesterone levels starting at about day 5-6
of the cycle and continuing every
2-3 days until the first rise in progesterone. Breed on day 3 or 4 after the
first rise in progesterone and then
again 2 days later. When frozen semen, surgical AI is planned, test the
progesterone daily or every other day
and surgically inseminate on Day 4 or
5 after the first rise in progesterone.
A calm, relaxed atmosphere and
owners are essential to successful mating. Some more dominant
females will only allow breeding by a
dominant male. Taking the female to
the male’s territory will allow him to
be more dominant.
3.
PREGNANCY
The average length of pregnancy in the dog is 63 days,
but ranges from 55- 72 days after
first breeding. Due to variation in
the time of ovulation, likely multiple
breeding dates and the inconsistent
length of estrus, it is difficult to identify the exact date of fertilization and
an accurate due date. Gauging the
due date from the first day a bitch is
out of heat (diestrus) is more accurate with the whelping date likely to
be 56-58 days afterwards.
Pregnancy is typically confirmed
via an ultrasound examination performed 24-30 days after last breeding when fluid filled fetal vesicles
are readily imaged within a pregnant
uterus. In relaxed, non-obese females, pregnancy can often be confirmed by abdominal palpation. While
ultrasound is an excellent technique
for confirmation of pregnancy, it will
not provide an accurate puppy count,
which is best accomplished with an
abdominal x-ray taken at approxi-
mately 50-55 days gestation, safe at
this stage for both the birch and her
unborn pups.
Good nutrition plays a very important role in the production of healthy
pups. The pregnant dog’s energy
requirement increases approximately
40% during the last trimester (3
weeks) of the pregnancy.
The following diet is recommended for pregnant dogs:
1. Feed regular, good quality adult
maintenance dog food during the
first 4 weeks after standing heat.
2. After confirmation of pregnancy in weeks 5 and 6, gradually
increase the amount fed by 20-25%
and transition to a puppy or “growth”
formula with higher protein, energy
and minerals (calcium and phosphorus) per cup.
3. Continue to increase up to 50%
during the 8th and 9th week gestation and during lactation. During
these last few weeks of gestation
split meals into 4-5 offerings a day
due to reduced stomach capacity
from the greatly enlarged uterus.
4. Multipurpose Veterinary
B-Complex vitamins may be beneficial and should not be harmful during
pregnancy. However, both Vitamin D
and Calcium supplementation can be
greatly detrimental and are strongly
Breeding, continued on page 20
discouraged!
January/February 2015 NAGA News
19
Moderate
regular daily exercise prior to and
throughout the pregnancy will
strengthen the cardiovascular system, increase and maintain muscle
tone and almost always make the
whelping process easier. Exercise
should be reduced to leashed
walking during the last 3 weeks of
gestation.
Introduce the dog to the whelping
box 7-14 days before her approximate due date to allow ample time
to feel comfortable in the new environment. Place the box in a relatively
familiar area to the dog, also providing her some degree of privacy.
Breeding, continued from page 19
Bill Trace,
Past President
and NAGA
Board
Member,
Passes
William “Bill” Harold Trace died
unexpectedly on Wednesday,
August 27, 2014, age 66. He
was married for over 33 years
to Debra (Berdan) Trace, who
survives.
Bill was
born and
raised in
Pottstown,
PA. In
earlier
years, he
worked in
the print room of Sanders
& Thomas, and later for the
Xerox Corporation. While
working at Xerox in 1972, Bill
started and eventually worked
full time at building his family
business, Trace Pheasantry,
incorporated 1998.
Bill was very active in
promoting and guiding the
game bird industry, serving on
state and national industry
associations. He was a NAGA
board member and planned
many of the convention venue
arrangements. He was an
outdoorsman, avid hunter, and
loved his weimaraner dogs. He
enjoyed salt water aquariums,
kayaking, RVing and growing
orchids. Bill was a longtime
supporter of the Schuylkill
River Heritage Area, and a
participant in the Sojourn.
Our deepest sympathies
go out to the family and as
requested, in lieu of flowers, a
contribution was made by
NAGA to the Schuylkill River
Heritage Area.
4.
WHELPING
Approximately 12-24
hours before whelping,
the bitch will become restless, and
have a drop in appetite. Body temperature will drop from a normal temperature of 100-101.5 to around 99oF.
Start taking dog AM and PM temperatures around 55 days of gestation to
establish a normal daily pattern, to
identify a temperature drop.
Stage 1 of labor will typically last
6-12 hours, to as long as 24 hours.
The bitch will appear restless, nervous and anorectic. She may shiver,
pant, chew things up, scratch at the
floor and pace. Many will seek seclusion and start to nest near the end of
this phase. Uterine contractions are
occurring at regular intervals.
Stage 2 begins with complete
dilation of the cervix and ends with
the expulsion of the puppy. Then
Stage 3 begins until the expulsion
of the placenta. A bitch with more
than one puppy alternates between
Stages 2 and 3. The length of these
two stages is greatly variable with
some bitches delivering all her pups
in a few hours, while others take
24-36 hours. Contractions during
these stages are usually visible and
the bitch is on her side or standing. Approximately 40% of pups
will normally be born in the breech
or “rump first” position. The fetal
membranes covering the puppies
may rupture during delivery or are
quickly removed by the bitch. Failing
this, owners must respond quickly to
remove the membranes and clear the
mouth of fluids. Drying the puppy
with moderate vigor will stimulate
respiration. The bitch will typically
sever the chord with her teeth. If she
does not, owners can tie off the cord
with dental floss and sever the chord
approximately an inch from the body
wall with scissors. The placentas are
usually passed within 5-15 minutes
of the birth of each puppy. Retained
placentas are extremely rare in a dog.
The dog may also eat the placentas,
although there is no known benefit in
doing so and this may lead to a green,
black diarrhea. Because of this, it is
recommended to remove and discard
the placentas if possible.
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NAGA News January/February 2015
5.
DYSTOCIA is defined as
“difficult birth” or the inability to expel the pups from
the uterus through the birth canal.
Uterine inertia is uterine muscle
weakness that generates insufficient
force to propel the puppy through
the birth canal. This condition can respond well to medical management.
Small Pelvic Canal
Diameter may result in
need for surgery due
to a congenitally small
pelvis, acquired narrowing due to previous
pelvic fractures, maternal/fetal mismatch
as is often seen in large
headed breeds or with
very small liter size.
Malpresentation of
the fetus, head first
presentation with the forelegs back,
increasing the shoulder diameter;
breech presentation with retention
of the hind legs; lateral or ventroflexion of the head or transverse presentation, usually requires surgery.
SEEK VETERINARY HELP:
• After 20-30 minutes of strong
abdominal contractions without successfully delivering a puppy.
• After delivering 1 or more puppies, more than 4-6 hours passes
without another birth in a bitch
known for having additional pups in
her uterus. Some bitches will rest
quietly for up to 4-6 hours during a
normal whelping.
• In a bitch that fails to deliver
pups 24-36 hours after a temperature drop below 99o F.
• When a bitch cries and licks or
bites at the vulva repeatedly during
whelping.
• In a bitch that fails to progress to
Stage 2 after 12+ hours of apparent
Stage 1 labor.
• In a birth that is “overdue” beyond 70-72 days from the first breeding or beyond 60 days from when she
went out of estrus.
The first step is a thorough
physical exam to evaluate the overall
condition of the bitch as well as an
initial internal exam of the vaginal
cavity and abdominal palpation.
Radiographs will assess the number
and position of the remaining pups.
Ultrasound exams may assess fetal
viability by detecting fetal heartbeats. Blood tests look for signs of
infection (elevated white blood cell
counts) or anemia (low white blood
cell counts, +/- low platelet counts)
as well as to assess organ function and hypocalcemia (low blood
calcium).
Medical Management consists
of stimulating uterine contractions
in cases of primary or secondary
uterine inertia, where no fetal or
maternal related obstructions are
present. Oxytocin is the drug used to
stimulate uterine contractions. The
dose depends on the weight of the
bitch, and is given intra-muscularly
only on the advice or direct supervision of a veterinarian. If Oxytocin is
given to the bitch with an obstruction, uterine rupture or fetal death
due to separation of placental sites
resulting in a lack of fetal oxygen
can result. Oxytocin can be repeated
every 30-40 minutes
for a total of 2-3 injections. if no progress
occurs a Caesarean
Section is recommended. Where hypocalcemia is suspected
or documented, a slow
IV administration of a
calcium supplement
should be considered
before a final Oxytocin
injection to greatly
strengthen their contractions.
Surgical Cesarean Section is recommended when medical management of a dystocia is not successful,
as a planned method of delivery in
breeds prone to dystocia (bulldogs,
mastiffs) or in dogs that have required previous Caesarian sections.
Work with an experienced veterinarian comfortable in the field of
canine reproduction and performing
C-Section. The Breeding, continued on page 22
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21
timing of
planned C-Sections is very important
to be sure the puppies are not taken
too early, before they have a good
chance for survival due to incomplete development. The C-Section
should be at least 57 days from the
last breeding.
Breeding, continued from page 21
UTERINE INVOLUTION:
6.
POST WHELPING
PROBLEMS:
A uterine infection (metritis) signs include a more purulent,
foul smelling vaginal discharge in a
depressed bitch, often accompanied
by a fever of 103oF+.
Mastitis, infection of the mammary glands, signs include redness,
swelling and tenderness in one or
more breasts. The milk from the
infected gland can look watery or
caseous (cheesy) often with blood or
a more yellow/green color. The bitch
may also be depressed and often
have a fever of 103o+F.
Both of these conditions can be
very serious and require immediate
veterinary evaluation and treatment.
7.
NEONATAL CARE
Newborn pups will spend
their time nursing and sleeping. Healthy pups have a glossy coat,
are warm to the touch, and have a
strong suckle reflex. They will nurse
vigorously and then go back to
sleep and will, in general, appear to
be content.
A cool, weak or crying pup is
probably unhealthy. Dehydration
and chilling are the most com-
22
NAGA News January/February 2015
Pups are unable to maintain their
own body temperature for the first
2 weeks of life and rely on body heat
from the bitch and a warm, dry environment to maintain a healthy body
temperature of 98-100°. Prevent
chilling by maintaining the whelping room and box at 75-78° free of
drafts. When puppies’ body temperatures drop below 96 degrees, they no
longer digest and absorb milk. These
pups need to be quickly warmed by
bottle or tube feeding with a warmed
electrolyte solution (Pedialyte). As
they improve supplement with a
50:50 mixture of Pedialyte and a milk
replacer until strong enough to nurse
well on their own.
PEDIATRIC CARE:
• Tail docking and dewclaw removal: usually done at 2-5 days of
age if required for breed standards.
• Begin to offer the pups a
moistened puppy food “mash” at
3 weeks of age.
• At 3 weeks, begin worming every 2 weeks with a
Pyrantel deworming product
(Nemex) that eliminates both
Roundworms and Hookworms.
• Wean at 5-6 weeks of age.
• Pre-sale examinations to
check for congenital defects
and first DHPP vaccine is recommended at 7-8 weeks of age. Check
a puppy fecal sample at this time to
look for additional parasites (Coccidia
or Giardia) or abnormal bacteria
(Campylobacter or overgrowth of
Clostridia). H
This article is adapted from a
2012 presentation at the PA State
Conference, used with permission.
SALES
Mature Bird Sales • Char Debroux
[email protected]
®
Day Old Chick Sales • Pam Wallisch
[email protected]
Food Product Sales • Rachel Hillinger
[email protected]
Visit our food product website at:
CHINESE RINGNECK
K THUNDER
MANCHURIAN RINGNECK CROSS
MELANISTIC MUTANT
CHUKAR REDLEG PARTRIDGE
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2821 S. U.S. Hwy 51 • Janesville, Wisconsin 53546
Phone: 608-757-7881 • Toll Free: 800-345-8348
www.pheasant.com
www.pheasantfordinner.com
TECHNICAL ADVICE
Hatchery Supervisor • Ben Lawton
[email protected]
Brooder Supervisor • Brian Davis
[email protected]
Production Manager • Chris Theisen
[email protected]
Breeder Supervisor • Troy Cisewski
[email protected]
Pen Supervisor • Rich Thomas
[email protected]
Have your game bird management
questions answered at:
www.gamebirdforum.com
www.gamebirdexpert.com
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. ~Rita Rudner
After delivery the uterus undergoes
a period of repair called involution.
Most of this occurs between the
first 4-6 weeks after delivery.
During this time owners will
notice an odorless, green, dark
red/brown or bloody vaginal
discharge called lochia. This is
very normal and may persist
even longer than 6 weeks. As
long as the bitch appears healthy
and is not anemic or febrile, the
discharge is not likely a problem.
mon causes of neonatal puppy loss.
Dehydration results in weight loss
and a loss of skin elasticity. Puppies
should be individually identified and
their weights monitored during the
first 3-5 days after delivery to help
owners to quickly recognize when
a pup is becoming dehydrated and
require early intervention. Severely
dehydrated pups may require subcutaneous fluids and tube feeding of
electrolyte solutions.