For professional breeders, every litter is critical. Producing healthy puppies without jeopardizing the mother’s health is a challenging task, and it is a job that you should not take lightly. When you have questions about something as serious as canine reproduction, your veterinarian is always your best source of information.
If you’re online trying to learn more about dog reproduction services, we’re glad you found us. While we encourage you to contact your regular veterinarian with your questions, we decided to share answers to some FAQs on the topic as a trustworthy resource. If you don’t have a veterinarian in El Campo, TX, we are here to help.
What do I need to know if I want to breed my dog?
If you want to breed your dog, you need to make sure they are healthy. To do this, you’ll need to schedule a health screening. As your dog’s veterinarian, we can help you determine whether they are the right age and in suitable health for breeding.
What is the most important factor when considering canine reproduction?
Responsible breeders only breed males and females who add value to the gene pool. It is highly irresponsible to breed your dog just because you think they would produce cute puppies or as a source of quick income.
Before breeding, you should evaluate your dog on several factors, including:
- Temperament
- Overall health
- Nutritional status
- Personality
Will my dog need breed screening, and do they get that from a veterinarian?
Most dogs should undergo some type of health screening before breeding. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) promotes the health and welfare of companion animals by reducing genetic disease. The OFA’s Canine Information Health Center (CIHC) lists health screenings that are recommended for dogs based on their breed. This is a valuable resource for anyone thinking about breeding their dog.
The CIHC bases its health screening recommendations on guidelines from breed clubs. There are recommendations for pure breeds and several common mixed breeds, including Labradoodles and Goldendoodles.
Only vets can perform eye exams and x-rays. There are, however, some DNA tests you can perform at home using cheek swabs that you submit directly to the testing laboratory.
Do veterinarians provide dog infertility consultations?
Not all veterinarians provide this service, but some do. In the United States, there are around 100 veterinarians who are actively involved in theriogenology, or canine reproductive services. Not all veterinarians enjoy working with breeders, so if you plan on breeding dogs professionally, you need to find one who does.
How do veterinarians assess fertility in dogs?
Assessing fertility is easiest in male dogs. To do so, we perform a semen collection and assessment. We look at the swimming action, shape, and count of the sperm. We also assess how long the semen lives once placed in an extender (liquid preservative).
Fertility is much harder to assess in females. In most cases, we don’t know if females have good fertility or not until after breeding. Age and poor nutrition are two of the most common causes of infertility in females, so we look at these things closely. Young dogs who receive appropriate nutrition are much less likely to have fertility issues.
What is the reproductive age range for a dog?
We generally recommend waiting until your dog is at least two years old before breeding them. This gives them plenty of time to finish growing and provides ample opportunity to complete reproductive testing. While some breeders start breeding their dogs earlier, we never recommend doing so during the first heat cycle.
Once a dog reaches six years of age, their fertility decreases by about 33 percent. While you can safely breed male dogs as long as they can still produce sperm, we don’t recommend breeding females after the age of eight.
How will I know if my dog needs help breeding?
If you know that the timing is right for breeding your dog, but you have not achieved a successful mating, this indicates that your dog may need help breeding. When you bring your dog in for a visit, we’ll likely recommend progesterone testing to determine if the timing is right and if you should proceed with the process. From there, we can collect a semen sample and perform a vaginal, transcervical, or surgical insemination.
What is the procedure for surgical insemination?
We make an incision similar to that made during a spay while the dog is under general anesthesia for surgical insemination. Once we exteriorize the uterus far enough to see where we want to place the semen, we place a catheter or needle in the uterus and inject the semen. Then, we close her up and suture the incision. Once she wakes up, she’ll be ready to head home.
Transcervical insemination is a common alternative to surgical insemination. The dog is awake during this procedure because there is no incision. Instead, we use a rigid endoscope to deliver semen directly into the uterine horns in a much simpler manner than surgical insemination.
Can I inseminate my dog at home?
If you choose to do vaginal insemination, you can inseminate your dog at home without veterinary assistance. The AKC allows clients to do their own vaginal inseminations and register the litter as an assisted semen breeding. However, keep in mind that this method is only appropriate with fresh semen. You should only use frozen semen in transcervical or surgical insemination because the success rate of vaginal insemination using frozen semen is only around 11 percent.
Do veterinarians offer progesterone testing for dogs?
Many veterinarians provide progesterone testing for dogs. While some offer this service in-house, most rely on outside reference laboratories. Outside labs usually provide results in a day or two.
In-house progesterone testing is becoming increasingly common, but many veterinarians are uncomfortable interpreting the results. In some instances, they provide the service and report but refer clients to specialists for further assistance.
How is my dog’s pregnancy status evaluated?
Performing an abdominal ultrasound is the best way to evaluate your dogs’ pregnancy status. We can usually do this between days 24 and 28, depending on how you timed the bitch. We also perform a blood test known as a relaxin test. However, the downside to this test is that while it lets us know if the female formed a placenta, it doesn’t tell us if there are living puppies or how many there are. The relaxin test also doesn’t account for resorption, which is problematic since roughly 30% of conceived puppies are resorbed.
What is whelping assistance for dogs?
As veterinarians, we offer a few different types of intervention for whelping. In most cases, breeders whelp their dogs at home without veterinary assistance. However, we do provide services to help dogs in need.
Common whelping assistance services for dogs include:
- Scheduled C-sections
- Emergency C-sections
- Monitoring a dog’s uterine contractions
With the help of a telemedicine service known as WhelpWise, you can monitor your dog’s uterine contractions during the whelming process using a purchased or rented monitor. These monitors assess the quality, length, and timing of uterine contractions and can help you determine if your dog needs medical whelping assistance, such as oxytocin or calcium injections.
Can dogs have Cesarean sections?
Yes, dogs can (and often do) have Cesarean sections. Some breeds are prone to dystocia, or difficult whelping that can progress to a life threatening emergency. Dogs who have had difficulties during previous births may also require C-sections.
Breeds that commonly require Cesarean sections include:
- Pugs
- Bulldogs
- French Bulldogs
- Shih Tzus
- Pembroke Corgis
- Cardigan Welsh Corgis
- Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs
- Bernese Mountain Dogs
If your dog likely needs a C-section, we recommend scheduling one in advance. Based on the progesterone test results, we can determine when your dog ovulated and schedule a C-section based on this information. In doing so, we can ensure a safe delivery while eliminating the risk of having your dog go into labor and needing an emergency C-section.
Are there any risks associated with breeding my dog?
Before breeding your female dog, it’s crucial to understand the risks associated with breeding and think hard about the potential consequences. While complications are infrequent and often not life-threatening, there is always a chance that your dog could experience difficulties during pregnancy, labor, natural birth, or a C-section. Dogs can also develop metritis or mastitis after delivery. Again, the risk is small, but it’s never non-existent.
Is there a sperm bank for dogs?
Yes, there are several sperm banks for dogs. Some clinics have independent sperm banks for dogs, and some companies have franchises. There are canine sperm banks across the country and around the world.
At El Campo Animal Hospital, your pet is our priority. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call our team at (979) 275-1634, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you! Don't forget to follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram.