Reproduction in the Dog

Lets start here>
female > bitch,
male > stud,
baby > puppy
giving birth > whelping

Cycle :> usually around 6 months to 1 year of age, a dog/bitch will become old enough to breed

Signs of when your bitch is coming in season
vulva swelling with blood discharge

Attracts male but won't let him mate

Last three days to 3 weeks, I would say 1 week in 1week breeding time 1 week going out, “that’s around about timing”

Female permits male to mate, holding of tail to side

Vulva remains enlarged, blood in discharge may or may not continue, In many cases I have seen that when the female is ready to breed that the blood is more of a straw color.

Breeding a bitch is best prior to 4 year of age.
In addition, never over 6 years of age.
Breeding

Most say at least three breedings during a cycle. Nevertheless, with the understanding of how it works some may say is it necessary for them to breed more than 2 times.

Dog eggs are released relatively immature and need time to mature after ovulation

Fresh dog sperm can live UP TO> 6 days in the female,
chilled or frozen last around 24 hours.
The females body decides how many puppies she will have,
and the male sperm decides if there male or female

The “tie” not hot water will pull them apart, and if you should try to get them apart, you could hurt both dog and bitch badly.
Moreover, 99% of the time the damage is done, so why both.
if you own a bitch keep your eye on her 110% of the time when in season.

Pregnancy

There is a drop in body temperature. 12-36 hours prior to whelping

Gestation 57-63 days

Litter size 1 -13 (varies with breed)

Mammary glands start enlarging around day 40, may be able to express milk 1-4 days prior to whelping

Whelping

Nesting box should be provided 1-2 weeks before due date in a quiet, secluded area

Bitch becomes restless, panting; nesting (first stage), I have found that putting sheets of newspaper down “early” ( 2 weeks) where she is to have her babies. Is a good thing to do if she nest she will have something to tear up and make a nest out of it.

Birth of pups is second stage and it can last many hours.
There should be no more than 2 hours between pups

Lochia = greenish discharge that can occur shortly before, during or after birth, breakdown products of placenta

New born puppies

Colostrum very important, they must nurse in first 12-24 hours to ensure passive transfer of antibodies

A mother is needed to help them go potty.
Eyes open around 12 days of age, ears 14-16 days

Wean at 6 weeks of age although begin eating solid food around 3 weeks of age

Socialization to humans and other dogs is critical at an early age after 6 weeks of age and after they have had their first set of shots.

Problems

I. Dystocia ; A slow or difficult labor or delivery.

Indications; extended labor, prolonged gestation, lodging of pups in birth canal, abnormal vaginal discharge, history of previous dystocia

Brucellosis

Brucella canis, bacterial - zoonotic disease

sexual transmission, or by eating or coming in contact with aborted tissue

Causes male and female infertility, orchititis/epididymitis and abortion

Lives in bone marrow, reproductive tract in infected animals for a prolonged period

Can test, so should quarantine and test all new breeding animals

No treatment

False pregnancy

Puppy problems

Herpesvirus; Any of a group of DNA-containing animal viruses that form characteristic inclusion bodies within the nuclei of host cells and cause diseases such as chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, herpes simplex, and shingles.

Hypoglycemia; An abnormally low level of glucose in the blood. /abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood

Reproduction in the Dog

Lets start here> female > bitch, male > stud, baby > puppy giving birth > whelping

Cycle :> usually around 6 months to 1 year of age, a dog/bitch will become old enough to breed

Signs of when your bitch is coming in season vulva swelling with blood discharge