Reproductive problems in dogs

Overview

Dogs that are not spayed or neutered are fertile creatures. Female dogs that haven't been spayed are referred to as bitches. Dogs reach reproductive maturity, or puberty, before 2 years of age. Small breed dogs go through puberty at an earlier age (6-8 months) and large breed dogs usually go through puberty closer to one year of age. The age of reproductive maturity varies greatly and depends on environmental factors, size, and nutrition. Once mature, female dogs go into every 4.5-8 months and have the potential to produce multiple litters of puppies per year.

The most serious canine reproductive problems begin during or after the pups are born. Such problems include dystocia, mastitis, uterine infection, and retained placentas. Pyometras are also possible in canine patients but typically occur if the bitch has gone through heat but did not become pregnant.

These reproductive problems can be caused by a number of different issues. Dystocia, which is difficult labor, can be caused by the structure of the mother's pelvis, metritis, lack of calcium in the diet, or the size of the puppies. Problems with breeding is greatly affected by the breed of dog; for example, English Bulldogs are notorious for having dystocia and often require Caesarian sections. Mastitis is the result of a bacterial infection in the mammary glands and causes extreme pain and a significant decrease in the amount of milk produced by the mother. Metritis is caused by bacteria in the uterus and causes the bitch to be very sick and can result in a cessation of lactation. Vets aren't sure what causes retained placentas, however, there is likely a genetic component making it more prevalent in certain breeds of dogs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of reproductive problems include:

• Active labor takes place for more than 24 hours without producing a puppy
• Strong contractions go on for one hour in between births without producing another puppy
• The mother dog is vomiting or won't eat
• The dog is producing vaginal discharge that is often foul smelling
• The dog won't allow the puppies to nurse due to teat pain
• Pus comes from teats
• Teats are swollen and hot
• The mother dog has a fever
• The mother dog is lethargic, or unwilling to move and engage in normal activity
• Visualization of a puppy in the vagina and the mother is unable to expel it
• The mother dog has a sudden increase in water intake and produces large amounts of urine

Prevention

The best way to prevent reproductive problems in dogs is to have them spayed before they reach a reproductively mature age. However, if your dog is pregnant, the best way to prevent reproductive problems from occurring is to have the mother dog checked twice during her pregnancy by a veterinarian. She should see the vet when you first suspect she's pregnant, and then again at about 45 to 50 days of pregnancy. Also, if your dog has not been spayed and you are not able to house a mother dog and her puppies, ask your veterinarian if they are willing to perform a spay, equivalent to a human hysterectomy, while she is pregnant.

Understand the different stages of labor and know what is normal for each. That way, you'll be able to tell if your dog is experiencing a problem and needs to go the vet right away.

Treatment

If your dog is experiencing dystocia (a difficult labor) she needs to see the vet immediately to decrease the likelihood of her losing the puppies or becoming sick herself. The vet may give her pain medication, intravenous fluids containing calcium and may manually help deliver the pups. If the dog is unable to deliver the puppies vaginally even with help, the vet will perform a Caesarian section. If the pups are in distress because of the difficult birth, they might require oxygen and medication to help them breathe.

If your dog retains the placenta after giving birth, the vet will likely give her drugs to help her expel it with normal uterine contractions. If she develops mastitis or a uterine infection, she will be placed on a course of antibiotics and may require hospitalization.

Pyometra is a life threatening condition that can occur after a bitch has a heat cycle and does not get pregnant. At that time of her estrous cycle, a hormone called progetrone is found in very high levels in the blood and decreases the effectiveness of the immune system in the uterus. If bacteria enter the uterus from the cervix or from the blood, a large amount of pus will accumulate in the uterus. Affected dogs may become severely lethargic, run a high fever, stop eating, and vomit. Dogs can also have vaginal discharge and begin drinking large amounts of water and have accidents in the house or begin asking to go outside very frequently. If you suspect your dog may have this condition, they need to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. They will need antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and other supportive care until they are stable enough to have a spay performed.

The cost of treatment for reproductive problems and reproductive emergencies can run anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the problem and the area of the country in which you live. The cost of a spay is much more economically friendly and will prevent unwanted, high veterinary bills in the future because of reproductive problems.

After treatment

Dogs that are treated for dystocia must sometimes stay on intravenous fluids for a period of time. The need for intravenous fluids depends on how long they have been in labor and if they have become clinically dehydrated. If the mother dog had a Caesarian section to deliver her pups, the puppies will still be able to nurse although the mother may need to wear a special collar to prevent her from chewing or licking on her incision.

Dogs that suffer from mastitis can no longer nurse their puppies due to pain and decreased or diminished milk production. These puppies must be bottle-fed until they are old enough to be weaned, which is approximately 4-6 weeks of age.
If the dog has a uterine infection, the pups may have to be bottle-fed because of poor milk production.

After a dog has had surgery to correct a pyometra, they will require additional hospitalization and antibiotics until they are well. The increased water consumption and urination will resolve after treatment.