offspring and other uterine inhabitants,” Dr. Hesser explains. “Thus, a female is more susceptible to infection during pregnancy. If she is immune challenged during preg- nancy, something she can typically handle can become a recipe for loss.” Resorption of fetuses and fetal loss during pregnancy relate to uterine irritability, which may occur secondary to another cause. Infection from pyometra, exposure to pathogenic bacteria from a raw meat diet or poor dental health can play a role. “If you have fertility issues, you should avoid feeding a raw meat diet during pregnancy,” Dr. Hesser says. “Bacteria likes to go to the uterus, thus a dog is more susceptible during pregnancy just like a person who may avoid certain foods during pregnancy specifically. “The same is true for dogs with unhealthy dental care in which bacteria becomes systemic in the body. Breeders should manage a dog’s oral care before breeding and stay on top of it.” Premature low-level uterine contractions also can flare uterine irritability. “This can be a genetic condition,” she says. “If contrac- tions are not monitored, such as by using a WhelpWise system and drugs to calm the uterine contractions that are occurring, it can cause progesterone to decline to the point progesterone supplementation is needed to carry the pregnancy. “Low progesterone also can occur by trauma from illnesses such as heat sickness, tick disease or general infection. Almost all things that result in fetal stress will cause progesterone to drop.” Ultimately, Dr. Hesser says, “The dog is remarkable at hanging onto litters once she’s pregnant. By addressing red flags of concern along the way, you can potentially circumvent a problem from becoming a roadblock to a healthy pregnancy.” ■ GOOD DOG HEALTH SYMPOSIUM COMING IN OCTOBER Don’t miss the fifth annual Good Dog Health Sympo- sium Sponsored by Purina Pro Plan . The monthlong event features webinars presented by reproduction specialists at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesdays in October. Topics are: “The Most Common Breeding Prob- lems” Oct. 1, “Pre-Breeding Genetic Counseling” Oct. 8 and “Newborns: When Puppies Crash and Burn!” Oct. 15. The event culminates Oct. 22 with a Breeders’ Roundtable Q&A. Make your reservation to watch live at the Good Dog Good Breeder Center ( https://www.facebook. com/goodbreedercenter ). Recordings of the webi- nars will be available after the event on the Pro Club website. SPONSORED BY
Other factors, or combination of factors, could affect conception. The breeding technique used (see “Breeding Technique Considerations,” at bottom left), oocyte (egg) viability, semen quality and incompatibility between the breeding partners are examples, Dr. Hesser says. “Although a female will cycle her whole life unless there is an underlying health condition like an ovarian tumor, they sometimes don’t make healthy oocytes when they are older,” she says. “Age can be a reason for a lack of conception.” Likewise, “once an immature oocyte is fertilized, the ability of an oviductal embryo to navigate and attach within the uterus from day 6 to day 12 of gestation is very important,” she says. “Sometimes the embryo cannot grow. It may be next to a cyst in the uterus blocking access to the blood supply that provides nutrition from the mom.” A stud dog’s potency as a producer is essential for successful pregnancy. “The only way to truly verify his fertility is if that dog has recently had litters,” Dr. Hesser says. “A semen evaluation assesses a stud dog’s reproduc- tive health by measuring sperm motility, morphology and concentration,” she advises. “Heat stress, obesity, aging and some medical conditions can cause oxidative stress and affect all three measures.” Partner incompatibility occurs when “some stud dogs and some females just don’t get pregnant,” Dr. Hesser says. “In contrast, some stud dogs are natural breeders with innately high fertility that would be very good at improving your outcomes.” INFLAMMATION & INFECTION ISSUES “The most common causes of uterine health problems involve inflammation, cystic changes, fibrosis, or scar tissue in the uterine cells, that inhibits nutrition, and a lack of uterine rest by breeding before 6 months between cycles,” Dr. Hesser says. “Some females are affected by more than one disorder.” Low-level inflammation in the uterine tissues is common during pregnancy, making it the No. 1 suspect when there is a problem, she says. An example is lymphocytic plasmocytic endometritis, a chronic inflammation of the uterine lining linked to hormonal fluctuations during the heat cycle. The con- dition is attributed to difficulty getting pregnant and having singleton puppies or small litters. “Inflammatory endometritis can be treated with a low-dose steroid protocol 6 to 9 weeks before the heat cycle,” Dr. Hesser says. “It is especially effective in females with regular heat cycles where you can estimate when to begin the treatment to get the best effect.” Endometritis can be a precursor to pyometra, an infection of the uterus often caused by E. coli bacteria. Pyometra is one of the most common reproductive emergencies and is especially dangerous when it leads to sepsis, endotoxemia or uterine rupture. “The immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy because the body is trying not to reject its own
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 44
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