I propose we change how we talk about "backyard breeders" (BYB) in a more positive and accurate direction. The term is often used as an insult without clear meaning or understanding. It's time to replace it with a more appropriate term like "low-welfare breeder." This term better reflects the concerns we have when discussing BYBs. Using "low-welfare breeder" is more descriptive, encourages productive conversations, and reduces the potential for derogatory use. Let's reshape the language we use to foster understanding and positive change. Language carries significant weight and can shape percep ..read more

We all want our newborn puppies to receive adequate nutrition and protection in their early days. I've been using fresh frozen serum or plasma as a replacement for colostrum supplementation and an immune booster for newborn pups. Frozen serum/plasma is a natural immune booster that provides newborn puppies with the necessary molecular immune-boosting components essential in their first few days of life. Serum/plasma contains antibodies that can help fight infection and provide passive systemic immunity in neonatal puppies. Serum/plasma can be used instead of colostrum to give these essential i ..read more

Non-infectious causes of infertility and loss of a pregnancy in dogs can include various metabolic or endocrine diseases, as well as endometrial insufficiency. It is important to note that these conditions can have other symptoms and signs that may be seen besides the infertility or loss of pregnancy, like weight gain or loss, hair loss, skin changes, behavioral changes, etc. A veterinarian should be consulted to diagnose and treat these conditions. Metabolic or endocrine diseases Metabolic or endocrine diseases refer to conditions that affect the body's hormones and metabolism. These can incl ..read more

First if you've lost a puppy and you are reading this, I'm so sorry. It's a horrible occupational risk that we encounter, and if you breed long enough it's unavoidable. If you lose a puppy, you'll want to know or confirm the cause because the last thing we want is for this to happen again. So it is important to consider having a necropsy (a postmortem exam or autopsy for animals) done if you have a puppy that has suddenly died. Why are necropsies important? A necropsy can provide valuable information about the neonate's health and any underlying causes of death that could affect other dogs in ..read more

Many dogs don't retract their penises immediately after breeding, known as paraphimosis. It's not uncommon for a dog to take some time after breeding to retract his penis. This isn't a condition that requires veterinarian help unless it doesn't resolve within an hour or so. Here are some steps that should be taken when a dog is experiencing paraphimosis: Give it a little time. I've seen it take up to an hour for a dog to retract. Keep the dog calm and still: Movement can make the condition worse, so it's important to keep the dog as still as possible. Apply a cold compress: Applying a cold co ..read more

There are several disorders that can affect the fertility of male dogs, including disorders of the penis and prepuce, as well as disorders of the testes and epididymis. A board certified reproductive veterinarian can perform a pre-breeding exam on your dog to look for these disorders and other factors that may impact fertility. These disorders include: Phimosis. This is a condition in which the prepuce (foreskin) cannot be fully retracted over the head of the penis. It can cause difficulty with breeding, and can also lead to infection and inflammation. Paraphimosis. This is a condition in whi ..read more

There are numerous causes of non-pregnancy at any stage. While some are non-infectious, many are infectious in nature. Infectious causes of infertility and loss of a pregnancy in dogs can include various bacterial, protozoal, and viral causes. This post covers some of the more common or more severe infectious causes of non-pregnancy in dogs. It is important to note that these infections can also cause other symptoms in the dog such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. A veterinarian should be consulted to diagnose and treat these conditions, as they may require specific treatments, su ..read more

Common sense disclaimer: As with everything else on this blog, it’s critical to seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian, preferably one that is board certified in theriogenology (reproductive science) for reproductive matters. This website, its blog, and its courses are NOT designed nor intended to replace the need for a qualified veterinarian, but instead to help educate people to to work optimally with their veterinarians. All recommendations should be reviewed with qualified professionals, such as a board certified reproductive veterinarian, prior to implementation in a breeding program ..read more

Common sense disclaimer: As with everything else on this blog, it’s critical to seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian, preferably one that is board certified in theriogenology (reproductive science) for reproductive matters. This website, its blog, and its courses are NOT designed nor intended to replace the need for a qualified veterinarian, but instead to help educate people to to work optimally with their veterinarians. All recommendations should be reviewed with qualified professionals, such as a board certified reproductive veterinarian, prior to implementation in a breeding program ..read more

I talk often about the importance of high omega 3:6 ratio Salmon and other fish oil for breeding dogs. There has been some discussion online recently about the possibility of supplementation with salmon and other fish oil depleting vitamin E. This post takes a deeper dive into that topic so you can ensure you are supplementing your dogs properly and also not causing any harm when you do so. There’s a single small (n=25) study that shows a small reduction in vitamin E in humans that supplement. It only showed this effect in younger women, not in women older than 35. It's not the most robust stu ..read more