I just had to drop our dog - the one we plan to breed this summer - off at the vet's for an x-ray to make sure she hasn't eaten a foreign body.  (It could just be a tummy upset which ABs could cure or a FB.  Let's hope the x-ray finds nothing!).

I did ask the vet and they've assured me that the x-ray won't affect her fertility.  (I was thinking of women wearing protective gear when they have x-rays for this reason.)

Which led me into wondering whether there are things we might routinely give our dogs (whether vet prescribed meds or procedures like this) which might be fine for non-breeding dogs, but not for dogs which will hopefully be used for breeding purposes.  Are there things we should avoid with breeding stock, and what are they?  I don't mean once pregnancy has occurred, I mean long before that.

Thanks.

your dogs welfare should come first forget about breeding for the time being. If their is a foreign object it could kill it,

Sorry, didn't mean that the dog should not be treated - but that there might be precautions it is necessary to take with a dog you want to breed (ie protection from x-rays, as happens with women).  That, or alternative drugs to be used.

Luckily she is back now and it was not a FB but, we think, giardia.

I thought women only wore protective gear if they were actually pregnant...i dont think it can actually damage fertility..

A bit off the subject here, but does anyone know for a fact if it is illegal for an animal to be Xrayed with the owner present? My vets insist that owners can't stay in the room as it "isn't legal." I have just stayed in with my dog whilst her hip & elbow Xrays were taken, wearing the obligatory lead apron! MY vets then said it wasn't legal. (Too late; it's done now!) I don't trust my vets on this as they would not issue a repeat prescription for my poor, elderly cat with a thyroid problem, telling me that they legally had to see her every 3 months. I contacted the BVA and the guide lines did not say that at all. It was how the vets (all vets?) interpret it to suit themselves. Is this true of Xraying too?

Even being staff I had to leave the x-ray room when my dog was x-rayed.

I've stayed in the room with Marilyn whilst both my dogs were x-rayed, me wearing the apron thing.

I too have been told it was illegal to be present in the room when xrays are being taken, on numerous occasions, by numerous different practises

I can't say whether it is legal (as haven't checked!) however, I would think that it may be one of the RCVS guides to best practice that people are not present in the X-Ray area at the time of radiographing.

Certainly, every X-ray room I've been in has had the obligatory sign saying "Don't Enter When Red Light Is On" and generally speaking, staff do operate the X-Ray from a long cord which allows them to step outside the room when they press the button.

Clearly repeated exposure to radiation isn't good for anyone.  Vets and their staff are dealing with X-rays as a daily or more often occurrence so it would seem prudent to limit their exposure. 

However putting that all into perspective, with today's modern machines the X-ray beam is very well focussed on the area and there will be a minimum scattering of rays around the area being X-rayed.  The occasional event which requires either an owner or member of staff to be in the room (especially if wearing lead jacket/gloves) is very unlikely to be of concern especially if the number of times a person is present is kept to an absolute minimum.

I have has X-Rays done where I've stood just outside the room, some where I've held the dog (standing at the edge of the dog so the beam is furthest away from me) and some where the vet has held the dog.  Hopefully the risk (if any) has been very small and has been taken into consideration as part of the entire clinical setting.

That's a very sensible approach. If my dog was upset at me not being there, I would want to take that calculated risk and go in with her. They are not always "out" for x-rays as it isn't always necessary. Strange that none of us actually seems to know if it is illegal or where we can find out. Most queries on here come up with an answer.