Hi, I have a bitch whom i compete with in a sporting discipline. She has done extremely well for her age (2 1/2). My plan has always been to have a litter from her, either at the end of this year or next. Unfortunately she suffered a very 'minor' tear of a ligament in her leg at the weekend. This means a minimum of 6-8 weeks out of competing.

My dilemma is that she is due into season soon, and as she has to have the time off competing now (the reason i was waiting until winter to have a litter) I am considering having a litter from her this season instead (all health tests done, and she is of sound temperament).

My main concern is the impact of pregnancy on her body, i know that ligament and tendons tend to stretch and 'loosen' and be more prone to injury during pregnancy, i dont want the pregnancy to cause her pain and/or discomfort with her injury and i certainly dont want it to make it worse.

She is a medium breed (weighs in at 13kg) with generally easy pregnancies and whelping, she is super fit (and i mean super fit, she can cover 15 miles a day at speed and still want more).

Vet advice to deal with the injury is 2 weeks complete rest, 2 weeks of 2x 10 minute lead walks, another 2 of 4 x 10 minutes walking. Obviously she will be monitored and this may change.

Can i ask what peoples thoughts are on this? And would especially welcome responses from anyone that has bred from a bitch with an injury.

Is it her cruciate ligament thats gone? If so, you know this can be hereditary so I wouldn't be breeding from her.  Also, I might be concerned about the extra weight she will be carrying during her pregnancy.

Hi, its the lateral collateral ligament she has damaged.

I'd ask your vet, if they're happy with the extra weight it could be perfect timing. If she's got to be out of competing anyway for 6 to 8 weeks the extra 8 or 10 weeks could be good to gradually get back to fitness after the pups and the injury :-) Also summer litters are much easier than winter litters, in terms of giving the pups time outside and socialising them.

I have spoken to my vets about it, he didnt seem to concerned at all about the extra weight, he also said it could be quite beneficial in terms of her having the extra time out and fitness built up again to help ensure that the injury is fully healed.

I'd say go for it then, it takes away the temptation and the pressure to get her back competing too soon :-)

>I'd say go for it then, it takes away the temptation and the pressure to get her back competing too soon 

My thoughts too :-) Sometimes it is so easy to think they are back to full fitness, when in actual fact they hide the fact that it isn't quite right, and you could do more damage.

Though to be fair, she will probably be late coming into season, just to fool you ;-)

Thankyou, I would actually prefer if she were late coming in to season (not tooo late though!) give my mind chance to settle a little!(though dont think this is likely as my male has been doing the whole teeth chattering thing he does before any bitch comes into season)
Now prepare for the wave of questions to hit the forum, just to make sure everything is in order, its been a while since i bred a litter!

I hope all goes well with her injury and whelping etc.

My lad does wee tasting as my girls are coming into season then I start the daily tissue testing if I plan on mating them.

Thankyou. Im hoping it will go ok, im using my own male (health tested and titled), my worry is that because they live together, it may be harder to achieve a successful mating, anyone any thoughts on this? He is experienced whereas she is maiden.

I have a male that lives with 3 bitches. He is infertile (though I didn't know that when I mated them ;-) ) I had them outside together and nothing happened so I let them back into the house. By the time it had taken me to close the back door and take my coat off they had mated ,tied and he was turned. Not the way I would have liked to do it but they knew better. They obviously didn't want the neihbours to see what they were doing ;-) He will still try to mate any bitch in season, though he is not allowed near them, so in my limited experience living together made no difference.