I had 2 girls miss both using the same sire a month apart,he is proven,3 and half months after the last mating the stud owner called me to say her stud dog had been neutered due to a severe testicle infection,could this be the reason they missed? A long time breeder friend seems to think it is,both girls have not missed before using same sire although i do realise theres always a chance they could miss anyway but both were blood tested prior to mating.

Esme was mated twice, to the same proven stud dog and missed both times (both times progesterone tested). I wasn't going to risk trying with him again and she went on to have 2 litters by 2 different boys. It later transpired he had had a medical problem (a lump on his head which was treated) which seems to have affected his fertility (maybe the drugs caused the problem?) and she withdrew him from stud as he was having quite a few misses or very small litters.

Thanks,im just wondering if he couldve had an infection then and not shown signs ie swollen testicle and very poorly until 3 months later but it would certainly explain the misses,he is a wonderful stud and has sired some fantastic babies who have done well in the ring.Also one of my girls fell quite ill within weeks of being mated,so much so that we are getting her spayed yet he didnt show signs until later.

> a severe testicle infection,could this be the reason they missed

Well infection can certainly affect fertility. One of my dogs had an infection in his scrotum, a course of antibiotics and it cleared up. 2 months later he had a collection to send semen to NZ and all the little swimmers were dead or deformed. It was 6 months and several collections later before his semen was viable again. The vet thought it was the heat of the infection that caused the problem.

As to whether the infection could have been brewing 3 months before it really surfaced I don't know?