Hi folks,

Told a friend I'd try and get some experience from you wise people ........ she has a bitch that was mated last season, scanned at 28 days for 9 pups (very experienced scanner) and all seemed well.  At 7 weeks, she was scanned again, probably lost 1 or 2 pups by that stage, but again all seemed well.

A few days later, the pups just started 'coming away' - no obvious labour, formed pups plus some gunk, whole litter lost and a very upset owner, although the bitch has seeemed absolutely fine throughout.

She had made her mind up she wouldn't take the chance on mating her again, but keeps looking at her, and just doesn't know which way to go.  Does anyone have any experience of this?  Could it be the car journey/second scan - is it likely to be infection - could she have a normal pregnancy and delivery next time?

Any input gratefully received and passed on,

Marina

I wonder if she contracted Toxoplasma from cat's litter?

Just a thought

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Definitely no cats in my friend's house, and wouldn't expect foxes either in her garden set up?  As she has kennels in the garden, wouldn't expect much in the way of passing cats either.

Thanks for the thought, though!

M.

Have you ever looked into the Canine Herpes Virus, my girl recently lost a litter of 8 pups, still no reason why and like your friend I too am unsure what to next. My vet said to breed her again, this time using the Canine Herpes Vaccination (even though CHV wasn't diagnosed)  She was scanned at 5 weeks and all was well, then at 7 weeks she started aborting her dead litter, she started off with a green discharge, then produced fully formed dead pups, a bit black in colour, so they had started to mummify :-(

I have also been told to use a different stud dog, just in case the two weren't compatible!

If I decide to breed her again, I will ask for a course of anti-biotics the week before she is bred, use the CHV vaccination and keep everything crossed.  If things go wrong again, then I know it's time to have her spayed!

Sounds very similar.  I didn't think to check that point, but strongly suspect this lady will have given a course of antibiotics as a standard precaution - not something I particularly agree with, myself, without reason.

M.

At what stage to the bitch do you give the CHV ?

Margaret

I think it's as soon after mating as possible, then 2 weeks before whelping.  Although my girl wasn't diagnose with CHV it's definitely something that I will try next time.

My bitch had the CHV 5 days prior to mating then the second injection at 7 weeks into her pregnancy, but if you speak with your vets they will advise
good luck polly_45

polly_45:   did you have a positive result after using the CHV vaccination?

Hi Sharon  Yes my bitch was fine and she had seven very healthy puppies not a small or a sickly puppy amongst them. If i was to have another litter i would most certainly have her vaccinated again, good luck polly_45

Hi Polly.......thanks for that, yes we are going to try one last time, fingers crossed for beginning of December time, vet told us to wait a bit, but all top breeders of my breed I have spoke to have said to try again next season, it is my choice, so I will warn my vet that I will need a stock of the vaccine.  I must admit I am a nervous wreck just thinking about it, but I've only heard good things so far about the vaccine, if things don't go to plan then I will have my girl spayed.

Will let you know how we get on.

Thanks again

Has she been tested for brucellosis? If this is causing the abortion, it could have serious consequences for ALL dogs in the household, the sire of the litter and any dogs coming into contact with her-forever.
                                                                                                    Thoughts,  TiaLee

Recentely alot of breeders have tested there females progesterone. And some have found they are dropping for whatever reason. As early as 28 days. At our reproduction clinic they are giving injestion to keep progesterone levels up and we are having puppies. Just some thoughts