My bitch absorbed a litter at 6 weeks.  I have been told that Vitamin E prior to mating and through pregnancy might help prevent this happening again.  Does anyone know anything about Vitamin E and fertility, how to use etc etc....shes a very fit and healthy dog, with no health issues, I also gave her the Herpes Vaccination but now wondering if this might of been a bad choice. 

Herpes vaccine was a wise move IMHO as heroes virus is implicated in ar absorption, small litters and neonatal mortality. Reabsorption can occur for lots of reasons I had a bitch who re absorbed due to literal failure identified by progesterone tests demonstrating low levels when they should have been elevated. The same bitch produced ten healthy big puppies when mated again to a different stud. I always use the herpes vaccine. Sometimes these things just happen.

I have given my bitches vitamin E in the form of wheatgerm oil from dorwest herbs.....previous to this I was having litters of six's and sevens. When using wheatgerm I have been having litters of 10's and 12's so I do believe it does increase fertility.

Dorwest will tell you the dosage and you give it before mating,double dose on day of mating and following day then continue for 3 weeks.

Have never used the herpes vaccine so can't comment on that ,

Sorry to hear about your litter...must be very upsetting so far along

Ali

I have cockers and my litters have been from 1-5, gave wheatgerm in January to my girl and she had 11

Thank you....and yes it was very upsetting.....it was the second time she absorbed, both at 6 weeks.......I was told about Vitamin E.....but not sure if I can put myself or her through it again. although it didnt seem to bother her at all.....just weighing up the options really.....I think if I did try again I would just give Vitamin E and not do the Herpes vaccine.....I will do some more research and make a decision.....have plenty of time before her next season.....thank you for all your comments.....really helpful....

If she has re absorbed twice at 6 week I would be thinking luteal failure, I would recommend you seek advice from repor specialist before you mate again and monitor progesterone throughout pregnancy. If they are falling hormonal support can be given to maintain pregnancy BUT this will need to be carefully managed by repro vet rather than GP vet.

Extract from : http://www.labbies.com/reproduction2.htm

Progesterone Insufficiency. Bitches for which pregnancy has been confirmed by ultrasound or serum relaxin diagnosis (refer to "Pregnancy Diagnosis" in Part 1) and subsequently experience spontaneous abortion without evidence of any of the infectious causes outlined above should be suspected of having progesterone insufficiency (insufficient luteal phase). Progesterone hormone rises just prior to ovulation and continues to increase to levels above 5 ng/ml during the pregnancy then will decrease just prior to whelping. This hormone is essential for the maintenance of the pregnancy because it is required in high levels to suppress the hypothalamus from producing gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). If levels of progesterone drop below 2 ng/ml, GnRH levels will rise and stimulate the pituitary to release follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH will reset the ovarian cycle causing an abrupt termination of the current cycle, thus resulting in spontaneous abortion. This premature decrease in progesterone will typically occur between 2 and 4 weeks after breeding. When the condition occurs early in gestation, prior to confirmation of pregnancy, diagnosis is often complicated because other factors associated with unsuccessful breeding must be ruled out. Bitches for which there is a strong suspicion of progesterone insufficiency or that are confirmed to be pregnant prior to spontaneous abortion with no evidence of other conditions should be monitored for serum progesterone levels by ELISA during subsequent pregnancies. In such an instance, progesterone levels are measured from the time of breeding through the weeks of gestation. If progesterone levels begin to fall, exogenous progesterone therapy can be administered to maintain the pregnancy. Progesterone therapy is discontinued at the end of the gestation period with birth occurring within 72 hours after the final injection is administered.

Thank you "klb"...a very interesting article that has given me lots to think about......Ive actually printed it off so i can keep going over it..... I will have a chat with my vet and go from there......