I was wondering if anyone could help.... We have 2 AKC Goldens that we successfully bred the first time. She had a litter of 8 very healthy pups. Our male has been studded out successfully once before this. Our last two "heats" have had unsuccessful results. Also, his last two visits to his first "bitch" were unsuccessful. (they did "tie" each time) Could the fact that our stud and bitch live and play together have an effect? (they are in home dogs) We are very discouraged as we have had many calls from people wanting pups from us. The first litter of pups are great dogs, and very popular!!!! Our bitch has had 2 pseudo pregnancies from the unsuccessful attempts. Any info would be great help. Thanks....

If both your own bitch and his first bitch "missed" to him, then it would be sensible to get his fertility checked. It sounds as if something might have gone awry. :(

Your right about getting the dogs fertility tested. Was he on any antibiotics or any medication as far back as 2 months before mating ? This can also have an effect on the male sperm as does temperature. too warm, then infertility can set in for a short while. I would certainly get the male dog tested, that at least would solve one problem and if it is him it may not be permanant. Would be really interested to hear the outcome. Good luck

Margaret

U said u studded him out could he have gotten an STD from that bitch?
ttfn :)

Sorry Dollface - is STD the bitch's telephone number ? :-) (Sorry to be flippant - it is in this country!!)


Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I think its Sexually Transmitted Disease :)

I've led a very sheltered life - just tumbled to it! ;-)

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

:D

Sorry about that, what ChleoH replied.
ttfn :)

Aren't some bitches tested for bruxcillosis or tuberculosis ( or something -osis) in the US before mating - has he been tested for whatever that is? Sorry not to be more specific but this is something I have at the back of my mind (along with everything else) and don't have time to research it at the moment

Chrsitine

The test is available Christine and most stud dog owners insist on a bitch being tested for Brucellosis (sp?) with a clear result before they will allow a mating.

As we don't have the disease in the UK, except for the 2 dogs reported in the dog press a few wks back, we don't test but my american friends in the doggie world all tell me the same they test their dogs before use and will not allow a mating until the bitch has been tested - some even insist that she is tested by their own vet to be sure that it's not a forged document. One breeder told me how she had used her dog at stud on her own bitches after a 'service' and ended up with 40% of her then kennels sterile, certainly made me go have a chat with my vet re STD's in dogs in the UK.

It is Brucella Canis. this infection, I think another of those nice herpes type ones, can render the dog or bitch infertile. Even though we don't have it here, when I exported a puppy to Australia it had to be tested, and be negative for this, and do a months quarantine over there.

My bitch had her litter after his "first" studded out bitchs' litter, maybe its a fertility issue...I hope!!! Thanks.... I will have them both a revisit at the vet.

Could he have caught something from your bitch?

fiona
x x x

Next time the bitches come in season have them swabbed for infection on day 2 of the season and to be safe ask the vet to put them on a course of amfipen or ceporex til the results are known. If it is some sort of infection they have caught, one or either of these AB's will almost certainly be the one the infection is sensitive to. Depending on the method of testing used, there should be time to get the results and give the right treatment before she is ready to mate - but you must move quickly and have the swab/test done very early on the season. If it does turn out to be an infection every bitch she is regularly in contact with should be tested/treated with the same AB throughout its season whether they are to be mated or not or the infection may continue to circulate the bitches you own. Seperate or ideally isolate in season bitches from the others til you know what you are dealing with. Personally I would use another, proven stud dog next time. If you test bitches that are not in season, a lurking infection may not show up as some only show themsleves in in season/newly whelped bitches.

Bercelosis( Might be spelled wrong) tests should be done on both dogs that are being bred.It is not exspensive at all. If a dog has this they can breed but the litter dies or is aborted.And then all dogs that are bred to this dog will be infected. It can also make the male sterile if not treated .

Brucellosis is an issue in USA but it is rare in Britain except in imported dogs. I suppose with movement of dogs becoming easier it will be something to be considered her. I had to have the blood test a few years ago on a pup that was going to Australia, as part of their import rules. It wasn't a cheap thing either as it had to be sent away for Lab analysis. Maybe where the test is common place (USA) it is quite cheap.

Hate to disagree Brainless, no offence, but my favourite vet says that its actually quite common and is a comon reason for bitches to miss, especially when one has a few living together as it passes from one to the other when they are in season. All it takes is for a stud dog to mate an infected bitch and then another within 48 hours, and he will pass it on. BHS ,(sorry cant remember the full name) is only "held" by the dog for 48 hours,and can only be transmitted by mating. An infected bitch will pass it to stud dogs and other in season/newly whelped bitches. This is why I have all my bitches "smear" tested before I have them mated.

It builds up slowly in a kennel, first you start having smaller litters than usual, then maybe have a bitch miss, and although disappointed, dont think much of it. Then another seems pregnant, but may abort around 4 weeks, not absorb (though this can happen) but actually abort.
By the time the third bitch has missed you start getting worried and have the bitch bloods/smear tested. Trouble is it only shows up on a smear on in season bitches, so you have to wait for them to come in season again to test. In a small kennel it maybe two years or more before you realise you have this problem, by which time every bitch is probably infected. It can be overcome with anti-biotics, so all is not lost if you get this in your kennel. The problem is realising something is wrong early enough.

Is BHS the same as Brucella Canis then, as I was informed that this was a disease almost unknown in British dogs??

I think you're right, Brainless - my "Veterinary Notes for Dog Owners" says that Canine Brucellosis is well recognised in America (esp Southern US and Central & S. America) and parts of Europe, but has not been identified as a problem in the UK. The main effects are on reproductive performance. Pregnant bitches usually abort, often about 2 weeks before the expected date of whelping. In the male, swelling or atrophy of the testes can occur. Sperm are abnormal and fertility is reduced though libido is not.

Treatment is apparently difficult because the bacteria lives inside cells. Vaccines have not been effective. It can also infect man to give a chronic flu-like illness.

Hope this helps.

I may be barking up the wrong tree but the vet mentioned BHS when we were discussing infertility probs in general a while ago , and I asked if that was a Brucellosis, and he said yes, but perhaps it is a different strain or mutation? It stands for Beta Haemolitc (SP) something - I think it may be syndrome. He reckons its responsible for many infertilities, second to :mating at the wrong time, re-absorbtion due to environmental factors, general infertility in dog or bitch (born infertile for some reason).

Hi westie lover,

I just looked up Beta Haemolytic Streptococci in my trusty "Veterinary Notes for Dog Owners" and it says....

"Although beta haemolytic streptococci have been isolated from dead puppies, there is no concrete evidence to link them with infertility in the dog or bitch, or to support the theory that they are spread by mating."

It also says that the vagina in normal healthy bitches is known to have a resident population of bacteria, including BHS and many others which some people worry about.

Edit: Just looked through my "Dog Owners' Veterinary Handbook" and it says that BHS can cause infertility. Two opposing schools of thought, obviously!

Does this confuse the issue even more?

Sorry if I was mistaken or misleading. I remember him saying now, that the BHS was in many bitches, but at a tolerable level, but when several bitches are kept together it can multiply slowly until a level is reached that causes infertility and probs. Seems its not a brucellosis, then, sorry again. I had better buy that book methinks!

Hi westie lover,
It's a great book (for scaring you out of your wits with all the possible horrors!) :)

HI Jeangenie, I have the one for horses, and I agree its very scary!! I'm off to amazon to have a look now.

You all seem to be quite knowledgable and I have to thank you, (Everyone). I seem to have not been really clear on the situation here. The reply's have said that the STD Brucellius Canus, renders a dog sterile and females either abort, or miscarry if they become pregnant. Well, the first time my male was studded out, it was to a female of a woman whom lives in this area, her female had a healthy litter of 9 puppies from that breeding, wouldn't she have aborted if she were infected? Then, 9 months later, I bred him with my female, which in turn she had a healthy litter of 10 puppies, one stillborn, same thing, wouldn't she have aborted if she were infected? Then the next breedings, 16 months later, no pregnancies, on both dogs!!! So, if this STD has "Atacked" my two dogs, where and how would they have gotten it? I don't have a Kennel, just two Goldies that are our "Kids". I am getting them tested though, next week is their appointment, wish me luck. Someone said it may be due to the fact they live together, anyone ever hear of that one?

I would only think if they live together then the male would not mount her. If he did mount her and nothing then I would think it has nothing to do with them living together.
Good luck with ur tests and keep us posted.

ttfn :)

Hopefully there is no infection but I would have them checked when each one starts their next season. I would think that either the dog has low fertility or that possibly the bitches re-absorbed. Once my bitches are mated they stay mostly at home and are not taken out and about as I normally would. I am lucky as my breed is a small one and can get plenty of exersise in our large garden and across fields and we dont meet other dogs. Never let them get into stressful situations when pregnant. Its possible that the stud dog, though normally fertile may have had a illness/high temperature a couple of months before mating which can lower the sperm count temporarily. I would be very tempted to use another dog on at least one of them. good luck.

Ask your vet to do a swab on your bitch next time shes in season. Results only take a couple of days, and if there is an infection, ask your vets for antibiotics to treat your whole kennel as they lick each others bits and spread it around. In the show ring this is often passed by people showing in-season bitches. Yes, it does happen and more fool the judges for placing them.