Why isn't my female pregnant? What can we do about it? You did your homework – and had the perfect bitch in her best condition and found the ideal male to mate her to. You know the most common causes of missed breedings are poorly timed breedings and poor semen quality and/or quantity. But you know he had good semen; and her timing, based on progesterone levels (bred 2 to 3 days post-ovulation depending on semen type used), was just right. And yet, she is not pregnant. Why? And if you try to breed her again, what can you do differently to improve the chances she will carry a litter to term? First, we need to determine if she conceived and lost the litter, or failed to conceive or achieve fetal placental implantation. If you don't have her ultrasounded, you won't know if she conceived or not. Without an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy (not a relaxin test or palpation – these do not assess for fetal viability), you may have a big piece of the puzzle missing. So when you are trying to justify the decision to do an ultrasound, this is the best reason to do so – this is not the place to scrimp. If the ultrasound shows no pregnancy, and the semen and timing were good, then causes for failure to conceive or failure for fetuses to implant should be explored. These include: 1. Brucellosis 2. Herpesvirus 3. Bacterial infections in the uterus – low grade metritis, not rising to the level of a pyometra 4. Other bacterial and viral diseases that are not yet well characterized 5. Failure to complete the ovulation 6. Failure of the ovary to maintain progesterone high enough to support pregnancy (hypoluteoidism) 7. Uterine lining changes that interfere with maintained placental attachment 8. Genetic incompatibility – fatal genes 9. Inadequate maternal nutrition 10. Trauma, stress, anesthesia or drug and hormonal interference 11. Structural abnormalities causing failure of semen passage to the oviducts including male and female anatomical abnormalities 12. Hypothyroidism Diagnostics and history should be used to determine if any of these may have played a role in failure to conceive or maintain the pregnancy up until 4 weeks of pregnancy. Testing may include blood tests for thyroid disease, Brucella, Canine Herpesvirus, progesterone testing, and ultrasound if not already completed. Uterine biopsy and cultures at about 60 days post-ovulation can be useful tools in determining if there are uterine changes that suggest poor uterine lining health. If no underlying cause for failure to conceive is found, surgical breeding may be considered to improve the chances of success at the next breeding. If the ultrasound shows a pregnancy was achieved but not maintained, this can result in fetal resorption (prior to day 45 of pregnancy) or fetal death and/or abortion (fetal loss after day 45 of pregnancy). This rules out poor timing, poor semen quality, or failure of semen to pass to the oviducts as causes for infertility. Causes of failure to maintain a pregnancy include: 1. Brucellosis 2. Herpesvirus 3. Bacterial infections in the uterus – low grade metritis, not rising to the level of a pyometra 4. Other bacterial and viral diseases that are not yet well characterized 5. Failure of the ovary to maintain progesterone high enough to support pregnancy (hypoluteoidism) 6. Uterine lining changes that interfere with maintained placental attachment 7. Inadequate maternal nutrition 8. Trauma, stress, anesthesia or drug and hormonal interference A complete history should be taken. Diagnostics should include testing for brucellosis and Canine Herpesvirus. Cultures should be taken and antibiotics used if bacterial disease is suspected. Progesterone levels should be run serially if hypoluteoidism is suspected. The pregnancy can be monitored for viable fetuses with repeated ultrasounds. WhelpwiseTM can be used to manage high risk pregnancies. Progesterone and terbutaline may be indicated if uterine irritability are shown to be putting the pups at risk. If no underlying cause is found, uterine biopsy and cultures at about 60 days post-ovulation can be useful tools in determining if there is a treatable underlying cause and to help with determining a prognosis for future fertility. Treatment for causes suspected or found should be initiated.

Rescue Weary

Rescue Weary Daily, we have “rescued” dogs presented to our practice. Like most veterinary practices, we have seen and heard so many stories about rescued dogs that the definition of “rescue” has become blurred and diluted. When I started in veterinary practice, I thought “rescue” either meant that the dog was literally rescued from a disaster like drowning or a burning building or the dog was a search and rescue dog – a dog that was intensely trained to find lost people. Rescue has morphed into a term used for something other than dogs that were in genuinely life- threatening situations – who had no hope of survival without heroic efforts. Today, dogs that are to be euthanized at overcrowded animal welfare organization facilities, sometimes termed “humane societies” (now known as shelters or rescue groups) and then removed for re-homing are considered to have been rescued. Similarly dogs that were simply previously housed in large scale commercial breeding facilities where they may have been poorly cared for are also considered “rescued.” Fast forward to 2010. Somewhere along the way, rescue broadened still further. Somehow, every dog sold by a breeder, a pet store, a humane organization or pound or shelter, is now considered to be “adopted” as a “rescued” dog. Our clients love to believe they have adopted a dog that may have needed them more than they needed it. Such a belief makes them feel good, even heroic. No matter the source of the dog, it is now considered politically correct to “adopt” a “rescued dog.” We hear tales of the horrible life the dog was plucked from and that the new owner “knows” the dog was abused because of a terrible scar or the fear of the broom or vacuum the poor dog may have. Of course, this can only mean that the dog was struck with the broom or chased with a vacuum. It bears no resemblance to the fact that dogs just don’t like the ultrasonic sounds emitted by the average Hoover, in action or brooms that tip over as the dog zooms through the kitchen. Or the scar that is present from when a barbed wire fence was hit while the dog was our on a fun run and was having too much fun to look where it was charging around. Granted, there are still dogs and cats that are found and removed from unfortunate circumstances. But this number is, in my opinion, a small percentage of the dogs that find their way into a new home as either a puppy/kitten or adult. Most of the dogs we see that arrive at their homes through “rescue” are nothing more than a second or third hand dog – a pet that did not find it’s forever home in the first attempt. Or perhaps a dog that was in a breeders kennel until the breeder determined he or she was better suited to be a pet than a show or breeding dog. The stigma needs to be removed from the breeder who rehomes a dog when it is more appropriate than for the dog to stay at the breeder’s home. There are many reasons dogs end up becoming second-hand dogs. Owners become ill, get married, have children, move, become the care-takers of their parents, lose their jobs, become allergic, become overwhelmed with pet ownership, or made a mistake when matching their needs with the needs of their pet. Sometimes it is the behavior of the dog which they cannot manage or change, or the cost of daily care. A significant change over the last 70 or so years is that our dogs now live much longer, often well into their teens. Before that, dogs suffered more often from premature death due to trauma (the belief that dogs should be allowed to run free outside), previously untreatable diseases, inadequate nutrition, or lack of basic veterinary care. Veterinary medical advances now allow for greater longevity and dogs have a much elevated position in the lives of Americans today. Because dogs now live longer than ever before, we are also more likely to see dogs outlive their owners, or outlive the ability or desire of the owner for their pet. This is not meant to diminish the important work good-hearted and well-meaning animal lovers do in caring for dogs and cats who need better lives. It is hard work and it takes special people who can open their hearts and wallets to help the less fortunate animals in our society. However, we should distinguish which pets were in truly dramatic circumstances from those merely in need of a new home. I estimate over 50% of new dogs we now see in practice are described as rescue dogs by their owners. I understand that makes the owner feel good about their newly acquired pet. Unfortunately, it also dilutes the importance of dog and cat acquisitions (not adoptions) from sources that are vehicles for rehoming. We should be careful as a society as to what we classify as inadequate care. Every veterinarian I know has patients who would benefit from dental care. We see two barriers to this: 1. Fear of the expense of the care and 2. Fear of anesthetic and surgical complications. These two fears have left many patients with untreated veterinary medical conditions that some could interpret as neglect on the part of the owner. I dread the day that my clients are afraid to come to the veterinary clinic for care for fear their pet could be confiscated by authorities who believe their reluctance to treat their pet’s dental disease justifies removing their beloved pet from them. (See companion article: “What is wrong with putting teeth in the dog laws?”) Veterinarians are regularly asked to discount fees to help rescued animals. But what qualifies as a rescued dog, and are veterinarians responsible for footing the bill for them? With the terms “rescue” and “adoption” so overused, we in the veterinary industry have become numb to these terms, as they are not used as they are intended. We need to be able to filter which dogs are saved from dramatic life-threatening circumstances and those dogs or cats who simply outlived their first owner’s capacity to maintain them in their lives. Instead of calling these animals rescued or adopted, I propose that we develop new and more specific language to describe animal circumstances with greater accuracy. Let’s save the term rescue for true disasters and adoption as a specific legal process for human children. Here’s a true rescue: http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20131124phoenix-firefighters-rescue-dog-from-house-fire-abrk.html

Do you worry about your pet’s comfort? Quality of Life? Would you answer yes to any of these questions? Does your dog limp? Is your dog slow to stand after lying down? Does your dog have trouble jumping in bed or on the furniture? Is your dog unable to walk and play as long as he used to? Has your dog become reluctant to pick up toys or chew on hard treats or food? Do dogs feel pain? Yes! They do!!! Dogs usually DON’T whine, cry or growl when they are in pain. They learn to change their routine and activities to adapt! Slowing down is not a sign of aging; it is a sign of discomfort! Bad breath may be dental disease and discomfort. We can help – ask our Doctors and staff at Veterinary Village about: Supplements including Glucosamine and Chondroitin Veterinary Spinal Manipulation (Chiropractic Care) Class IV Laser therapy Pain Medication including non-steroidal medication Herbal Supplements Dental Care Post op Pain Acupuncture Dietary Therapy Weight Loss And More!!!

Leptospirosis Health Alert

* * * LEPTOSPIROSIS ALERT * * * Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can cause illness or even death in pets, people, and wildlife. Dogs most commonly come into contact with leptospirosis (frequently shortened to "lepto") through indirect exposure to urine from infected wildlife. Dogs that swim frequently are at an especially higher risk. Raccoons, mice, deer, opossums, skunks, cattle, and pigs are among the carriers in our region. The lepto bacteria are spread through urination and can survive in puddles, bodies of water, and soil for weeks to months. An infected dog can expose family members to lepto through a small cut in the skin or through mucus membranes (eyes, oral tissue). A "positive" leptospirosis test was recently identified in a dog in the Fond du Lac area with clinical symptoms of lepto, and unfortunately the dog died despite attempts to treat after over a week of battling the infection. It was heartbreaking for our staff and her family to watch the progression of the illness, knowing that in many cases we could have successfully prevented it. This highlights the potentially severe nature of the infection. Prevention is available through vaccination and is recommended in Wisconsin due to the prevalence of leptospirosis in our wildlife. The vaccination will not afford 100% protection because it protects against 4 of the lepto strains, while there are others that vaccination is not currently available for. Clinical signs of leptospirosis include fever, weakness, poor appetite, and lethargy. Kidney and/or liver failure may develop which may cause additional symptoms such as vomiting, jaundice, and increased thirst and urination. Rarely, other symptoms such as meningitis (swelling around the brain) can occur. A dog that is not showing symptoms but carrying lepto can still spread the bacterial infection. If there is suspicion for infection, general labwork (CBC and Chemistry Profile) will frequently expose characteristic increases in kidney and/or liver values. A leptospirosis test on urine or blood samples can be performed to determine if the cause is the lepto bacteria. Treatment with antibiotics has the potential to cure a leptospirosis infection, however it works best if caught early in the course of disease. Full recovery can take several weeks. Vaccination of your dog is the best method to protect your dog and your family from leptospirosis. For more information on leptospirosis please visit the following websites or call your veterinarian: www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/ www.leptospirosis.org/veterinary

OVERCOMING THE FRUSTRATION OF INFERTILITY VIA SURGICAL INTERVENTION

OVERCOMING THE FRUSTRATION OF INFERTILITY VIA SURGICAL INTERVENTION

So you’ve tried everything – natural breedings, cultures, progesterone testing and making sacrifices to the fertility gods and still no puppies. You have a lovely bitch, an outstanding stud dog and a nearly terminal case of puppyitis. What do we have to offer you?

Enter the wonderful world of surgical insemination. Who? What? Why? How? When?
Who? Any bitch or stud dog with a history of infertility or when she’s absolutely positively gotta have the best possible chance of conceiving a litter.
What? This is an invasive technique using surgery to visually and digitally evaluate the uterus, treat cysts of the uterine lining and deliver semen directly into the uterus.
Why? This technique, called implantation by some, is valuable when you have compromised semen (frozen, fresh chilled, poor quality semen, low sperm counts) or with bitches who have not gotten pregnant through conventional breeding techniques.
How? Semen is either shipped to us (frozen or fresh chilled) or collected here. The bitch is put under general anesthesia, a small less than 2 inch incision is made through her abdominal wall. The uterus evaluated by feeling and looking at it. Then the semen is injected into the uterus. Your girl will generally be ready to go home within 2 to 2 ½ hours of your arrival.
When? Fresh semen inseminations are done 48 to 72 hours after ovulation and frozen inseminations are done 60 to 80 hours after ovulation (estimated based on progesterone blood tests). Regardless of weekends and holidays, surgical inseminations go on. Presurgical lab work (CBC, Chem panel and protime), EKG’s and progesterone levels are required for your bitch to qualify for the specialized approach to breeding.

Please feel free to contact Trish CVT (our repro specialist) or William (reproduction assistant) for details and to schedule.

Canine Brucellosis - Do I really need to test my dog for this?

I have a few things to share about brucellosis testing. I have lots of questions about why we should test for this disease - do we really need to, isn't it a disease we don't see anymore? Yes, we need to test and no, it is still around.
1. It can be transmitted in non-sexual ways so even virgin dogs and bitches can have it.

2. It is communicable to people - and it is a nasty disease to have, not to mention most doctors won't think to look for it, so it may go undiagnosed.

3. When you have it in your dog, the recommendation is euthanasia, or at the best and least, spaying or neutering. So much for the lines you have spent 30 years developing.

4. It is still a disease we see. It has not been eradicated.

5. The remote bitch cannot transmit it to the stud dog, but if she becomes positive at some point and she wasn't negative before the breeding, who do you point the finger at if YOU didn't test her?

6. Is a $60 test cheap? Relative to losing your health and your dogs lives, I would say so but that is just me. I have watched a client lose her life's work. She would take it all back for $60.

7. It also can withstand freezing so frozen semen can transmit it. We need to be sure we test our stud dogs so we don't infect a new generation of dogs many years from now.

8. I especially worry about well-meaning rescue participants - that may pick up a dog, male or female, being retired from a breeding program. You may want to ask why she is leaving the commercial breeder - well, this may be why, not because she has had her share of litters but because she can't get pregnant or stay pregnant. Don't throw away your breeding program for lack of testing the rescue dog before he or she comes into your house and yard and contaminates it with this dangerous bacteria. Stop at your vet and test him or her before they enter your household.

Talk to your local vet or repro vet about this - be safe.