Comments on Breeding
This symposium consisted of the lecturers from the K-9 cruise answering questions submitted by the breeders and exhibitors attending these workshops. The questions will be shared in no particular order of importance and are the opinions and comments of the participants.
Comments on Breeding:
12 weeks after giving birth the uterus is considered healed. During the heat cycle, the uterus is acting as if it is pregnant regardless of being bred.
There should be at least 135 days between heat cycles for breeding back-to-back.
In a six year old bitch the breeding possibilities decreased by 33%.
C-sections: Question was should you limit the number of breedings or the number of C-sections?
Brucellosis: is a common bacterium. It is recommended that males be tested twice a year if they are studding outside females. Test females before breeding.
Walrus puppies have heart defects.
Comments on Vaccinations:
Puppy shots should begin at six weeks of age. Last puppy shots should be given between 14 and 16 weeks of age. It is recommended that the core vaccines be repeated at one year of age.
Annual vaccines: Should consider doing kennel cough, bordatella intranasal and lyme, if problem in your area.
Herpes vaccine: available now in Europe. Is it needed here in the US? Most dogs are exposed to herpes and the immunity lasts forever.
Comments on Breeding Clubs/Parent Clubs:
It was the recommendation of this panel that clubs should not require testing but rather recommend testing. It was also suggested that DNA parentage be provided at club specialties.
Comments on Genetics:
Liver Shunt: is a poly-genetic trait; bile acid test recommended if concerned.
Cleft Palate: is inheritable; autoimmune for some breeds; can be caused genetically or toxicity to certain plants ingested during pregnancy. Folic acid does not stop cleft palate.
Comments on Public Health:
Multiple sclerosis victims may have been exposed to Parvo. Canine distemper has similar features and symptoms to measles. There is a small percentage of post- vaccine encephalitis developing in dogs after vaccinations.
Canine distemper is similar to a canine AIDS (which doesn't exist in dogs' auto immune systems). Even a skunk can infect a dog with distemper. Canine virus mutated from feline virus (1972).
Mink, feline, and canine Parvo are related. There is a marked reduction of brain’s cerebellum affected in utero. Disinfect 1:30 bleach!!!!
The Parvo virus has mutated several times since 1978. A new strain of Parvo developed in the U.S. in 2005. It is not Canine Corona but Parvo.
Symptoms of Parvo include vomiting and anorexia. There is a significant smell to Parvo diarrhea. In the earlier versions of Parvo, there is a five to 10 day incubation period. Never vaccinate a pregnant dog or puppies less than four weeks of age for Parvo because the vaccine can cause myocarditis. Begin vaccinating when puppies are six weeks old. The panel recommended that the puppies be vaccinated at home before ever going outside. It is recommended they be vaccinated for Parvo at six weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks of age. With the last dose 98% of the puppies will be protected. If you titer many tests will be a false negative even if the dog or puppy has full-blown Parvo. It is further recommended that you re-vaccinate puppies at six months and at one year. Parvo shot should then be given every three years.
Canine herpes virus is considered a reproductive problem and is a common cause of puppy dog. Herpes is forever. Herpes results in:
Stillborn births (15%)
Dystopia (11%)
Bitch trauma (13%)
Chilling (16%)
Disease (10%) -- results in 1% of herpes cases
Cannibalism (3%)
Undetermined Weak Puppy (20%)
Parasites, Lactation Failure, and other deformities (12%)
Herpes kills puppies in the first three weeks if exposed neonatally. There is no vaccine. However, once a female has had herpes, it is okay to breed her again.
Canine Herpes Virus Diagnosis:
1. Clinical diagnosis:
neonatal infection: infection of adult genitalia may result in abortion, fetal reabsorption, premature puppies or mummified puppies, puppies less than one month old, and entire litter dies.
2. Characteristic pathology
3. Viral isolation of canine cells
Herpes virus cannot be transmitted between species. Furthermore in canine herpes there are no signs visible on male dogs. There is no titer test for herpes and no treatment. There is a low risk of reinfection of herpes in breeding bitches (1/1000 may be reinfected). An animal on steroids can be reinfected with herpes.
Canine Corona Virus: it is not recommended to vaccinate for this virus. The infections are common. There is a respiratory disease complex which is similar to kennel cough but offers no immunities to the corona virus.
Causes of Intestinal Upsets:
Viruses Toxins
Parvo, all strains Spoiled Foods
Corona Virus Lead Poisoning
Rotavirus Plants
Astrovirus Bacteria: Campy, Salmonella, Clostridia
Parasites: Giardia*, Coccidiosis, heartworms
*vaccination available for repeaters
*treatment Albon and Panacur
Other: HGE, Pancreatitis, food allergies
There is a difference between Giardia and Coccidia. Giardia is a common parasite. Coccidia is an anemia in a puppy.
If you are boarding a dog or attending puppy classes, most will require a bordatella vaccine. The intranasal bordatella vaccine is highly recommended by this panel. First dose should be four to six weeks prior to boarding or class attendance and then repeat at one year of age. The sneezing or coughing reaction to this vaccine is not an allergic reaction.
Rabies Vaccines: Most laws say vaccinate at 12-16 weeks. It is preferable to delay as long as possible on rabies vaccination. The second vaccination in many states is a 3year vaccination, given 1 year after the initial rabies shots.
Thank you to all the judges, AKC representatives and breeders that shared their information on the K9 dog cruise 2009.
