So You Want to Have Puppies!

By Gail T. Colbern, DVM, MS
Diplomate, American College of Theriogenology (Animal Reproduction)
Bear Creek Animal Clinic

You have a lovely intact female dog and are thinking you want to have some puppies. But there are a lot of things to think about. Here are some of the major considerations. If you would like more information, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Gail to review all the considerations prior to getting ready to breed.

Will Your Female Add Quality to the Breed?

• Her conformation should be excellent without musculoskeletal defects.
• Radiographic confirmation can be performed with OFA or PennHip radiographs.
• Her genetics should be diverse from the male for more hybrid vigor. Genetic testing is available from multiple sources.
• Her behavior should also be excellent, without anxiety or aggression, as behavior will be passed to the puppies.

Will Your Puppies Be Healthy?

• Ensure all vaccinations are up to date immediately prior to your bitch coming into heat. Vaccination during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
• Confirm your bitch is at a healthy weight. Obesity can cause severe problems during pregnancy and especially at parturition (birth).

Is Your Breed Predisposed to Birth Problems?

Certain breeds are predisposed to dystocia (difficult birth). This includes breeds with large heads such as French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers, as well as Chihuahuas and some terriers. Many of these breeds require a caesarian section to successfully give birth.

Scheduling this procedure by monitoring progesterone during the breeding process can save a lot of money and be much healthier for the bitch and puppies.

Are You Prepared to Care for the Bitch and Puppies?

• Large litters can result in dystocia due to exhaustion or low calcium.
• There are a limited number of mammae; large litters may require supplemental feeding throughout the day and night for the first couple weeks.
• Even without supplementation, managing puppies requires ongoing work: feeding schedules, deworming, weighing, vaccinating, and early potty training.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, having puppies is not just breeding and selling puppies. There is a lot of preparation and then a lot of work. Be sure to consider all these things before starting the process. We are happy to conduct a pre-breeding assessment. Preparation is the key to success when making puppies. Enjoy the process!

If You Decide Not to Have Puppies

Please get your dog spayed. Intact dogs have a heat cycle generally every 6 months, requiring separation from intact males, cleaning up the mess, and monitoring for pyometra after the heat cycle. Pyometra makes your dog very sick and generally requires an emergency spay that will cost 3–4 times a scheduled spay due to sickness.

Intact dogs are also susceptible to mammary cancer, which may require additional surgery and possibly chemotherapy.