Dog Breeding: Important Information For Potential Breeding Candidates
Although you are the one responsible for making the decision to breed your female dog, it is wise to also be influenced by your veterinarian. Veterinarians have an obligation to all dog owners to strongly suggest not breeding (and clearly, why) if a matron or stud-elect should have any deleterious condition, abnormalities or disorders that could detrimentally influence the breeding or offspring.
Medical Checklist: Some of the conditions that require the withdrawal of a dog from a breeding program are cataracts, cleft palate, hernias, hip dysplasia, hydrocephalus, stenotic nares, chondrodysplasia, deafness and monorchidism. Additionally, certain dogs may have other conditions innate solely to their breed. Acquired diseases such as vaginitis, canine brucellosis, metritis, prostatitis and other inflammations can also produce a deleterious effect upon conception or the offspring.
OFA: The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Inc. (OFA), has established a universal set of criteria for soundness in hips and elbows. Most veterinarians use a mild and safe, brief-acting anesthetic to relax dogs prior to their being radiographed. This allows the animal to be positioned correctly, in accordance with the guidelines established by the OFA.
Some dogs are, however, so naturally relaxed and trusting even when being positioned, that a few veterinarians are willing to radiograph without the use of anesthetic. It is important to radiograph the female well in advance of her estrus, before her eggs ripen at the onset of mature ovulation.
After the animal has been radiographed, the X-rays are sent to OFA headquarters. There, the radiographs are "read" by selected board-certified veterinary radiologists who specialize in this field. Approval of the X rays by the OFA is made in the form of a certificate that is coded with the dog's name, breed and individual number. This certified approval is indicative of your dog's physical soundness in accordance with the OFA standards. A physically sound dog should be a requirement for any breeding program.
CERF: All breeding program candidates should also be checked by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist for any genetic or traumatically induced defects and diseases of the eye. Standards established by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) should be met before a breeding is made.
Sperm Viability: Always have the stud's sperm quality checked prior to a breeding. Even though he may not be in peak physical condition, the stud may be able to provide suitable sperm to effect fertilization. Dogs that have been on certain medications immediately prior to a breeding may produce insufficient numbers of sperm, sperm of a low motility or deformed sperm.
