Monitoring puppy weight is crucial in the first weeks of life. Healthy puppies should not lose over 10% of their birth weight in 24 hours and should gain 5-10% daily. A digital scale helps track weight changes, signaling the need for intervention if growth stalls. Join a free webinar for more insights.
In the critical first 24 hours after whelping, breeders must ensure each puppy’s survival by clearing airways and stimulating them to breathe. Maintaining warmth, tying off umbilical cords, checking health, and encouraging nursing of colostrum are crucial. Awareness of when to seek veterinary help can transition a struggling puppy into one thriving.
Pyometra is a severe uterine infection in dogs that usually occurs post-heat and can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and death. While surgical removal is the primary treatment, medical options like Alizin and prostaglandins may preserve fertility if the condition is detected early. Customizing treatment to the individual case is essential for optimal outcomes.
If you’ve ever felt a sense of reassurance after lining up a “proven stud,” you’re not alone. For many breeders, this label suggests reliability, fertility, and an easier path to puppies. But while prior success is worth considering, it doesn’t always tell the whole story. In this post, we’ll explore Read more
Breeding failures often stem from overlooked uterine health, despite timing and semen quality. A healthy uterus plays a crucial role in nurturing embryos and ensuring successful pregnancies. Common unseen issues like endometrial hyperplasia and chronic inflammation can impair fertility. Awareness of these factors aids in improving breeding outcomes.
You want to feed your dogs in a way that supports healthy pregnancies, bigger litters, and strong, thriving puppies. But if you’ve spent any time in online forums, you’ve probably seen dozens of conflicting opinions—about what to feed, when to feed it, and whether to add things like liver, yogurt, Read more
You’ve decided that it’s time to add a new canine family member. Congratulations! You understand that a puppy is forever and, accordingly, you want your puppy to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. You know that you need to ensure that your puppy comes from a Read more
For decades, the standard approach to spay and neuter in dogs has been to have it done asap – ideally before a female’s first heat cycle or before a male has the opportunity to breed. The given reason for this approach was that it would decrease the pet’s chance of Read more
Imagine you are a small animal veterinarian (aka…me). You love puppies, and you’re excited to see that you have a new puppy appointment scheduled this morning. You walk into the exam room to meet the newest member of your client’s family and are immediately greeted with excited wiggles and kisses. Read more
The number one reason that dogs are relinquished to shelters is behavioral, and unfortunately many behavioral issues are actually training issues. Therefore, I truly believe that basic dog training saves lives! Sometimes when I’m talking to a client during a puppy visit, they look very confused when I mention training. Read more