Canine Reproduction and Clinical Management

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the canine estrous cycle, breeding guidelines, pregnancy diagnosis, gestational care, and perinatal parasite control protocols.

Proestrus

The first stage of the canine estrous cycle, characterized by blood-tinged vaginal discharge, a moderately enlarged vulva, and attraction of males without accepting mating.

Estrus

The second stage of the canine estrous cycle, marked by serous, straw-colored discharge, peak vulvar swelling, and acceptance of the male; breeding is typically done every other day for one week.

Diestrus

The third stage of the canine estrous cycle, during which mucoid vaginal discharge diminishes, vulvar swelling resolves, and the female ceases to accept the male; whelping occurs 57 to 58 days after its onset.

Anestrus

The quiescent stage of the canine estrous cycle with no outwardly apparent signs of heat, no male interest, and during which the uterus is repairing.

"In Heat" / "In Season"

Common terms referring specifically to the first two stages of the canine estrous cycle: proestrus and estrus.

Canine Breeding Age Requirements

Both the female and the stud dog should be over 18 months of age; females are typically bred on their 2nd or 3rd heat cycle.

Brucella canis

A bacterial venereal pathogen that both male and female dogs must be tested for prior to breeding.

Rapid Slide Agglutination Test (RSAT)

A highly sensitive screening test for canine brucellosis that almost never yields false negatives, but may produce false positives that require confirmation with an alternate test.

The "Tie"

A coital locking phase during natural canine breeding that lasts 2 to 30 minutes (typically about 15 minutes), caused by the swelling of the bulbus glandis; handlers must not attempt to separate the pair.

Bulbus Glandis

The anatomical structure of the canine penis that swells during copulation, resulting in the mating "tie."

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Surge Timing

A hormonal marker used to time breeding or artificial insemination with fresh cooled semen, both of which should occur 3 to 6 or 7 days following the surge.

Canine Gestation Length

A pregnancy period lasting 63 days after ovulation, or 57 to 58 days from the onset of diestrus.

Amniotic Sac Palpation

A canine pregnancy detection method performed by palpating individual embryonic vesicles in the uterus between 25 and 35 days of gestation.

Ultrasonography (Canine Pregnancy)

A diagnostic imaging technique used to confirm canine pregnancy starting after 21 days of gestation.

Radiography (Canine Pregnancy)

A diagnostic imaging modality performed after 6 to 7 weeks of gestation, utilized specifically to count puppies via fetal skeleton mineralization.

Relaxin Test

A hormone blood assay used to diagnose canine pregnancy after 3 to 4 weeks of gestation.

Modified Live Virus (MLV) Vaccines

A category of biological vaccines that must not be administered to pregnant bitches.

Gestational Nutritional Transition

The management protocol of switching the pregnant female dog to puppy food beginning at 4 weeks of gestation.

Transplacental Transmission (Parasites)

The route of infection across the placenta by which canine roundworms infect developing fetuses.

Transmammary Transmission (Parasites)

The route of infection through maternal milk by which both canine roundworms and hookworms infect nursing puppies.

Fenbendazole Gestation Protocol

An antiparasitic treatment administered daily to the pregnant dam from day 40 of gestation until puppies are 2 weeks old.

Ivermectin Gestation Protocol

An antiparasitic protocol administered to the pregnant female on days 0, 30, and 60 of gestation, and repeated when the puppies reach 10 days of age.

Herding Breed Drug Sensitivity

A critical pharmacological contraindication requiring that high doses of ivermectin never be administered to herding dog breeds.

Pyrantel Pamoate (Nemex, Strongid T) Protocol

An anthelmintic deworming regimen administered to puppies at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, with the dam treated immediately postpartum and concurrently with the litter.