Dr. Shawn Smith

Dr. Smith has raised and trained German Shorthaired Pointers for over 20 years. He raised and trained 3 of the first 12 Versatile Champion German Shorthairs in North America including the first two bitches. He is also a field judge.

Practicing veterinary medicine for over 25 years, Dr. Smith uses conventional medicine and surgery, acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition, and education to promote and restore optimal health in pets and animals. To educate and inform pet owners, he invites your questions, comments, stories, and humor to promote better pet ownership and health. He can be reached at veterinaryhospital@rogers.com

Published on February 24, 2006

Reproduction & Delivery

CANINE

Gestation period?

63 days +/- 3 days

What age to breed?

They can get pregnant before 1 year of age but you should wait until their second or third heat to breed (mature size). This would be at least 1 ½ - 2 years of age.

How do I know if my dog is in heat?

Generally a dog that is in heat will present with some or all of these signs: enlarged vulva, enlarged nipples, discharge from vulva that is either clear or blood tinged, and will attract males in the neighborhood. Age and time from last heat are also helpful. One has to distinguish heat (estrus) from urogenital (bladder and kidney) infection. When in doubt consult your veterinarian.

Duration of heat?

21 days – usually breed during the 10^th to 16^th day but varies from dog to dog. A heat happens every 5-7 months.

FELINE

Gestation period?

65 days +/- 3 days

What age to breed?

Wait until the cat is full grown or at least a year and a half old.

How do I know if my cat is in heat?

The most obvious sign that a cat is in heat is behavior. A cat will be vocal, loving or hyper and they tend to stay this way long enough to bother most owners. They do not show the physical symptoms one sees in dogs. Some queens will show no overt signs of heat.

Duration of heat?

Cats go in and out of heat every 2-14 days until they are bred. Some queens are quite vocal, roll, crawl on their bellies etc. Other queens do not show any signs of heat.

Pregnancy and Delivery

How do I tell if my cat or dog is pregnant?

The puppies or kittens may be able to be palpated by a veterinarian by 36 days after conception. An x-ray may show the fetus’ after 45 days, at which time you can count skeletons and estimate the number of puppies/kittens providing one is not blocking out another on the x-ray. Ultrasound at 30-35 days will tell you if your bitch or queen is pregnant but one can’t count the number of puppies or kittens she is carrying.

How soon will my dog or cat deliver all the babies once she starts to have them?

Once active labor begins in a dog there is generally anywhere from minutes to 2 hours between pups. A cat may have longer periods between kittens.

When should I be worried?

If the mother is actively pushing for 1-2 hours with no sign of having the babies then you may be concerned. If the mother takes a break, has a drink and is comfortable and is not straining then she is OK. Start timing from active pushing and contractions.

Do I need to worry if the pups/kittens come head first or bum first?

Puppies and kittens may be born head or feet first safely.

What is a mis-mating shot?

This is an injection given by your veterinarian that might prevent pregnancy. It has to be given within 24 hours of the mating. This injection does not come without potential complications so you will need to have a consultation with your veterinarian.