Oh Yeah, You Blend

Zhora had her second perfect weekend in a row (other than an NQ in Premier), earning double Q’s #23 and 24, plus a placement in one run (some of the fastest 8″ dogs in the country run here so that was pretty cool!). Nina had some great runs but only pulled off a Master FAST Q. Judges Mary Mullen and Laura Kuterbach designed some deceptively tricky courses for us!

Saturday Nina Master FAST (Q, third place, 63 points):

Saturday Zhora Open FAST (Q, first place, 70 points):

Saturday Zhora Master Standard (part 1 of QQ #23, 27 points):

Saturday Nina Master Jumpers (NQ):

Saturday Zhora Master Jumpers (part 2 of QQ #23, 18 points):

Saturday Nina Premier Jumpers (NQ but nice run, I got in her way at the tunnel):

Saturday Zhora Premier Jumpers (NQ, handler errors!):

Sunday Nina Standard (NQ but nice run):

Sunday Zhora Standard (part 1 of QQ #24, fourth place, 25 points):

Sunday Nina Jumpers (NQ):

Sunday Zhora Jumpers (part 2 of QQ #24, 16 points):

– He said that extender does NOT cause resorption (I have heard different opinions from different vets and breeders, but this is his view), because the extender is long gone by the time the resorption occurs (I wondered if just a short exposure to it could cause inflammation but he said no).
– He said resorptions are generally caused by uterine issues (anything from infections and cysts to just overly-thickened lining), genetic problems with the puppies, inability to maintain progesterone levels, and some medications (which nobody would be using if they were breeding a planned litter), although we often never find the reason for it.
– A recent study showed that a high percentage of bitches (30-40% I think he said) resorb at least a couple of puppies in a given litter (and this was a very small litter).
– The “genetic problems” he means are not what we’d normally think (hip dysplasia or whatever), all dogs (and all humans and all other animals for that matter) carry some lethal genes, they aren’t a problem unless a puppy happens to inherit two copies, and then they cause fetal death and resorption, this happens in every species, it’s part of nature’s checks and balances.
– He said that there is no reason NOT to do another shipped semen AI with this bitch. A surgical would allow the vet to check the condition of the uterus, but even a vaginal or transcervical would be fine.
– It’s most likely just something that happened with this litter.
– He suggested using mibolerone (Cheque drops) for a few months to thin the uterine lining out (he says he has done this successfully with quite a few bitches who had trouble carrying a litter to term), and after the next breeding, checking progesterone a couple of weeks after ovulation to make sure it was staying up (spot checking throughout the pregnancy is also a good idea).
– If it happens again, maybe consider a different stud dog just in case it’s a problem with this specific cross (I would rather try again at least once with this dog, since he is a very good match for my girl and the COI is very low, which can be hard to come by in my breed)