By popular demand, this episode tackles one of our most frequent listener-requested topics in purebred dog breeding: managing the infertile bitch and overcoming failed pregnancies. Host Laura Reeves is joined by renowned veterinary reproduction specialist Dr. Marty Greer to break down the science, clinical protocols, and practical steps breeders can take when a female dog fails to conceive or hold a litter.
In this deep dive, Dr. Greer details an evidence-based protocol using targeted non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to overcome common conception and uterine implantation hurdles. If you have ever struggled with a bitch missing, resorbing, or experiencing unexplained reproductive issues, this conversation provides actionable veterinary insights to help safeguard your breeding program.
Episode Highlights:
- Listener-Requested Focus:Why canine infertility occurs and how breeders can work directly with their veterinarians to diagnose and treat underlying reproductive challenges.
- The Post-Ovulation NSAID Protocol:How administering targeted NSAIDs on days 2, 3, and 4 post-ovulation reduces oviduct inflammation during fertilization, and how treatment on days 15, 16, and 17 supports uterine attachment during implantation. Research demonstrates this protocol can achieve up to a 50 percent pregnancy success rate in bitches with prior failures.
- Uterine Recovery Windows:Why female dogs require a minimum of 4.5 to 5 months between heat cycles for complete endometrial healing before rebreeding.
- Primary Causes of Infertility:Identifying the impact of cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), uterine cysts, dietary phytoestrogens, and tick-borne diseases such as Lyme, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichia.
- Veterinary Diagnostics:Best practices for antibiotic stewardship, pre-breeding health testing, timing optimization, and managing fertility decline in dogs over six years of age.
Resources: Access additional breeder guides, research papers, and veterinary protocols in the Pure Dog Talk library.
