Reproduction
Do you wish for your cat, dog, or other pet to give birth to a litter, but you don’t know how or would like assistance?
Whether planned or not, achieving a successful litter is not always easy. Certain key steps are crucial for the safety of the mother and/or the offspring.
To assist you, here are the services we offer:
- Ovulation Detection
- Vaginal Smears
- Artificial Insemination
- Imaging
- Determination of Due Date
- Assistance with Delivery
Determination of Due Date:
It can happen that one is caught by surprise and does not know when mating occurred, and consequently, when the delivery is due. Thanks to hormonal monitoring, we can provide you with the approximate date of delivery or C-section.
Vaginal Smears:
Always performed during the first dosage, they are of paramount importance. They provide insight into the evolution of the uterus, as well as any potential infection.
Artificial Insemination:
In certain situations, natural mating is impossible (behavioral issues, malformation…), in which case insemination is THE solution. We then proceed with semen collection from the male, quality control under a microscope, and insemination of the female.
Imaging:
Ultrasound and radiography
- Ultrasound is performed 25 days after the last mating. It allows confirmation of pregnancy by visualizing the fetal vesicles.
- Radiography is performed from 45 days of gestation and allows for the determination of the expected number of offspring. Performed close to the due date, it also allows, through measurements, to ensure that delivery can occur naturally via the vaginal canal, or, if not, to plan a C-section.
Determination of Due Date:
It can happen that one is caught by surprise and does not know when mating occurred, and consequently, when the delivery is due. Thanks to hormonal monitoring, we can provide you with the approximate date of delivery or C-section.
Assistance with Delivery:
Whether medically, when possible, or surgically, in cases of dystocia for example, we will guide you to ensure the delivery proceeds as smoothly as possible.
Answers to Your Questions!
To determine if a pregnancy is indeed underway, an ultrasound examination is possible from the 25th day post-mating to visualize the fetal vesicles. This examination is non-invasive and painless.
In most cases, everything proceeds naturally and easily, but it can happen that this is not the case. In any event, at the slightest sign of pain, blood loss, or absence of offspring when labor has begun for more than 2 hours, contact your veterinarian who will advise you on the next steps.
No, deliveries in animals are generally easier than for humans. In case of intense pain, blood loss, or absence of offspring every 2 hours maximum, contact us immediately; it could be an emergency.
Depending on whether the mother is a primiparous animal (first delivery) or not, delivery can last up to 36 hours for a first litter, and 24 hours for subsequent ones.
Her behavior will change; she will make a nest or find a quiet place. Then labor will begin, first with uterine contractions (not visible to the naked eye), followed by abdominal contractions. It is from this point that an offspring should be seen emerging every two hours at most!