Would you repeat the breeding? - Page 1

I have a female that I bred to a male that I really like.   I know the bitch is the one that determines litter size (by what I have read anyway) but this male consistently produces small litters.  The most he has ever sired is 6 I believe.  Anyway, I knew about the litter size "issue" before I took my female to him and was ok with it.

This was my bitch's first breeding.  Breeding went fine.  She had started out with 3 (by ultrasound) and when I had her xrayed on the 54th day she was down to one.  On the 59th day I took her in for an emergency c-section and the puppy did not make it.

My friend also bred her maiden bitch to this male and had the same thing happen although she did not ultrasound or xray  and her bitch lost her two puppies.

This male has produced viable litters with several different females although they have not been very large litters (as I said above).

My question is this - Would you rebreed your female to this male?  I would really like to use him but am afraid of the same thing happening again.  Have any of you had this situation arise and what did you do?  I was also thinking of doing a dual breeding to a male I was planning on using in the future anyway just to attempt to get enough puppies in the litter to make it to delivery time.    What would you do?

Thank you for your responses in advance. 

I wouldn't do it.

It may appear he produces small litters, but maybe he is passing something on to his puppies and they are dieing in the womb. maybe some genetic deformity, heart defect, liver or kidney shunts etc.

If he has a normal sperm count, thenI would consider the genetic defect factor.

If the female reabsorbs, it is a problem on her side, not the male's. You need to do extensive bloodwork on her and check for bacteria and brucellosis. What about an antibody titer for CHV? In Europe, breeders are now using a vaccine, but from the German boards I have learned that you should test a female for antibodies first. If there are none, you need to vaccinate her right before breeding or while she is pregnant to produce antibodies. Unfortunately, this vaccination needs to be repeated for every pregnancy. Just like humans, the majority of dogs will get in contact with that virus at one point of their lifes. A female with antibodies will pass this on to her puppies and they will be protected. So, it only makes sense to vaccinate females with negative titer results.

As to genetic abnormalities, it takes two to tango. Has the stud dog owner provided proof on a sperm count, and more importantly,  brucellosis? Everybody always makes the owners of the females get that test, but IMO it is just as improtant to test the male frequently.

Chris

 Chris is right on here. I would also check the thyroid function of your female.

I would also recomend monitoring progesterone levels throughout pregnancy.

I agree with everyone, IF this happened a couple times.

but if a stud is known to consistently produce small litters, with females who if bred to a different male had larger litters, then I would be concerned about defects being past on.  pups due die while in womb early from heart defects and other internal defects.  spinal defects.

maybe it is just your dogs gene not mixing well with his.