Breeding Guidelines
Pets have a way of touching our hearts and becoming a part of the family. It’s only natural to wish that our pets could be with us forever, but this is unfortunately not the case. Sometimes owners become so close to their pet that they believe breeding them is the closest thing to duplicating the pet they already own. In their mind, breeding a pet with ideal personality and character traits will produce the perfect new puppy or kitten. No matter the inspiration behind breeding your pet, there are many important factors to consider first.
When some people think about breeding their pets, the first thing they think about is how adorable the offspring will be. Many people also assume raising puppies or kittens is a fun experience. Though this is true, there is a lot of time, work, and cost involved in producing healthy offspring for potential owners. Dr. Stacy Eckman, clinical assistant professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, recommends owners to first consider finances before choosing to breed their animal. “This is not a money-making endeavor for most people. If there are no complications with the pregnancy itself, which can be quite costly, owners are still responsible for the medical care of the litter until they are old enough to go to new homes,” Eckman explained. “It is a lot of work, even when all goes according to plan.”
Besides the time commitment, owners should also consider the health and physical condition of their pet. There are many diseases and inherited deformities that can be passed from the mother and father to the offspring, so it is important to have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian prior to breeding. Remember that testing should also be done on both the male and female to ensure a healthy litter. “There are many, many congenital and inherited problems,” said Eckman. “If you are thinking of breeding your pet, consult your veterinarian for known disorders and how to best avoid them. Some of these cannot be screened for, but there are screening tests for many genetic disorders.”
If you do choose to breed your pet, you should keep in mind that not all pregnancies result in a healthy litter. Health problems during the pregnancy can potentially leave the breeder with costly veterinary bills. After properly deworming and vaccinating the offspring, it is your responsibility to find each puppy or kitten a new home. Sometimes this can be time consuming, especially if the litter requires special health care to become strong enough for a new home environment.
Though unhealthy pregnancies can occur, they are often preventable through a few simple steps. Talking to your veterinarian about proper diet and expected delivery dates can be very useful, as well as what to expect if this is your pet’s first pregnancy. “If you are thinking of breeding, consider discussing this with your veterinarian to ensure that your pet is as healthy as possible before conception,” said Eckman. “This includes a healthy weight, updated vaccines, and deworming. Your veterinarian can also advise you as to appropriate nutrition during pregnancy and when to transition to higher calorie and protein diets.”
If it is your pet’s first pregnancy, they may not understand what is happening during the birthing process. Your pet may become very protective of herself and her new babies, so monitoring her from a distance may be more suitable for her condition. It is also important that you understand the timeline of the birthing process so you can identify anything abnormal. “It may take up to two hours between births,” said Eckman. “If the mother is not attentive to the puppies or kittens, you will have to clean them and tie off the umbilical cord. Typically the mothers eat the afterbirth; this is normal.”
Though choosing to breed your pet can be a rewarding experience, there are many factors like cost and time to consider. Eckman reminds pet owners that there are many puppies and kittens already living in animal shelters and encourages pet owners to think carefully before breeding.
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.
