Things that can go wrong with breeding/whelping

[GSDBESTK9]

A lot of people think having puppies is all glorious and a wonderful experience. They have NO CLUE as to how many issues and/or complication can arise and either cost you TONS of money and/or heartbreak. I thought this would be a good post for everyone thinking about breeding to read. Although most of these things have not happened to us (hubby and I), *crossing fingers they never do* they have happened to breeders we know of or have heard of and they can happen to ANYONE, thus why *crossing fingers*.

1. Pregnant bitch could have complications needing an emergency c-session in order to save some (if not all) the puppies. C-sessions can cost thousands of dollars.

2. You could loose 1, 2 or more puppies. I don't care how many times I've lost one. It always breaks my heart. Specially with the so called "Fade aways" that will survive for a day or two but end up dying and there is nothing you can do about it.
I've held a puppy, that was slowly dying and refused to eat, against my chest for hours till it took its final breaths. Talk about tearing your heart apart!!! I cried for days!

3. The mother could die during delivery or even after a c-session, leaving you with a bunch of puppies (as many as 10-14) to feed every two hours for at least 3 weeks if you want them to survive.

4. The female could get mastitis, costing you lots of money to treat!

5. You could have people come to visit your litter of pups and bring Parvo with them (in their shoes... a lot of people like to shop around and will go from breeder to breeder, including Back-yard-breeders), infecting all your puppies and loosing all of them. Even if you could pay to treat one of them, it can run you up to thousands of dollars to save just one puppy.

6. The mother could eat every single one of the puppies. Trust me it happened to a reputable breeder I know.

These are just some of the problems/complications that come to mind, if I have forgotten anything please feel free to add.

[Castlemaid]

Excellent Idea! This should be made a sticky, and have other experienced people add to it. Make it required reading for anyone contemplating breeding their dog.

[Scarlettsmom]

Originally Posted by Castlemaid

Excellent Idea! This should be made a sticky, and have other experienced people add to it. Make it required reading for anyone contemplating breeding their dog.

Agree. I didn't know most of those things. I would never let my dog have puppies, but if I were too, I would actually want a wake up call like this.

[RebelGSD]

The mom can develop subclinical mastitis. It is not obvious that she is sick, the puppies nurse and get sick from the milk. They cry and slowly die, one by one, before you figure out what is wrong.

This happened to someone I kow.

[Samba]

I found the investment in whelping box, supplies and preparations not a small deal. Whelping was one very long day with a pup not progressing due to size. There was also the purchase of food for the dam and to wean pups with. I work each day to enrich the pups lives so that they have the best start in life. I have to say at four weeks that I am pooped! Now in the weaning process and that is time consuming. I am seldom away from home except a quick errand run.

There were costs in getting the dam cared for. Testing, then ultrasound and xray. Fortunately no section was needed but we had one scheduled due to large pups. She went into labor early and there was the worry of preemie pups and viability! Yes, i am poorer and exhausted. There are just two pups and I can not imagine 8!

It is not something to be done for fun. There are personal rewards but much work and expense if done right.

[RebelGSD]

The mom can refuse to care for the babies. 10-14 pups to bottle feed every couple of hours.

[GSDBESTK9]

You are pooped and they are only 4 weeks old? Sorry, but that was the easy part.

[RebelGSD]

Yes, just wading through the house with 10+ landsharks attacking the legs :-)

[Rua]

Great post. These are all the reasons I'll be breathing a sigh of relief once Juno is fixed. I'm surprised at the amount of people I've had come up to me since I got her and ask me if I'll breed her. They always act so surprised when I say that the answer is and will always be a resounding NO! I love the breed and I love my dog, but it's such a massive responsibility where there is so much room for error if you don't know what you're doing. I'd rather leave it to the pros.

Raising 30 hens from eggs to adults is hard enough - I can't imagine trying to raise a whole load of wee pups if even one of the things on the OPs list happened.

[Konotashi]

I vote for this to be a sticky!

Great thread. Where's Selzer? She seems to get the short stick a lot....