Estrus, pregnancy and childbirth of the West Siberian Laika

Everyone, even a novice dog breeder, sooner or later thinks about breeding their dogs. It would seem that there is nothing complicated here. After all, the process is natural, which means there is no point in keeping this issue under control at all. But, in fact, in order for the husky mating to be successful without affecting the health of the pets and future offspring, you must adhere to certain rules and know the general standards. about how a husky should be bred, on what day of estrus a husky should be bred and how to choose a suitable groom.

West Siberian Laika in heat

The first heat of a female West Siberian husky occurs at 6 – 12 months. It takes place twice a year (there are exceptions) and lasts from 7 to 28 days (on average two weeks). At this time, the bitch can become pregnant.

The cycle is experienced in 4 stages:

When to sterilize?

Sterilization can be either your independent or a forced decision when there are medical indicators for sterilization. If your veterinarian has recommended that your female dog be spayed for health reasons, then surgery can be performed at any age. It is important to take into account that a dog that is too old, just like a dog that is too young, may not tolerate anesthesia.

If you decide to sterilize the bitch of your own free will, then the best option is considered to be the period of the first year of life, starting from four months. This procedure should not be carried out earlier, since the dog’s body is still developing, and removal of the genitals may lead to displacement and incorrect placement of other organs.

Many dog ​​breeders claim that it is best to spay a female dog between four and six months, that is, before her first heat. Others, on the contrary, believe that the optimal option is the period after the first heat, that is, from six months to one year. It follows that there is no specific time frame for surgical intervention, and you can carry out the procedure at a time convenient for you during the first year of your pet’s life.

But, if you still want to not only take care of your beloved dog, but also want to get offspring from it, then you will find this article useful, because below we will look at how a husky and find out when is the best time to breed dogs.

Pregnancy of the West Siberian Laika

According to the rules of the Belarusian Canine Association, West Siberian Laika females are allowed for breeding from 18 months, males - from 15 months.

“Pregnancy is for health” is one of the most dangerous myths of many owners!

Pregnancy is not a healing process. This is a lot of stress and strain on the immune system and internal organs. Therefore, only a perfectly healthy dog ​​should give birth.

As a rule, the pregnancy of the West Siberian Laika lasts 63 days. The maximum difference is from 53 to 71 days, in which case the puppies are born viable.

1. At an early stage (the first 3 weeks after mating) it is impossible to determine whether the bitch is pregnant.

2. At the 4th week, using ultrasound, you can estimate the approximate number of puppies.

3. At the 5th week, the sides become more convex (sometimes the sign is absent until the 7th week), the skin of the nipples becomes lighter.

4. At the 6th week, puppies can be palpated. After this, the size of the fruit increases, the nipples become softer and larger.

It is
better if the palpation is carried out by a veterinarian; you can damage the fruit yourself.

During pregnancy, the dog should move, but not become overtired. The expectant mother should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary, take long trips by car or public transport, or be kept in a noisy, cramped room. If during pregnancy your dog's condition suddenly changes, he begins to refuse to eat, his temperature rises, or there is discharge from the genitals, you should consult a veterinarian.

The second half of pregnancy may be characterized by minor mucous discharge. The discharge becomes abundant, yellowish or greenish - this means that labor is approaching. 1–2 days before giving birth, the dog begins to worry, whine, lick the genitals, and scratch the walls or floor. Pulse, breathing, and urination increase. The dog refuses food and drinks constantly.

Or maybe sterilize?

When purchasing a dog for hunting, protection, or for the hobby, it is important to decide whether you want to babysit puppies in the future. If the option of breeding is unacceptable for you, or your bitch has a breeding defect, then it makes sense to sterilize your husky so that in the future there will be no difficulties with the placement of puppies. Laika sterilization is carried out in a veterinary clinic by experienced veterinarians, most often under general anesthesia.

There are many horror stories about sterilization. Many people believe that by sterilizing a dog, you are signing almost a death sentence for it. She will become lazy, fat, and lose interest in hunting and the world around her in general. In fact, the procedure is not as scary as it is described, and there are practically no negative consequences. If we talk about the negative sides of sterilization, then we can only include the fact that the dog will have to be carefully looked after at first, and in the future, if you regret your hasty decision to sterilize, then nothing can be changed.

In turn, sterilization also has positive aspects. For example, in the future you may not have to worry about an unwanted pregnancy. There will no longer be a need to keep an eye on your bitch, protect her from the flock of loving admirers and isolate her for a while. Moreover, as medical practice shows, in dogs that are sterilized before a year, the risk of cancer is reduced by no less than 200%!

False pregnancy of the West Siberian husky

False pregnancy is common in dogs of all breeds. This is the name for the psycho-physiological state of a bitch that has not been fertilized, but still shows signs of pregnancy. In this case, the dog diligently arranges a “nest” and may even experience something similar to contractions. As a rule, false pregnancy is observed in dogs with irregular matings and is associated with hormonal development disorders.

If a dog is sterilized, false pregnancy does not occur!

If the bitch begins to show signs of a false pregnancy, it is necessary to remove the toys. Self-licking of nipples increases the symptoms of false pregnancy. This can be prevented by putting a collar and blanket on the dog. Limit your protein intake.

If the bitch is showing aggression, extreme agitation, or developing physical problems (such as mastitis), medication will be needed. Contact your veterinarian.

False pregnancy may be a symptom of a disease (hypothyroidism or liver dysfunction).

If there are frequent strong manifestations of false pregnancy, you should contact the clinic for examination. Most likely, you will be asked to donate blood for biochemistry and hormones.

Manner of action

Dog behavior changes during estrus. At first, the bitch may show aggression and anxiety. Then she becomes active and flirts with other dogs. During the critical period, the pet does not perceive the owner’s commands and becomes cunning and resourceful. When walking, do not let your pet off the leash. Try to keep other dogs away to avoid mating. If mating has occurred, it will not be possible to separate the animals.

Before estrus, the animal begins to defecate urine frequently. This is how the female leaves marks for the male. The dog senses “intoxicating” substances excreted in the urine and goes in search. The pet marks its territory on the street and at home. This happens involuntarily. Do not punish the animal for this reason.

During the period of estrus, the female begins to estrus. These days ovulation occurs, the bitch is looking for mating. In front of the dog, the bitch takes a characteristic pose - raises her butt, moves her tail to the side.

During estrus, the owner plans mating. Mating should take place in the dog's territory. In order for a puppy to be born healthy from mating, both parents must be physiologically mature. The optimal age of a dog for procreation is 2 years. At this age, dogs’ bodies are mature and ready for procreation.

Breeders keep diaries to calculate mating time. Using a diary, ovulation during latent estrus is calculated. It records the days of the beginning and end of estrus and characteristic features. The estrus phase is calculated according to the schedule.

Births of the West Siberian Laika

It is necessary to prepare everything you need in advance. The “birthing room” should be warm, ventilated and calm, as well as comfortable for people - you will spend quite a lot of time there. A week before the expected birth, move the bitch to the “delivery room”, she should get used to this place.

Prepare a box for newborns (special beds are available for sale). You will also need: infrared heating lamp, disposable diapers, heating pad or plastic bottle with warm water, cotton wool, cotton rags, towels (8 pieces), hand wash, thermometer, milk replacer, bottle and pacifiers, muzzle, collar, leash, glucose solution.

Keep your veterinarian's phone number visible.

A day before the event, the West Siberian husky refuses to eat, and its body temperature drops. The bitch becomes restless, tears up the bedding and makes a nest.

IMPORTANT: The dog must be closely monitored so that it does not climb into a hard-to-reach place.

When labor begins, call your veterinarian and let him be on call just in case. Put a collar on the bitch. Next, your task is to sit quietly and not fuss. You can do yoga or meditate.

Stages of labor

A West Siberian husky puppy is born in a “package” - a transparent film called the afterbirth. Usually the bitch tears it herself and eats it. Don't be alarmed - this is normal, she won't eat the puppy.

Do not allow the bitch to eat the afterbirth if it is greenish-black in color with a putrid odor.

Keep track of the number of afterbirths, there should be as many as there were puppies. Sometimes the afterbirth may remain inside and only come out at the end of labor.

If at least one placenta remains inside, the bitch may suffer from inflammation (metritis). If you are not sure that all the placenta has come out, be sure to take your dog for an ultrasound.

A West Siberian husky puppy can be born while the bitch is standing. It falls to the ground, but it's usually harmless. Intervention is only justified if the mother is in shock, ignores the cubs, or attacks them. In this case, call an experienced breeder - he will tell you what to do.

Something went wrong…

If the mother tries to attack the puppies, muzzle her and move each pup out of earshot. Remove the film, wipe the puppy with a towel, remove mucus from the mouth and nostrils with a syringe. If the puppy is not breathing, try rubbing him with a towel. Sometimes artificial respiration is necessary - gently breathe air into the puppy's mouth and nose. The chest should rise at the same time. Repeat the breath every 2-3 seconds until the puppy begins to breathe on its own. Place the puppies in a cardboard box with a heating pad. Make sure the kids don't get burned.

Remember that the dog is in a state of shock, talk to it kindly, calm it down.

After the birth is over, when the bitch has rested and drunk milk with glucose, try introducing her to the puppies again. Lay the mother on her side, hold her head, stroke her. A second person can hold the puppy to the nipple. If the bitch has accepted the puppy, you can carefully place the rest. But keep holding it.

Even if everything is fine, you should not relax. After feeding, clean the puppies and wash their butts. If your dog is comfortable licking the puppies, you can choose to risk leaving them in her care or take the box away and return it for the next feeding.

Sometimes in the first hours after giving birth, due to shock, the bitch ignores the puppies: she refuses to feed, wash or stay with them. Here you will have to force the bitch to feed the puppies, but you will have to wash the babies yourself. Massage (clockwise) the perineal area with a cotton swab soaked in warm water to stimulate the release of feces and urine.

Sometimes a bitch tries to kill her offspring. But it’s still better to force her to feed the puppies. Put a muzzle on her and secure her in a lying position. One person can hold it and the other can apply the puppies to the nipples. Artificial feeding is not a substitute for breast milk, so use it only as a last resort.

Important: Puppies need a full feeding every 2 hours.

As a rule, sooner or later the bitch still accepts puppies. Cases when hatred turns out to be persistent are extremely rare.

Warning: Whatever happens, even if the bitch eats all the babies, don't blame her. The birth of the puppies was your idea, and it was you who forced the bitch to give birth. She doesn’t understand what she’s doing; hormonal imbalances and shock force her to behave in a way completely unusual for her.

Possible complications

Caesarean section is the surgical removal of puppies when they cannot be born naturally. If you leave puppies within reach of a recovering bitch, she may kill them.

Eclampsia is milk fever associated with calcium deficiency. Symptoms: anxiety, semi-consciousness, tossing, and sometimes convulsions. A calcium injection can work wonders in this case.

Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the mammary glands. Symptoms: fever, lack of appetite. The affected nipple is hot, sore and swollen. Veterinarian consultation and antibiotics are required.

Metritis is inflammation of the uterus after childbirth. Causes: retained placenta, injury or dead puppy. Symptoms: dark discharge, loss of appetite, high fever. Urgent treatment with antibiotics is required, possibly a smear test.

How to avoid mating

This question is most often asked by owners of dogs who do not plan to breed. But it is not alien to people who keep breeding dogs, because an unplanned mating will be an unpleasant surprise.

The main condition is to keep an eye on the dog while walking, do not let it off the leash and do not allow strangers to get too close.

You can purchase a special product at veterinary pharmacies or pet stores that eliminates the odor that attracts male dogs. It is used to treat the back of the pet’s body before each walk.

Possible problems

The female is capable of bearing children even in old age. The age of the dog does not affect the ability to conceive. The age of the bitch will affect the health of the offspring. An old female, as well as one that is too young, will give birth to a weakened puppy.

If your pet is not in estrus or stops, this is a reason for a veterinary examination.

A dog's sexual cycle does not just stop. This can occur due to diseases of the genitourinary system, disorders of the thyroid gland.

Any deviations from the cycle should alert the owner. Some dog breeders keep diaries in which they note the features and schedule of the critical period.

The owner must pay attention to:

• Duration of discharge;
• On the course of symptoms;
• Pet behavior.

The optimal duration of discharge is 3 weeks. For large bitches - a week longer. Prolonged estrus signals a possible illness.

Characteristic symptoms may stop and return quickly. Sometimes this happens in young bitches when the cycle has not yet stabilized. And sometimes it indicates an inflammatory process in the body.

The pet can be aggressive towards males during the emptying period. This indicates a hormonal imbalance or the animal’s temperament. Often sexual behavior returns to normal after the first mating and birth.

Answer

Estrus in dogs of the Laika breed occurs once a year, in old bitches sometimes less often, which is associated with the constant lengthening of the emptying period. The signs become less expressive, but the dog is able to mate and become pregnant. The estrus period for huskies is, on average, from 20 to 28 days (3-4 weeks).

In females with regular estrus, manifestations may change in nature (be frequent or rare); the estrus of huskies should be monitored together with a veterinarian.

From the beginning of the husky's heat to the death of the pet, the dog breeder is obliged to control the process, noting the dates of occurrence and the fact of mating on the calendar. The schedule helps to detect in time that heat has not occurred. This is especially true if the dog is being prepared for mating.

The first conception of huskies is planned for 12-18 months of life, it all depends on the individual development of the dogs.

Dangerous symptoms

Sexual heat is a dangerous and difficult time for the health of the animal. Due to certain physiological characteristics at the time of proestrus and estrus, a dog can easily catch any vaginal infection.

A fairly common occurrence in purebred animals is hormonal imbalance, indicating not only improper functioning of the ovaries, but also possible neoplasms or inflammation in the organs. The reasons to contact a veterinarian are the following symptoms:

• Too long breaks between activities, especially if the cycle has not been disrupted before.
• Too rapid resumption of proestrus. Increased estrus is a very bad sign.
• A break of more than a year, especially in a young individual.
• Continuous discharge and constantly present accompanying symptoms.
• Excessively copious mucus discharge.
• Changing the color of the discharge from bloody to black. The smell also changes to unpleasant.
• Inappropriate behavior. Most often, instead of increased activity, the animal becomes lethargic and apathetic.
• Refusing food more than once. A sharp decrease in appetite.
• Increased thirst.
• Temperature fluctuations within one day from high to too low.

After completing the main part of the cycle, problems may also arise that require the attention of a specialist, so the owner’s attention to the pet after mating should not weaken

It is worth contacting the clinic on the same day if:

• All symptoms persist for more than 30 days and are not going to subside.
• After the end of estrus, vaginal bleeding began. The only normal reaction to the end of the ovulation period is the absence of any discharge.
• The discharge continues, but changes color to brownish or brown with gray patches and the smell of pus.

Home "laboratory"

In some cases, the behavior of a bitch before estrus remains unchanged, and until ovulation the girl does not show her condition in any way. Sometimes the changes are so minor that it is difficult to notice them, even as an experienced breeder. In approximately 30% of dogs, estrus occurs according to a “non-standard” pattern: prolonged or short-term estrus, intermittent and hidden estrus in dogs, etc. In such cases, it is almost impossible to determine the start of the hunt and the day suitable for mating, based only on observation. With experience, everything will fall into place, but I don’t want to use trial and error when it comes to the health of a bitch.

Having slightly modernized a device well known to farmers, pet product manufacturers have completely solved the problem of determining the timing of hunting. To determine a dog’s heat at home, as they do in laboratories, you will need this thing:

We insert the sensor into the vulva, wait for a while, take readings and check them with the instructions, repeat twice a day. The probe reacts to fluctuations in the level of electrical resistance of the secretions and the appearance of ovulation. The beauty is that the owner does not need to understand all these complexities, the heat detector for dogs gives numerical readings that simply need to be compared with a table. Using a simple device, you can determine the best day for mating (ovulation), the rest period, the period when estrus begins, regardless of the presence or absence of external signs of heat. There is only one minus - the high cost.

Women who find it difficult to get pregnant are probably familiar with the following device. This device is much cheaper and, in fact, is a mini microscope. Includes detailed instructions, glass slides, and case. You can use a regular, even not the most powerful, microscope, since it is not at all difficult to find out if a dog is in heat using this method. Actually, one of the mini-microscopes:

The owner is required to: take a sample of the bitch’s saliva, place it on a glass slide, wait 10 minutes and examine the material through the device. Before the onset of estrus, the level of sex hormones in the blood gradually increases, which crystallize in a special way at the time of estrus. During the rest period, the saliva sample looks like chaotic blots and specks. Before the start of estrus, “herringbones” appear among the “circles”; by the end of the estrus, these “herringbones” are also few, and they may look broken. At the moment of ovulation, “fir trees” fill the entire space visible through the eyepiece.

Signs

The first thing you will involuntarily notice is the swelling of the loop (vulva). And only then the following signs appear: With the first heat, the dog's character changes

Large bitches become aggressive, stop following commands, bark a lot, while small bitches, on the contrary, become more cheerful and active. This applies, for example, to the dachshund

The dog begins to urinate more often. Blood is released from the loop, droplets of which are visible on the floor. Moreover, they are dark in color at the beginning. When you take her outside, you will notice an increased interest of males in your bitch. Estrus may be accompanied by shedding. The pet's appetite improves. Sometimes there is anxiety. Drooling appears. The pupils may dilate.

With the first heat, the dog's character changes. Large bitches become aggressive, stop following commands, bark a lot, while small bitches, on the contrary, become more cheerful and active. This applies, for example, to the dachshund.

Another sign when you notice that your dog is constantly licking the vagina is the immediate onset of estrus.

A very important point: a dog should not become pregnant during its first heat. Therefore, when walking your bitch, keep her on a leash. She will attract males in every possible way, take a certain pose, raise her tail. Only you can protect her from unwanted conception. Now we know how to determine when a dog is approaching heat.

What is the benefit of this research?

Determining the timing of ovulation allows you to increase not only the percentage of successful matings or artificial insemination, but also fertility. And additional research methods based on the use of cytology of vaginal smears and vaginal endoscopy, together with the determination of the quantitative content of progesterone in the blood serum, allow for more accurate control of estrus and an increase in the number of fertilizations, fertility, a decrease in the number of useless trips in case of unsuccessful mating, etc.

You can obtain more detailed information about conducting a study to determine the level of progesterone in the blood serum from the reproductive doctors of the Veterinary Center of Dr. Bazylevsky A.A.

What is the essence of this violation?

False or so-called pseudopregnancy can occur for various reasons. Some experts believe that the dog may be prone to this pathology. They explain this as follows: if the female dies after the birth of the puppies, the offspring will not die of starvation, since it will be produced by another non-pregnant dog with lactation.

Indeed, there are very frequent cases when puppies are fed by a stepmother, but this occurs in stray animals, but why then does pseudopregnancy also occur in domestic pets that are carefully looked after?

From a medical point of view, false pregnancy is a psychophysiological disorder caused by hormonal disorders. In theory, it can occur in any dog ​​after puberty, and even spayed females without ovaries are not immune from this if the operation was performed by a non-professional.

Pseudopregnancy develops during metestrus (after estrus), when the corpus luteum (the gland responsible for the production of special hormones) continues to work and lets the brain know that the body is ready for offspring, even in the absence of actual fertilization. At the same time, the body gradually prepares for the upcoming birth, despite the absence of embryos in the womb.

There are many reasons for the development of false pregnancy in dogs, and among them the following are the most common:

• mating with a castrated or sterilized male;
• unstable psyche of the animal;
• close contact of a dog with a nursing or pregnant bitch;
• mating of a healthy dog ​​and a bitch with disorders in the reproductive or hormonal system.

The duration of pseudopregnancy in dogs can vary greatly. It is impossible to say definitely how long it will last. Most often this happens within 2-4 weeks.

Alternative Methods

Not all bitches change their behavior before breeding. Changes are noticeable only during the rutting period. But if you do not want to miss this period and are planning a planned mating, buy a special tester device in veterinary pharmacies and pet stores.

Bitches have hidden, intermittent estrus, prolonged, short-term estrus. In decorative breeds, emptying often occurs bloodlessly, so it is difficult to determine the day of ovulation. In this case, a special tester developed by pet product manufacturers will help.

Using the device is quite simple, and the procedure itself does not cause discomfort in the animals. The sensor is inserted into the bitch's vulva twice a day, the values ​​are recorded and compared with the values ​​in the instructions.

The probe reacts to changes in the level of electrical resistance of secretions and the appearance of ovulation. The device accurately determines the optimal day for mating, the beginning of estrus, the rest period, regardless of the presence or absence of heat.

To determine the onset of ovulation, you can use a mini microscope, which is used by women planning a pregnancy.

The kit includes slides, a case, and instructions. To determine the onset of estrus and the day of ovulation, saliva is taken from the dog and placed on a glass slide. After 10 minutes, the plate is placed under a microscope and the result is assessed.

Before the start of estrus, the concentration of sex hormones gradually increases in the dog’s bloodstream, which crystallize by the time of estrus. When a female dog has finished estrus, during the resting period, saliva samples resemble chaotically located spots.

Before the onset of estrus, “herringbones” are noticeable between the “circles.” Their number increases towards the middle of estrus. On the days of ovulation, “Christmas trees” will fill the entire space that is visible through the eyepiece. Towards the end of estrus, their number decreases and they acquire a broken appearance.

The onset of estrus and the rutting period can be determined in veterinary laboratories. For research, samples of blood, saliva, and vaginal swabs are taken. They use special test systems and various laboratory techniques. The only drawback is frequent visits to the laboratory. To ensure accurate results, samples are taken twice at intervals of 12-24 hours. In addition, this method is quite expensive, so it is still better to purchase a special device at a pet store or pharmacy.

Care features

On the eve of the first estrus, the female may experience discharge from the loop, juvenile vaginitis containing a small amount of pus. There is no need to worry, this phenomenon is normal. Everything will return to normal as soon as the heat passes. If this does not happen, then it is worth undergoing an examination to identify various pathologies.

To make the estrus period more hygienic (especially for estrus in dogs kept in an apartment), you can purchase elastic panties for one-time use. They will prevent your dog from leaving bloody spots around the house. But still, you should not wear them all the time; veterinarians advise allowing the female to remove the discharge on her own by licking it.

During the first heat, the dog may not understand how to behave, so it is worth teaching it to remove spots. And to do this you need to remove carpets and rugs from the floor.

During the period of heat, the dog requires care:

• You should avoid long walks in winter to prevent your pet from catching a cold;
• There is no need to take her out to places where other dogs gather;
• Walks are strictly on a leash.

If suddenly it was not possible to prevent an unwanted mating, then it is forbidden to give the dog drugs to help terminate the pregnancy. This will cause significant health problems for the pet, which lead to infertility in the dog.

An important factor is keeping the dog during heat. If you do not plan to breed a dog and get puppies from her, at the first sign of estrus you need to start taking precautions:

• Keep a close eye on your dog while walking and avoid all contact with dogs of the opposite sex.
• Walk your dog on a short leash: even the most well-mannered and docile pet can run away during heat, not paying attention to any commands.
• Do not allow your dog to mate - it is impossible to separate the animals during intercourse.
• Do not take your dog while in heat to competitions or shows. This will cause anxiety among the male dogs present at the show. During heat, a dog does not respond well to commands and can be disobedient.