At Countryside Animal Hospital, we offer comprehensive canine reproduction services to support responsible breeding and ensure the health of both mother and puppies. Whether you're planning a litter or need expert care for a pregnant dog, our experienced veterinary team provides advanced reproductive diagnostics, breeding assistance, and whelping support.
For successful canine breeding outcomes, rely on our team for personalized care. Call us at (770) 788-7387 or book an appointment online today.
Our Canine Reproductive Services
Timing is everything when it comes to successful breeding. Progesterone testing is a crucial tool in determining the most fertile days of a female dog's heat cycle. By measuring progesterone levels in the blood, we can:
- Predict the ideal time for natural breeding or artificial insemination
- Improve conception rates and litter sizes
- Schedule C-sections with greater accuracy to ensure the safety of both mother and puppies
For best results, we recommend starting progesterone testing early in the heat cycle and continuing as needed to track hormonal changes.
When natural breeding isn't possible or preferred, artificial insemination provides a reliable alternative. We offer multiple AI methods to maximize success:
- Vaginal Insemination: This noninvasive option is suitable for fresh or chilled semen.
- Surgical Artificial Insemination: Recommended for frozen semen or challenging breeding cases, this procedure ensures precise semen placement within the uterus through a minor surgical procedure
Our team will help determine the best AI method based on your dog's needs and reproductive history.
Confirming pregnancy early allows breeders to plan for whelping and provide proper prenatal care.
- Ultrasound (Early Pregnancy Detection): Performed as early as 25–30 days post-breeding, ultrasound detects fetal heartbeats, assesses viability, and estimates litter size.
- X-Rays (Litter Size Confirmation): After 50 days of pregnancy, X-rays provide an accurate count of puppies, helping prepare for delivery and reducing the risk of complications during whelping.
Both diagnostic tools ensure a smooth pregnancy and give breeders confidence in their preparations.
For breeds prone to difficult deliveries (such as English bulldogs, French bulldogs, and other brachycephalic breeds) or in cases of dystocia (difficult labor), a C-section may be the safest option for mother and puppies.
- Scheduled C-Sections: Using progesterone testing, AI, and X-rays, we can precisely time C-sections to ensure puppies are fully developed and ready for birth.
- Emergency C-Sections: If labor stalls, the dam experiences distress, or there are signs of fetal distress, our team is prepared to intervene promptly.
A well-planned C-section can prevent life-threatening complications and give newborn puppies the best start in life.
Supporting Responsible Breeding and Joint Health: OFA
Health screening gives breeders valuable information when planning future litters. Countryside Animal Hospital offers several screenings associated with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, commonly known as OFA.
Depending on your dog’s breed, age, and planned certification, an OFA appointment may include:
- Hip and elbow radiographs
- Patellar luxation evaluation
- Basic cardiac evaluation
- Thyroid testing
- Dentition evaluation
- Hip and elbow radiographs
- Patellar luxation evaluation
- Basic cardiac evaluation
- Thyroid testing
- Dentition evaluation
After the appropriate examination, imaging, or laboratory testing has been completed, the results can be submitted to OFA and added to your dog’s permanent health record. These records can help breeders make more informed decisions based on inherited health risks and documented screening results.
The type of appointment your dog needs will determine whether sedation, a blood draw, radiographs, or a physical examination is required. Most hip and elbow radiographs require sedation so our team can obtain the positioning needed for evaluation.
Preparing for Your Dog’s OFA Appointment
Please have the following information available when requesting an appointment:
- The type of OFA screening your dog needs
- Your dog’s AKC registration information, when applicable
- Your dog’s microchip number
- Your dog’s age
- A current rabies certificate if it is not already on file
- The type of OFA screening your dog needs
- Your dog’s AKC registration information, when applicable
- Your dog’s microchip number
- Your dog’s age
- A current rabies certificate if it is not already on file
The information on your OFA paperwork must match your dog’s registration information. Dogs that have not yet been microchipped may need to receive a microchip during their appointment.
Hip and elbow appointments are commonly scheduled as drop-off visits, and your dog may remain with us for several hours. Our team will provide fasting and arrival instructions when confirming the appointment. Additional charges may apply for the examination, sedation, radiographs, microchipping, laboratory testing, and OFA submission.
Trust in Countryside for Caring Canine Breeding Support
Successful breeding starts with expert care, long before the first puppy arrives, so let us help ensure a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery for your dog. From progesterone testing and AI services, to pregnancy monitoring and delivery support, you can rely on our team for kind-hearted, experienced canine breeding care.
If you're planning a litter or need reproductive assistance, call us at (770) 788-7387 or book online to schedule a consultation.