SPAY:

• Best done between three and six months of age before first estrus (heat) But can be done at any age.
• Do not feed until morning after surgery to prevent vomiting.
• Sutures dissolve under skin for most routine surgeries.
• If spayed in while in heat, keep away from males for one week.  Although your pet could not become pregnant if bred after spaying, the internal sutures could be torn causing internal bleeding
  We prefer to spay nursing mothers one-two weeks after pups/kittens are  weaned and themilk dries up.
• Does not cause animals to become fat or lazy.
• Prevents signs of estrus (heat)
• Decreases chances of developing breast tumors later in life
• Decreases chances of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life
  MALE NEUTERING:
• Does not cause animals to become fat or lazy.
• Suggested in dogs to prevent later tumors and prostate problems.
• Cats -- will usually stop fighting, spraying, and remove urine odor.
• Can be done anytime after three months of age in dog or cat.
• Sutures dissolve.
• Decreases the desire to roam
• Decreases aggression – makes a more loveable pet
• Decreases incidence of prostate cancer

DOG PREGNANCY:

• Lasts 60-65 days (63 days average).
• Do not breed on any dog on its first heat.
• Do not breed after any dog after 5-6 years of age.
• We do not recommend breeding toy breeds due to increased dystocia (difficult birth)
• A dog should not receive it's annual immunization shots during pregnancy.

DOG ESTRUS (heat):

• Lasts usually three weeks.
• Return to estrus every 6-12 months.
• Begins at 8-12 months of age.
• If you plan to breed your dog, you must skip the first heat if it occurs before 12-15 months of age.  
• This insures that your dog obtains its maximum bone structure before the stress of pregnancy.
• Breed during second week of estrus (day 9-12 usually best).Start trying to breed on day seven and
• continue until done. Then breed every other day as long as the female will accept the male.

CAT ESTRUS (heat):

• Begins at 8-12 months of age.
• Signs -- strange acting, rolling, tail up, strange meow.
• Cats continually come into heat until bred the act of copulation causes eggs to be released therefore breeding almost always results in pregnancy.
• Gestation time is similar to dogs (60-63 days).
   

LABOR AND DELIVERY:

• Signs -- restlessness, makes "bed," clear vaginal discharge.
• Tremors may indicate low blood calcium -- Take her to your vet!
• Needs to be checked if: Vaginal discharge other than clear; straining over two hours without delivering.
• The morning after delivery a clean out shot is recommended to eliminate the possibility of a retained placenta.
   

PARTURITION:

1. Signs of possible Dystocia (difficult birth):

• Greenish or Bloody Vaginal Discharge without delivery of offspring.
• Malodorous Discharge
• Intense Straining without delivery within 30-60 minutes.
• Any Straining (mild, intermittent) without offspring delivery within 2 - 3 hours.
• Any Discharge occurring more than 5 days before expected delivery date.
  

2. Offspring should be forced to nurse within 6 hours after birth for maximum colostrum absorption.

3. We recommend a post-partum examination within 24 hours of delivery which includes :

• Physical Examination
• Fecal Examination
• Oxytocin Injection to aid uterine involution and milk let-down.
• Deworming
• Calcium and Vitamin Supplements
• Recommend Feeding PUPPY FOOD to female for higher level of nutrition.

4. Emergency Milk Replacers:

• 8 ounces of 2% milk + one egg yolk
• 2/3 cup 4% milk + 3 egg yolks + 1 tablespoon corn oil + liquid vitamin + pinch of salt
• 5. Dock Tails and remvoe Dew claws at 2-3 days of age.

NORMAL NEONATOLOGY:

Kittens:

• Able to right themselves and suck at birth.
• Eyes open at 10 - 14 days of age.
• Ears open at 7 - 14 days of age.
• Double the weight during the first week after birth.
• Sleep 90% of the time.
• Crawling at 18 days of age.
• Walking by 3 weeks of age.
• Require stimulation to urinate and defecate for first few weeks.
  

Puppies:

• Able to right themselves and suck at birth.
• Eyes open at 2 weeks of age.
• Require stimulation to urinate and defecate for first few weeks.
• Cannot regulate own body temperature until 3 - 4 weeks of age.
• Ears open at 2 weeks of age.
• Shivering reflex begins at one week of age.
• Respiration = 15 - 35 times / minute at birth.
• Pulse = 220 / minute for first 3 weeks of life.