aborted fetuses

Question
Hi Joyce,

Sure hope you can help...I breed just for my own purposes of showing. I have been breeding poms for 5 years and recently Japanese Chin. I'm sure you've heard mention that Poms are the heartbreak breed because of the small mortality rate. Other's say they're born to die, or born holding a Lilly. Not an easy breed so I wasn't surprised that I had difficulties with four litters from the same Pom girl. But now, I am having similar issues with my Chin girl and am at a loss as to what might be causing this. I've asked several dog showing/breeding friends who have given their expert advise but would also like to reach out to other experts.

In brief...my Pom mom's first litter (I was not around for due to a family hospital emergency)out of three, she had two in the yard which she ate and one at the vet's that died. The second litter out of three (she must have resorbed one), she had one that she tried to eat by engulfing the placenta attached to the pup that I grabbed and pulled back up the throat. Not because of this but it didn't make it. The second one was fine and is now an adult. The third litter, out of three, one was an aborted "jelly baby" twelve days early going by the first breeding, she held onto the other two for another week but delivered them five days earlier then the 63 days from 1st breeding. The one was very much alive but its insides were on the outside, the other one made it but had to be tube fed to survive. I fought for his life tooth & nail and he is now 15 months old but his testicles didn't drop. This last litter (again three), she aborted two a week early. The one I witnessed was mummified the other she ate before I got a chance to see it. The third is a very nice show hopeful 5 mth old girl.

Now for my Chin girl. It was her first litter and she is young (20 mths). I had her ultrasounded late so I don't know what she started with. Her belly started getting bigger early on so I was excited that was would have at least three poss more but it stopped getting bigger. I finally had her ultrasounded to find one dead pup. We put her on a low dose antibiotic and repeated the ultrasound one week later. This time it showed a unformed blob, so we kept her on the low dose antibiotic. One more week (on her due date) we again had her ultrasounded to find pyrometra. Luckily since we stayed on top of it, she seems like she will be okay. We have her on a strong antibiotic for three weeks and will then do another ultrasound.

I take very good care of my dogs and feed a very high quality food. I plan to have tests (blood & cultures) done to rule out some things but am reaching out for other suggestions. My males are very healthy and have not had problems breeding and producing with other dogs. I did not use my males though for these litters with the exception of the first two Pom litters. The only connection I can think of is that they spend a lot of time in our yard and the feast on rabbit droppings while out. The pom girl also like to eat her poop and her puppies poop.

Any other suggestions as to what could be the problem? It has also been suggested that I put the girls on a low dose antibiotic for the entire gestation or from the first sign of heat for 7 to 10 days and again at the end of gestation for 7 to 10 days. Any comment on that?

Answer
Hi Deb

Because you're female is a poop eater, lets start there.  Dog that ingest their (and others) stool are vitamin deficient and are at great risk for picking up parasites.  She needs extra vitamins such as vitamin B complex, I would also recommend a daily dose of Apple Cidar Vinegar and St. John's Wort.  The ACV is Mother's Nature way of making sure everything is functioning and working as it should, the St. John's Wort will calm her down so she's not so frantic when whelping starts and eat her pups.

With these females, I would but them both on a low dose antibotic as soon as they start their season for 7 - 10 days.  This will ensure there are no low grade infections.  

Personally, I wouldn't continue to breed this female and check out her lines, she if anyone in her pedigree experiences the same issues.  Only as the heart break is exhausting and you will want to breed strong healthy Pom's.  Another line might be the way to go.

Good luck