As with any pregnancy, an expectant mother of the veterinary world should ideally minimise the number and type of stressors they may be exposed to in order to increase the chance of their offspring having calm and relaxed natures.

During canine pregnancy, a number of potential complications could arise that would be problematic for the breeder. These include the onset of infectious diseases including Canine brucellosis which can affect the expectant mother in three different ways: inducing premature death of the embryo, causing miscarriage at 35 weeks of gestation or resulting in a stillborn birth. In addition, the risk of the dog miscarrying is increased if the dog contracts canine herpes-virus infection or Toxoplasmosis (see Vetinfo.com for more info).

Following on, infection can also be a cause of miscarriage in cats, including the onset of a ‘mycotic abortion’, where a fungus is the cause of pregnancy loss. Interestingly however, feline pregnancy loss is largely due to the absence of the correct mixture of hormones during gestation. This condition can result in foetal loss, through the birth of stillborn kittens or feline miscarriage (petMD.com). It should be noted that this can also be a cause of miscarriage in dogs. Consequently, it is in the best interest of the breeder to ensure that their ‘doggy protégé’ or ‘feline friends’ are well-looked after in a clean environment to reduce the risk of the contraction of infection. Furthermore, regular examinations to detect the presence of any abnormal and potentially fatal hormone levels should be carried out.

In a similar fashion, both canine and feline breeders should also reduce the amount of stress inflicted on the mother during pregnancy in order to prevent the developing offspring becoming affected. Although the development of the conditions mentioned above are ultimately out-with the control of the breeder, additional stressors can be avoided with the use of ultrasound. As an example, trips to the vet are likely to be necessary during pregnancy, and with the availability of portable ultrasound scanning machines and ultrasound training courses, it is now easier than ever for the breeder to scan themselves. As a result, pregnant dogs and cats can be scanned in the comfort of a familiar environment, by a trainer they are used to being handled by. For more information on the portable scanners we stock and the training courses we provide, please contact us by clicking here.