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Reproductive Services

Dog chewing on toy while laying in the grass.

Reproduction Planning

Looking to improve conception rates in your breeding program? At Rutland Animal Hospital we can assist you in determining the optimum time to breed your dogs and enhance the success of pregnancy.

We can perform vaginal cytology on female dogs to calculate the stage of estrus. This method involves taking a swab of the vaginal cells and analyzing them under a microscope. Usually, more than one swab is required. Another method we can use is to perform a simple blood test to determine the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and pinpoint the dog’s fertile period.

Please call us at 804-559-6502 and set up an appointment with one of our veterinarians to discuss how we can further assist you with your breeding program.

Light skinned woman veterinarian with long brown hair examining a brown Labrador dog and smiling

Caesarian Section

Most animals give birth without any complications. However, mothers occasionally need help with delivery. We usually attempt to resolve the problem using medical therapy first, but when that doesn’t solve the issue, we will perform a caesarian section.

During a c-section, the mother is given an anesthetic. An incision is then made along her abdomen and through the uterus to retrieve unborn puppies or kittens. In some situations, we may recommend that the mother be spayed during this procedure, usually to prevent future problems of this nature.