Learn how daily weighing and breed-specific neonatal growth charts can detect puppy and kitten health crises 24 to 48 hours before clinical signs appear. Covers birth weight thresholds, the two-centile rule, hypothermia staging, and essential neonatal monitoring equipment for breeders.
The canine nomograph promises to predict when maternal antibodies fade using the dam's serum titer. Two biological realities break that promise: up to 20 percent of puppies experience failure of passive transfer, and antibody concentration varies from gland to gland. Your real leverage is upstream, in optimizing colostrum quality and maximizing intake in the first 24 hours.
Flushing your queen — sudden post-breeding calorie spikes borrowed from livestock — triggers progesterone drops and embryonic resorption in cats. The right approach: a gradual 10% weekly increase from day one, weekly weight tracking, and progesterone monitoring with your vet.
A genetic pairing decision matrix transforms raw DNA data into structured breeding decisions. Learn the five-step framework integrating genomic COI, carrier overlap, offspring COI projection, and phenotype scoring for both dogs and cats.
The first 72 hours shape a kitten's entire microbiome. C-section, antibiotics, and early weaning can derail it. Here is what actually protects gut colonization.
CHV-1 seroprevalence is 30-100% in dogs. Eradication is biologically impossible, but thermal management, vaccination, and evidence-based prevention reduce neonatal mortality from 50% to under 10%. Learn why 37°C is the critical threshold.
Stop guessing. Start tracking. The worksheet that turns your progesterone results into breeding decisions.
Most breeders start weaning too early. The 3-week window that shapes your puppies' gut health forever.
Your lab says 5 ng/mL. But which assay? Which unit? The number alone doesn't tell you when to breed.
Discover how many litters your dog can safely have — and when to retire her.
DR. EMMANUEL FONTAINE 