The 5-point whelping box audit every breeder should run before a litter. Why most setups fail on system design, not equipment.
Category: Blog
Prenatal Stress in Dogs: Why the Last 6 Weeks of Pregnancy Are Doing More Than We Thought
Two 2025 canine studies show the last 6 to 8 weeks before whelping are not waiting time. They are an active programming window. The dam's chronic stress load in this period leaves a measurable signal in her puppies. Here is what to do with that, in real kennel practice.
When Queens Struggle to Deliver: A Breeder’s Guide to Recognizing Dystocia Early
Feline dystocia kills 40 to 44 percent of kittens in affected litters. The 2-hour rule, the 30-minute pushing rule, and the dark brown-black discharge before a kitten are your three non-negotiable triggers to call your vet. Observe, time, transport.
How Do I Prevent Neonatal Isoerythrolysis in Kittens?
Neonatal isoerythrolysis kills kittens when a Type B queen's colostrum antibodies destroy Type A kittens' red blood cells. Blood typing before mating and 24-hour colostrum management prevent it entirely.
Natural Breeding Done Right: The Environment, Timing, and Safety Protocol That Protects Both Partners
A veterinarian's protocol for natural dog breeding: how to time ovulation, prepare the environment, space matings, protect the stud's os penis, and spot the red flags before they cost you a litter or a breeding career.
How Can a Simple Scale Prevent Puppy and Kitten Neonatal Loss?
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.
Why the Canine Nomograph Cannot Eliminate Puppy Vaccine Failure
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.
Is Flushing Your Queen Shrinking Her Litters?
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.
How to Turn DNA Data Into Breeding Decisions
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.
How Does Gut Colonization Shape Your Kitten’s Health?
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.
DR. EMMANUEL FONTAINE 