Mastitis Preventions

[No Quarter Kennel]

I was reading my PBB this weekend b/c I have a bitch prone to Mastitis. I noticed it read that the protocol was preventive to vaginal infection along with mastitis. Seems very favorable.

My question is, would it be advantageous to run cephalexin through any bitch prior to breeding as insurance or are there drawbacks or negatives to doing this?

Thanks

[blood brothers]

I have always used sulmet the last three weeks of pregnancy but again that's just me.

[No Quarter Kennel]

What about PRE-BREEDING. To prevent vaginal infections and so forth? Anyone do this as common practice with history of infection or not?

[S_B]

NQK,

I've started giving Kelp and Kefir or yogurt to all of my bitches on a semi regular basis weekly. My thought process is, the kelp helps improve the blood with the iodine and minerals. This in turns builds up the immune system. The yogurt adds more beneficial bacteria to the gut, also supporting the immune system.

I have terrible luck getting litters. Partly due to being over selective and waiting until bitches are older to breed them. Recently I've dealt with a few cases of pyometra. This was a first for me and didn't make me to happy.

But I will say this, of the 2 bitches that had it, one had a successful heat cycle and was NOT bred and did not get pyometra after she cycled. The other was bred, didn't take but also did not get pyometra after she cycled. That one is actually in heat now again and I'm breeding her. The other is due in any time. In my mind this practice is a successful one.

Another bit of information I've been preached to lately about is this..

A bitches reproductive life starts early and ends early. Younger bitches produce better dogs and will have less hormone related illnesses when utilized for breeding at a young age.

This is a statement I can't argue, as I've not bred much nor bred young bitches. So I don't agree or disagree. Chicken men sure believe that way as well.

Good luck,
S_B

[S_B]

As far as antibiotics being used as a preventative measure...I wouldn't do it. I think this is a misuse of what antibiotics are designed for, treating infection.

[SteelyDan]

Antibiotics are used as a preventative all the time. As for mastitis its a very good idea to use them to prevent that problem.

[SFOD]

The use of antibodies when not needed has been shown to make them less effective and cause antibiotic resistance

[SteelyDan]

It is needed. Your preventing.

[SFOD]

oh i agree , if you have a gyp that has had it in the past deff. use it.

[SteelyDan]

Doxy is another good antibiotic that can fix various things in the reproductive system of both sexes. I've heard of many people "cleaning their dogs out" with doxy before breeding.

I've always used amox during whelping after reading some rare side effects on ceph with preg dogs i can't find at the moment