Pet Corner

Tubal ligation As promised last week I will now deal with tubal ligation as a surgical method for birth control. 

We are at the end of the series of TPC articles dealing with ailments associated with reproduction, and with the male and female reproductive organs. 

Events occurring over the past week dictate that I continue to dwell on this topic which appeared in last week’s column (not for the first time). 

Pyometra Today, I would like to return to an aspect ‘female infertility’ which we have already previously touched upon, but which needs to be revisited and dealt with in more detail. 

Continued from last week Undescended testicles Testicles usually descend before birth in most dogs. 

Continued Last week, we began with an ailment which impacts upon fertility/reproduction, and which is associated with an inflammation of the testicles (orchitis).

Continued Inflammation of the testicles (Orchitis) We are still discussing infertility in the male, and within this context physical injuries and infections (from bacteria, fungi and viruses) of the testicles are very common causes of the inability of males to breed.

In the ‘Pet Corner’ columns just before Christmas, we concluded our discussions on maladies associated with the female genital tract and reproduction. 

I would urge you, dear readers, on this last Sunday before the advent of the New Year to consider adopting a dog or cat in 2013.

Last week we touched on the issue of over-feeding our companion animals during celebratory holidays. 

Continued Vaginal infection (Vaginitis) Bacterial infection of the vagina often spreads to the urinary tract causing a burning sensation on urination and increased frequency in the voiding of urine. 

Last week, we dealt with chronic endometritis as an infection of the womb (uterus). 

Continued Up until now the discussion has centered on infertility of the bitch based on hormonal, metabolic, management related, genetic or anatomic (congenital or acquired) disorders/ deficiencies. 

Last week we mentioned that the main cause of infertility in the bitch is an infection in the womb (uterus) or in some other area of the reproductive tract. 

There are several causes of infertility (inability to conceive) in the bitch, but most times it is due to an infection in the womb or in other parts of the reproductive tract (cervix, vagina, etc). 

If, after the successful completion of the physical sex act (called the ‘tie‘ in dogs), the bitch fails to conceive, you may be faced with an infertility problem – in either the male or the female, or both. 

Over the last few weeks, we have been discussing all those reasons, psychological and physical, why dogs will not mate.

Last week, I mentioned that some dogs, having had so much contact with humans and so little with their own species, actually prefer human company, and I’d like today to continue with this theme.

Continued Unwilling breeders Last week we commenced with this topic and explained that, in most cases, dogs who are deemed to be ‘shy breeders’ might have in fact been brought together for mating at an incorrect time during the mating season.

Prolonged mating We had mentioned that the actual act of canine intercourse is called the ‘tie.’