Dog breeders are responsible for the maintaining the health of both the mother and her litter. If a mother doesn't have time to rest in between litters or is bred too much, health problems such as infection and an increased risk of cancer can arise. Certain precautions, such as allowing ample time between breeding periods, can reduce the risk of complications.
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Uterine Infections
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Uterine infections, or infections of the uterus, also called pyometra, can occur in unspayed dogs and cause serious sickness. According to Dr. Race Foster of Doctors Foster and Smith, pyometra is an infection that can cause the uterus to become filled with pus. In some cases, the excessive pus can cause a normal three-ounce uterus to weigh up to 10 or 15 lbs. If you dog is spayed, she cannot develop pyometra, as spaying the dog removes her uterus. In addition, dogs that are bred frequently are at risk for developing pyometra, as bacteria can enter the female from the male during the breeding process. If left untreated, pyometra can result in death.
Mammary Cancer
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Intact female dogs are at a high risk of developing mammary cancer. Foster states that dogs that are spayed before their heat cycles rarely develop mammary cancer. However, each heat cycle your dog experiences raises her chances of developing mammary cancer, which is one of the most common malignant tumors in dogs. Thus, dogs that are bred often and experience regular heat cycles are at higher risk for developing mammary cancer.
Weak Puppies
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Female breeding dogs should never be bred at every heat cycle. According to the K9 Web website, dogs should go through at least one un-bred heat cycle in between litters. Allowing this break helps your dog to rest and become strong and healthy again. Without a resting period, there is a higher risk of producing weak or sick puppies that are at risk of dying. Overbreeding is not only unhealthy for the mother, but it affects the quality of life of the puppies as well.
False Pregnancies
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A dog that experiences many pregnancies is prone to believing she is pregnant when she is actually not. While this condition can happen to dogs that have never been pregnant, it is common in those who have experienced many pregnancies. False pregnancy causes the dog to nest, collect objects that she perceives to be her puppies and also causes the dog to lactate. Her breasts can become engorged and infected, which is a condition called mastitis. In addition, dogs with false pregnancies are also prone to pyometra. False pregnancies typically resolve on their own; however, the infections will need to be treated.
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