Turkey Trip

Thanks for asking this question, had never heard of a Pupkus dryer but it sounds interesting & quite compact for traveling - love Clipperworld but notice this brand is not listed on their website, any suggestions as to where would be the best place to acquire one from? Hope you don't mind me asking within your topic africandreams.. :)

One other thing to try, if your bitch is still on antibiotics (or the pups themselves) a few small dollops of natural yoghurt deposited on the tongue with an eyedropper or needle-less syringe will be of benefit to the balance of beneficial bacteria in the puppy's gut. Just enough to cover the finger tip will make a difference in a newborn pup. Used in conjunction with the milk supplementation (or even by itself in some cases) this will often bring some slower pups on and allow them to thrive. Protexin will also help if you can get it - its a concentrated and pure source of beneficial gut bacteria. The antibiotics are a double-edged sword because although needed to counter infection, they also inadvertently destroy the essential natural flora of the gut. You would need to time the yoghurt supp. between doses of antibiotics until the course has finished.

This. What you are proposing is much closer than half brother - half sister. There is a good chance you will create future problems for the dogs and yourself and personally I would never do this mating. A tried and true old adage to remember is "close but not too close". JMO

e_2 For your info and very helpful insight into the process. Have contacted Cryogenes and already had a response, now have a lot of reading to do and maybe something to look forward to. :)

I am in Western Australia and have looked at previous discussions and am still not sure which which import agent would be the best to use for importing frozen semen from the USA. Have found the websites for both Cryogenes and Sires On Ice but they lack enough "nitty-gritty" detail for a first-time numpty and any feed-back from breeders who have actually imported canine FS from the USA would be of most interest please. Ta muchly if you can help.

Sorry, have only just read this and hope all is well now that the bitch has completed her course of antibiotics. - If antibiotics are given they will impact on the normal gut flora of both the lactating dam and her puppies, as each time they feed the pups will also be getting a dose of antibiotic via the dam's milk. While the bitch is under antibiotic medication it is absolutely essential to give the pups some natural yoghurt - she can have some yoghurt too however she will not be as vulnerable as the newborn puppies and will probably not show any symptoms of gut flora imbalance. The symptoms as you describe could well be caused by the pups' ingestion of their mother's antibiotics via her milk, which has completely unbalanced (or virtually wiped out) their own healthy gut flora. Intevention is easy - just half an eyedropper of natural yoghurt syringed or squeezed out onto the tongue (let the pup swallow slowly - don't squirt it) or, simply dip your little fingertip into the natural yoghurt and wipe it off onto the top palate of the pup's mouth. While this may not have been your particular problem this time, there is nothing to lose in giving natural yoghurt to the newborn pups as an "antidote" to the potential gut effects of the post CS antibiotics. We have always used this routine for newborn CS pups (especially important if you see signs of indigestion such as vomiting/salivation or liquid, bright yellow "poos" The beneficial effects or turnaround of symptoms after just one or two feeds of natural yoghurt are both rapid and amazing. Protexin would be most effective as well, but often it is not readily on hand when needed and natural yoghurt is plus, it is also an easily digested food supplement and thus gives a quick pick-up to a poorly pup. Best wishes, hope all goes well from now on.

Impressed, well done Animal Network. Results back in less than the 15 working days specified, now if you can just get your prices more in line with o/seas companies.. All 3 pups tested vWD CLEAR

As you're suggesting if the test results are to be recognised by the ANKC then positive identification of the dog would need to be done by an official - (DVM or authorised collector) - someone who would check the microchip and place/seal the swabs from the identified dog into a tamper-proof bag.) The kits supplied by DDC are not tamper-proof nor do they require the signature of a DVM, so in their current form they would not be suitable for certified results. Perhaps if your breed requires certified results this company would not be suitable, or, perhaps you could email them to inquire re other methods and certification? I'm using this US based company for just two tests (DM & Coat length) however it is solely for my own information as there is no official requirement for testing in my breed. I had the vWD tests done here by Animal Network with dogs' microchips read/certified & DNA swabs taken, signed and sealed by a DVM so they can be officially recorded with the ANKC. If you contact DDC by email they seem to respond almost immediately and appear to be very receptive and helpful. Might be worth checking them out yourself as they did say in their response to my first inquiry that they do a lot of testing for Australian based clients. Hope this helps. TT

What tests were you looking for rajacadoo? Notice they have ACD's listed with 4 coat colour & 2 genetic disease tests avail. http://www.vetdnacenter.com/search-breed-result.php?breed=10 Seems they don't offer all tests on each breed, guess due to patent restrictions. Very much a pity as had to go elsewhere for one of ours and suffer the exorbitant (in comparison) cost. Sent off three weeks ago, still waiting for results...

Just turned up as a fat envelope in the letterbox, presumably airmail - has one of those US Postage>Pitney Bowes red ink stamps for $1.48 USD. Pretty fast! ..TT

You might be interested in this thread capanash: Link I've just used DDC Veterinary - ordered/paid for tests on line & kits arrived from the USA just over a week later. Saved a substantial amount in comparison to testing services offered in Australia and am so happy with the service and price have just ordered/paid for two more. First batch was of 3 dogs & two tests each, second batch another two dogs and two tests each - for each dog the first test was $58 and the second test on the same dog only $20.00 - So a maximum of $78/dog.

How frustrating E2, am sorry to read that. The place mentioned in my post above (DDC Veterinary http://www.vetdnacenter.com/ from where I've now ordered the latest lot of tests, was even cheaper than OFA for DM testing. It was $58 USD for the DM and only $20.00 extra to do any other test on the same dog. The testing ought to be official as a veterinary surgeon checked microchips, collected the swabs and sealed the bags, however even if that is not the case and this is not acceptable to the ANKC I will have the required knowledge at considerable savings. The ANKC should support breeders who are trying to do the right thing, not restricting the option of shopping around for the best service at the best available price.

A quick update as a matter of interest: Have just ordered 6 DNA tests (Coat length & DM) for 3 dogs from http://www.vetdnacenter.com/ and saved a mint! Total cost = $234.00 USD - a cost saving of USD$122 per dog and with the $AUD currently at an all time high, a great time to place an order. Happy as! Lift your game Australian companies.

YES but only if both parents carry the recessive "e" gene. Puppies will be genetically tricolour but phenotypically red/tan/cream as black coat pigment cannot be expressed. e_e reds can occur in Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Border Collies, and are the standard colour in Labrador Retrievers/Golden Retrievers and certain other breeds. e_e red puppies are born clear red and will never have any black in their coat. Most "normal" red puppies have an overlay of darker coat at birth which clears to red or tan with the adult coat. Thus e_e red pups must be identified at birth by the absence of any black in their coat. e_e red dogs also tend to have paled out nose leather at maturity - not black.

Best of luck.