Why do dogs need an abortion?
One health-related reason for the procedure is that the dog is too young to be having puppies.
Mismating or accidental breeding is another reason why owners want to terminate their dog’s pregnancy.
Accidental mating could result in unwanted puppies that commonly end up in shelters.
The mother’s health can also be put in danger because her body won’t be able to carry the pregnancy due to her size or age. In the worst-case scenario, it can cause death.
Regardless of your reasons for wanting to end your pet’s pregnancy, don’t hesitate to talk to a veterinarian about your options.
Yes, the procedure is completely legal. Most veterinarians will offer you safe options to terminate your dog’s pregnancy. Unfortunately, not all of them will have the drugs needed to complete the procedure.
It’s crucial to discuss the topic with your vet as early as possible, so you’ll know if you need to find a new clinic for your dog should the need for abortion arise.
Common Causes of Abortion in Dogs
Mother Nature did a good job with canines so very few cases occur where the female needs to undergo abortion to protect her own health. In other words, abortion in dogs is more of a convenience for the owner than a need for the dog itself.
Most frequent cases arise from owners who allow their female dogs to wander off during heat resulting in suspicion or confirmation that coitus occurred. If this results in an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy, then most owners will request guidance from their vet and seek a medical solution to terminate the pregnancy.
Some cases come from breeders or owners of multi-dog households that have poor control over their dogs’ heat timings. These breeders fail to predict when they should separate the bitch in heat from their studs, leaving enough room for her to breed without the human selection of the intended male partner.
Can my dog take a morning-after pill?
If you’re wondering whether a morning-after pill designed for humans would work on your dog, the answer is, it won’t.
In fact, you shouldn’t give your pets any kind of medication intended for humans unless a vet prescribes it. Giving your dog human medicine can result in overdosing to the point of toxicity or cause problems in the dog’s reproductive system.
In some cases, a vet can terminate the pregnancy with abortion pills specifically for canines.
Also known as misalliance treatment, canine pregnancy can be terminated using injectable estrogens, which need to be administered within the first 22 days of the suspected conception date.
Two mismate injections are given 24 hours apart into the scruff of your dog’s neck. The shots are generally effective and the termination can occur within 7 days of administering the injections.
Some bitches can have fetal expulsion or only partially reabsorb, so you have to take your dog to get a scan 4 weeks after taking the injections. If the pregnancy continues, she has to be monitored as the viability of her puppies may be compromised.
Side effects of mismate shots include anorexia, vomiting, or mammary congestion.
Aside from the potentially serious side effects, these injections aren’t cheap. You’d have to be ready to pay for two consultations, two shots, and the scan to make sure the procedure is successful.
How to terminate an unwanted dog pregnancy
Dog abortion is a dog pregnancy termination performed through PGF treatment. The PGF treatment happens using Prostaglandin, which is a group of physiologically active lipid compounds that acts as anti-hormone. This anti-hormone will be stopping progesterone, which is necessary for pregnancy maintenance. Lack of progesterone will result in a dog’s abortion.
It is a procedure that a female dog (bitch) undergoes to terminate the pregnancy before she reaches full term or gives birth.
There are two kinds of abortion for dogs: planned and unplanned. An unplanned or spontaneous termination of pregnancy is also called a miscarriage.
We get that accidents happen, but why would a dog’s pregnancy need to be terminated early?