Just because I can, doesn’t mean I should: the application of evidence-based medicine to small animal theriogenology

Abstract

The stresses and demands of modern American society have triggered an increase in dog ownership; as stated by the American Veterinary Medical Association, our canine counterparts provide companionship, joy, unconditional love, a sense of safety, and often a service. This same trend has caused pet owners to become careful consumers, desiring a healthy, stable dog with traits compatible with an individual’s way of life. A pedigreed dog that is carefully bred and raised is the best guarantee that a rewarding and long lasting relationship will develop, and likewise the best guarantee that fewer animals end up unwanted, in shelters or on the street. As the importance of purebred dog ownership is increasingly appreciated, dog breeders are challenged to produce quality animals. The veterinary profession, however, had largely neglected the field of canine reproduction; despite progress in the study of reproduction in human medicine and livestock since the 1960’s, little technical progress was made on behalf of dog breeders. Recent years, however, have seen a dramatic change. Proper reproductive management is recognized as the foundation of a successful breeding program; genetic screening is seen to be an important factor in planned breedings; technologically advanced breeding systems have been developed to give dog breeders wider options; the pathology and treatment of canine infertility is better understood. Most importantly, the veterinarian has become an active participant in the dog breeding process.