I have a breeding question.
I have had a few litters over the years but lately have had a few misses.
Talking to fellow breeders in Pa, they have mentioned that they have been giving their bitches thyroid medication as it helps.
They did not specify just how it helps. Any comments from here?
Also many breeders have said that they always give their bitches antibiotics before they are bred and for sometime afterward.
Can anyone tell me what antibiotic you use and for what length of time?
Thanks for your help as I really want this breeding to work as it may be my special bitch's last one.
And yes, I do do progesterone testing too.

As someone who takes thyroid medication, tests are done and then the dosage is determined. Once started, the thyroid levels need to be re-tested periodically to make sure the dosage is correct. This is something your vet would have to determine.

I really sympathize with your disappointment. I may be wrong, but I do believe that low thyroid is a heritable condition in Labs. To be sure, there probably are a group of breeders who are treating their b*tches with thyroid hormone to get them pregnant, but this, in my humble opinion, is just as bad as breeding HD, PRA, and some many other uglies.

Low thyroid can come from other medical conditions, not just genetically linked. I would run a thyroid panel or a T4 if I thought I was having an issue. I would not give any thyroid medication unless my dog showed an abnormal reading. Consult your vet.

As for antibiotics...that's up to you. Some people swear by them before and during breeding, others don't feel the need.

I will of course talk to my vet before administering any meds to my girl. She is a good vet but is not really a repro specialist.
That is why I was just checking here.
I am not sure if my girl needs the throid pills but I would have her tested. Could a low thyroid output be something temporary and not really something you should not be breeding? This girl has had two litters and her kids have not had any health problems.

Any comments from readers about antibiotics before breeding?

Low thyroid could be caused by a number of other conditions, so yes, it could be temporary. Have her thyroid checked and if she is low then consult with your vet on other conditions that may cause low thyroid.

according to Dr Hutchinson at his seminar, thyroid has noting to do with non-conception.

Here is an interesting link to an article about this topic. Talks about both thyroid and antibiotics.
http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/vpbxml.html

Hope this helps with some info. Does not name antibiotics though. Probably need tests to determine which ones.

I've heard that even a low normal can affect conception and many of these bitches finally caught when put on thyroid meds.

I talked to a known repro specialist about Thyroid meds and conception. I had a girl with normal Thyroid but having problems with conceiving. He recommended putting her on a low dose Thyroid med so she would be at the high end of normal which should help her conceive. After putting her on the low dose Thyroid meds she did conceive. My local vet also agreed with this method.

When are you asking for your shipment when breeding. Seems some do early and some later which alot of the time is to late. What numbers do you have when you ask for shipment. Are you asking your vet or the stud dog owner ? Just might be that.

When placed on these Thyroid meds for repro did the vet do a blood panel or just prescribe? If so what were the tests, meds, dosage etc.?

Hi there speaking of Thyroid levels, what is the range that a dog would be considered to have "normal" levels, how low is too low and how high is too high.