Ovulation cycles in female dogs are regulated by specific events in the brain, nervous system, and sexual organs. Infertility (the failure to produce offspring) in females may be the result of breeding at improper times—which is most common, the absence of the estrus cycle (the recurring reproductive cycle in female mammals that includes estrus, ovulation, and changes in the lining of the uterus), irregular ovulation, failure to conceive, or prenatal death. It is important to seek veterinarian assistance after the female’s first reproductive failure in order to avoid false assessment, misguided treatment, and potential harm. Treatment depends largely on the symptoms and cause of the condition, but may include hormone administration, antibiotics, or surgery. Depending on the cause prognosis can range from good to bad. If a cause other than improper breed management is determined, the prognosis worsens. If surgery is required for treatment, prognosis worsens further.

Infertility in female dogs is most commonly the result of improper breed management or male infertility, but can be the result of something more serious, such as ovarian cysts or tumors, hormonal problems, and infectious diseases. Possible symptoms include refusal to breed, failure to cycle, split heats, and uterine infections.

Infertility can be broken down into the following causes, in order by which your veterinarian will likely proceed to determine diagnosis:

It is important to seek veterinarian assistance after the female’s first reproductive failure in order to avoid false assessment, misguided treatment, and potential harm. Your veterinarian will ask you to provide your pet’s medical history and a description of observed symptoms. It is important to note if the dog has successfully birthed before. If this is the case, it’s possible that the male is infertile as opposed to the female. Be sure to list any medications that the dog is currently on, as certain medications may affect reproduction. In addition, the following tests may be used to diagnose infertility:

Before any course of treatment is decided, your veterinarian will rule out improper breeding management as the cause of the perceived infertility. In many cases, this is done by having the male mate with another female to determine if he is capable of impregnation.

Recovery and management depend largely on the underlying cause of the problem. Because improper breeding management is the most likely cause, many cases have a good prognosis. However, if improper breeding management is ruled out, the prognosis worsens. Further, if a surgical treatment is required, prognosis is even less positive. If improper breeding management is the cause, there are certain techniques available to avoid this, such as vaginal cytology (a test used to understand how the cells in the vagina function), endoscopic appearance of vaginal folds, and progesterone assays.