Today, I took Owl for an evaluation of his reproductive status. We visited Dr Robert Hutchison of Northview Animal Clinic in North Ridgeville, Ohio. Dr Hutchison is an expert on canine and feline reproduction. He has many, many years of experience and has shared his knowledge with breeders in seminars all over the country. I figured it would be worth the 3.25 hours drive north for Owl to be assessed by this guy. 

The bad, but not surprising, news is that Owl has a fertility problem.  Dr Hutch said that normal canine sperm counts run about 10 million per pound of dog's body weight. Owl weighs 20 lbs so we would expect something like 200 million sperm. Owl's count was 42 million.

One would think that 42 million of anything would surely be enough!

But it gets worse. Of the 42 million sperm, 58% were immature. Dr Hutch explained that, like other glands in the body, the testes are 'used to' a certain level of production and that Owl was likely much more fertile when he was younger. So, in an effort to 'keep up the numbers' in the ejaculate, the testes are throwing out sperm that have not yet matured. 

This is the reason, I was told, that Owl was not able to settle either Taya or Tasha this spring.

Now for some good news:

1. Owl has sperm. I was half-afraid there wouldn't be anything in there. 

2. The motility of the sperm was good.

3. The morphology of the sperm was largely normal.

4. Ultrasound showed no masses or significant lesions in the testicles.

5. Ultrasound showed an enlarged prostate but the amount of enlargement is moderate and well within normal for a dog Owl's age. 

6. It was also clear that Owl does not have an infectious process going on; there was no blood or pus. Prostatitis is a leading cause of acquired infertility so this was very good to hear. 

I had shown Dr Hutch the semen evaluation from a different repro specialist done February, 2013. Unfortunately, the report was rather vague. I repeated what I'd been told and what I saw, which I had also relayed to Diane Webb in an email at that time.

Three months later, based on what I had seen and been told, Babe was bred to Owl. Babe did not conceive.  But she was six years old. We thought Babe had the problem.  :  (

Again, though, no prostatitis today, (if there ever was). Instead, Dr Hutch said it looks like we have a hormonal problem related to aging. I asked if these hormonal changes in Owl are normal. He slid me a look sideways for effect and said. "Oh yes. Very normal. Owl is something like a 60 year old man."  I am pretty sure the good doctor Hutch is in his 60s!

The rest of the good news:

7. Owl's libido is fine. 

8. He received an injection of testosterone with pre- and post- level blood tests and the results were good.

9. He is not obese and he doesn't smoke.  ; )

I had had to make a decision, before the ultrasound, blood tests, and medications, how far I am willing to go to try to obtain a litter from Owl.  Considering everything: his health, vitality, and energy level which are all truly extraordinary, his sound conformation, size, intelligence, eagerness to work at anything, his voice, coat quality, pedigree, I could go on and on...

I decided to do what seems reasonable. Not less. Not more. Dr Hutchison agreed with this. He said, "I am a logical, reasonable person, too. So let's do what is logical and reasonable and see what happens." I was able to connect with that statement.

Owl has been started on Megace 5 mg daily for 21 days, then 5 mg weekly. I was surprised by this. Megace is a progestin, a synthetic progesterone. Really? Megace? Yes. See Progesterone: a male hormone for more information. I learn something new every day!

He was also started on a male fertility supplement in capsule form called, um, Male Fertility Supplement, manufactured by Coast Science.  Doc said he began prescribing MFS after a conversation with a human urologist. Sub-title on the container is "The Male Prenatal." Well, I can hope so. Owl is to get one capsule of the powder on his food each day.

Dr Hutch wants to re-evaluate in eight weeks. So we will. Please hope with me for a positive outcome!

Tia Eskelinen and Svante, father of Viiljo, have traveled from Finland to Denmark this weekend.

Tia snapped this photo and captioned it: Having fun in Denmark - or not xD

Two years ago was the last time I heard my favorite bird call, the eastern whippoorwill. I love their special night song and miss it very much. Now, it looks, or should I say sounds, like a mockingbird has moved in to fill the void. 3 am and the bird was singing so LOUD and clear outside the open bedroom window. Whereas the whippoorwill shouts the same phrase over and over, the northern mockingbird whistles tunes like a jukebox skipping from record to record. It is great to listen to but as I got into bed, I wondered if I would be able to sleep! It was the last thought I had. : )

Owl's appointment for semen evaluation with Dr Hutchison in North Ridgeville, Ohio has been moved to Tuesday afternoon, June 24. I would VERY much like to have a litter or two with Owl as father. If that isn't to be, then we have some big decisions to make. I will post evaluation results on Tuesday.

Because I will be working Thursday, (see previous post), I must change the date of Owl's appointment with Dr Hutchison. Hopefully, the good doc can see us Friday. If not, it will have to be next week.

I like black snakes. Or maybe I don't like them so much as I appreciate them. But I knew that a snake had decided to make its home between the inside and outside walls of my outbuilding. And if Blacky was home when my dogs were out, their verbal and non-verbal body language was speaking volumes. I figured it was a matter of time before the dogs got this snake as they have gotten others in the past. I was hoping I would get to it first and be able to cart it down the road. I have done it before.

But lately I have not been above wishing that the dogs would just get it, kill it, and get it over with...

This afternoon shortly before leaving for work, I went out to bring the dogs in. They had been out for about 15 minutes. Walking in, I saw Owl and Nexus pulling against each other on either end of the largest snake they have caught yet. And I saw that it was dead. I didn't know whether to think "Poor snake" or "YAY!"  So I alternated. 

Then I thought, as I often do, well let me go and get my camera. I came back and took some photos.

 I got caught up in observing the dogs' behavior. Suddenly, I remembered - work!

I barely had time to wash my hair and get dressed. As I pulled out of the driveway, I saw a hen turkey with five or six little ones traipsing along on the road behind her. As I watched, she climbed the road bank and the little ones were flapping and fluttering and looking like sparrows in their endeavor to follow mama up the hill. It reminded me of a toddler having to work extra hard to keep up with a long-striding adult. Suddenly, I remembered again - work!

I had not had time to dry my hair, so off and on I hung my head out the window on the hour drive. I clocked in with four minutes to spare. As I walked into the conference room, they looked at me. "What are you doing here?" I said, "I'm working." They said, "No you're not."

I had forgotten that I'd moved myself from working today to working on Thursday when I only had three RNs scheduled!

Oh man. 

Well, I needed to go get some groceries anyway.

Back home when I was pulling into the drive, I saw a large doe come out of the woods and stand beside the road for a couple of minutes. I waited to see if other deer were coming behind her. This time, I  said to myself, you do have time to watch the animals! 

   

I'd hopped on the mower tonight to get some of the side field cut before dark. As I went around on the mower, I saw the dwindling sky light become increasingly interesting. I debated with myself whether I should stop, go in, and get my camera. "Mow?" "Take pictures?" "Mow?" "Take pictures?" But I was able to do some of both!

I was going through some files today and saw this DTK (German Dachshund Club) magazine. I had saved it because I like the cover photo. I also very much appreciate the fact that the DTK continues to retain focus on the dachshund as a hunting dog. Certainly, not all German breeders train, test, and hunt their dachshunds. Far from it. But the parent club has retained breed purpose in their sights.

Unfortunately, I must report that the patter of little half-pints will not be heard here this summer. Neither Taya or Tasha became pregnant by Owl. It is very disappointing to all of us.

As Owl was becoming older, I had his semen evaluated in February 2013 and it was good. But with both of these girls failing to conceive, Owl's fertility is today a looming question. I have an appointment for Owl with Dr. Robert Hutchison in northeast Ohio coming up on June 19. Dr. Hutch is known to breeders nationwide for his expertise in canine reproduction. We will see the results of the evaluation and make decisions based on that. I AM planning to mate Taya again in her next heat. At this point, though, I do not know who the male will be. I will keep you posted.

Sometimes you just have to laugh. After their digging and wall-wallowing snake expedition, I made some coffee and walked into another room. Taya, eyes closed, was lying with ball tucked in safe. I thought of Robin Mousseau's photos of her Trouble and got my camera. When Taya heard me click it on, she opened one eye. haha! She closed it again. Then Owl, coveting the ball and whining softly the whole time, came and said to me, would you PLEASE make her give me the ball? (Nine other balls and toys scattered around and he HAD to have the one Taya had.) Owl will tear down walls for snakes but he won't go for a ball that Taya has! That's just been the case the past couple of months. Taya is now a mature, well, you know, little bitch. Owl may be driven but he's not dumb. : )