Beta hemolytic Streptococcus - This bacteria is very contagious, and if it is present at the time of breeding, the bitch may well not take. It can render a male sterile when carried in the sheath. If the bitch acquires an infection once she is already pregnant, the puppies can be born dead, dying, or can even die months later. Ms. Lemire has noticed the likelihood of uterine inertia/dystocia is increased when a beta Strep infection is present. http://siriusdog.com/infections-sires-dams-puppies-dog-breeding.htm Beta(β)-haemolytic streptococci (e.g. Streptococcus canis) has been incriminated as causing mortality in kittens, usually in the first few weeks of life. S. equi sub zooepidemicus has also been reported as fatal in adult cats following infection transferred from dogs[3]. http://www.felipedia.org/~felipedi/wiki/index.php?title=Streptococcal_infection  Ann Marie www.amarigsd.com ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================