June this year saw a massive breakthrough in veterinary medicine when the world’s first IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) puppies were born after years of trying. Their existence was kept secret until the findings were formally published in the scientific journal PLoS One this week.

A surrogate mother bitch gave birth to the seven Beagle and Beagle-Cocker Spaniel cross puppies. They were all from the same litter but have three sets of parents. The IVF process involved implanting frozen embryos into a female dogs, using techniques similar to what is used for humans. Lead researcher Dr Alex Travis, from Cornell’s college of veterinary medicine, said: “We have seven normal, happy, healthy puppies.”

He added: “Since the mid-1970s, people have been trying to do this in a dog and

have been unsuccessful.

“Now we can use this technique to conserve the genetics of endangered species.”

The researchers say IVF is a powerful tool to help endangered species of dog such as the African wild dog.

It could also be used in the study of inherited human and dog diseases.

* Want to meet the puppies? See them here:

https://youtu.be/y57CaNv_XPs?list=PLhep_BhLR0gTit65gFluBLJEjINC2zkAc

Source: bbc.com