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Before reading this article I suggest you find a good book on canine reproduction and study a version of a normal delivery. I have given actual case histories of dogs I have whelped. I have changed the names of dogs and owners. The exception here would be dogs I have owned or breed. Everything else has been taken from my whelping notes.
There are two things to take into account in toy dog deliveries. These are the strength of the bitch and the size of the puppies. In the large breeds, a bitch weighing 90 lbs., will often whelp 8 or more puppies and the average size of these whelps will be 8-10 ozs. A toy bitch of 4- 5 lbs., will seldom have more than 3 pups at 4-5 ozs. It does not take a mathmatical genius to see which bitch has the hardest task.
Uterine inertia (the loss of uterine contractions) can be PRIMARY(when very few contractions are initiated or do not start at all) or SECONDARY (the slowing down of labour.)
The cause of SECONDARY uterine inertia may have many causes: Anxiety in the bitch, a pelvis too narrow, a very large litter, too large a pup presenting or a pup presenting in an abnormal way.
Abnormal Placement Name: Sweetie Breed: Pom, white Age: +6 years Size&Condition: 4 lbs & very well I recieved a referred phone call from an elderly lady (Val) of 70 years of age. She was the owner of a retired brood bitch who had accidently mated her daughters Papillion dog. The breeder of this bitch had sold her to Val at 2 years of age because her first and only litter had been a Caesarian.
Val could remember the accidental mating but not the date. This little bitch was healthy and well cared for.
She was delivered to me before movement of the pups was detectable. Besides needing some slight dental attention she was like a pup herself; very out going and happy.
I measure due dates in a case like this when the pup's movement has been obvious for app. 10 days.
Using my stethoscope, it wasn't hard to figure out that there was only one pup. I gave her a trial labour with my (ever patient) Vet alerted to a possible Caesarian section.
She stared second stage labour with good, strong contractions. However, after 2 hours there was no water bag and no pup. On examination by me (get your vet to show you how to check the cervix) I could feel an unidentified part of a puppy presenting. No legs and no head - Perhaps a neck?
Soon after this Sweetie started crying with each pain.
My Vet was ready and needless to say a Caesar was inevitable. When the uterus was opened we discovered 1 pup with it's neck extented over the pelvis. Pups cannot be born in this position. The bitch was desexed at this time. Because the bitch was doing so well we cleaned her teeth and that was when I noticed something strange.
She seemed to have some fresh bleeding on one of her back teats. Of course we thought she might have have been nicked during the shaving but after swabbing the wound it was quite evident that she had a small lesion there which was alarming in it's conformation. We took a needle biopsy and she was sent home with me.
This little girl was aptly named (Sweetie); it truly seemed as if she was in no pain what so ever after her ordeal. Unfortunately, on day 5 after whelping the news came back that the biopsy was positive for a breast malignancy.
Her owner (who loved her truly) opted for euthansia since her pension would not stretch this far.
My Vet kindly offered to half her costs and I paid the rest for a double mastectomy.
It seems so much to go through for such a small girl but after 10 days she was home with her best friend.
I think this unplanned litter saved her life!
Outcome: Successful, 1 live male pup Reason for Difficulty: Abnormal placement Vet intervention: Caesar, desexing, tooth cleaning, needle biopsy and double masectomy of hind teats Medicals: Antibiotics
Secondary Uterine Inertia Name: Spot Breed: Pomeranian, parti-colour Age: +4 years Whelping History: Free whelper of 2 litters Owner: Self My Spot has always done the same thing. She starts at 6am and finishes by 10am. She always gives me live pups and she never has birthed a male.
This pregnancy was different. She, started as normal, at 6am and her contractions had been constant until 7am when the water bag was presented. The bag presented as 3 small "grapes". Immediately, I thought, here's trouble. A WATER BAG WHICH SHOWS ITSELF IN SUCH A CONFIGURATION ALWAYS MEANS TROUBLE.
After these bubbles burst (ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP THE WATER BAG INTACT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE - THIS PROVIDES A CUSHION AGAINST CONTRACTIONS) 3 little hind legs were present. We all know that pups are born with only 2 hind legs, so what was happening here?
Spot had 2 pups which were in a fight to the finish. She was given .05ml injectible of Oxytocin immediately to help the first pup on it's way. (I always have this at the ready but it should only be used under Vet supervision. Had this been used in the previous case the bitches uterus would have been in grave danger of a rupture.) 10 minutes later a small female pup was born. The biggest pup was still left in the opposite horn of the uterus.
I had returned Spot to her whelping box to clean herself when I heard a terrific scream. Looking down I could see a breech pup hanging from her vulva at the 3 o'clock position. Pups in this position must be turned. By grasping the whole of the pup with a hankerchief and turning clockwise once, the pup was in the 5 o'clock position. One more slight turn and there she was at the 6 o'clock position! Perfect birth placement!
WHEN MANUALLY ASSISTING IN A DELIVERY ALWAYS REMEMBER TO:
- 1. PULL PUP IN A SLIGHT ANGLE TO THE RIGHT AND THEN TO THE LEFT.
- 2. THEN PULL PUP IN A SEMI CIRCLE UNDER MUMS TUMMY. REPEAT IF NECESSARY.
- 3. NEVER PULL STRAIGHT OUT IN LINE WITH A BITCHES TAIL. PLEASE SHOW YOUR VET THIS MANOUVER.
Spot had 2 live and extremely vigorous puppies. Incidently, they were both girls so she did her usual. She is in whelp as I write, send your e-mail if you think she has a male puppy to come. I doubt it, but I would love to make his aquaintance.
Outcome: Successful, natural delivery - 2 live female pups Reason for Difficulty: 2 pups in photo finish Vet intervention: None Medicals: .05 Oxytocin
An Elective Caesarian Name: Blackie Breed: Pomeranian, black Age: 10 months Size: 2.5 lbs This little one came to me at 10 months of age. Her right foreleg was in a cast and had been broken approx. 6 weeks previously.
There was no doubt this tiny bitch was in whelp but when was she due? According to her breeder she had had an accidental mating (to a very famous champion) and one week later had broken her leg. This was a "stress" fracture due to her very fine bone structure. My polite reply was that a pregnancy at 10 months would certainly not do wonders for her calcium levels!
I took her in at this stage to try to get some condition on her. She needed calcium and vitamins. CALCIUM SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS A BITCH HAS A DEFICIENCY. THERE IS MUCH EVIDENCE TO SAY THAT EXCESS CALCIUM CONTRIBUTES TO ECLAMPSIA. This girl was a special case.
She had a very narrow pelvis and was under weight. Her temperment, however was superb and with careful feeding she gained weight and condition.
My Vet and I were dubious about her dates - could the fracture have occurred at the mating? It takes 6-8 weeks for a cast to effect healing and a pregnancy lasts 9 weeks; ergo the pregnancy could be less advanced than was stated and the cast would need to be removed about the same time.
We decided to leave the cast on as long as good circulation was maintained in her toes. She needed checking several times a day to make sure all was well with her foreleg. An elective Caesarian was also planned since she had one large pup and a very small pelvis.
Three weeks after she came to me the timing seemed right for both the Caesar and cast removal.
This one I was really worried about. She had so much against her it could have been disasterous. However, all was well. Not only did her leg heal perfectly but the pup was a good size and healthy.
N.B. The pup was pretty but mismarked. A judgement from those who guard small dogs perhaps?
Outcome: Successful, planned Caesarian - one female pup born Reason for Difficulty: Immaturity of dam, calcium deficency and single pup litter. Vet intervention: Cast removal and Caesarian Medicals: None
Secondary Uterine Inertia due to Anxiety Name: Maggie Breed: Pekingese, grey sable Age: +3 years Whelping History: Free whelped 2 previous litters - no survivors Here was a strange one. She was well, looked fantastic and was obviously full of babies. So why had she never had living pups?
Her owners story was that she would "bite anything walking" and never suckled her pups.
Well, I'd have to give him the part about biting anything walking! She certainly had a few trys on me. However, it was pretty evident after getting to know her that it was all bluff. Plenty of warning growls but no real damage done. For a peke her mouth was just fine and had she wanted to she could have made mince meat of my wrists.
Since she was in a very fat condition, Maggie got the old American Indian trick. Absolutely no food unless she took it by hand and believe me I made sure she was plenty hungry!
In 3 days I had a cuddle bunny, and in 4 days she loved my whole family. We also got her house trained to boot.
On her due date she proceeded to give birth to 3 live pups with a little help from me. But it was actually an easy delivery.
When her owner came to pick her up she went into high gear and pretended to chew his arm off! No way was she going home with him. This was when I discovered her owner had 4 children under 5 years. No wonder she had had bad whelping experiences. I told him I could not be sure that she would not damage his children during this puppy proud period and it would be best to leave the whole family until weaning.
He looked relieved until I told him I would have to charge a pup for all the time I'd spent with this litter. I really had hoped to keep mum but now that she had given birth to live pups he wouldn't give her up.
I don't do this ever but it was plain he was in it for the money and I needed to salvage something from this litter for the dog's sakes.
I got my baby (see her on my home page) but I think of her mum often. Maybe she'll come home one day. If she does I promise her she won't have to go back.
Outcome: Successful, Natural live birth - 3 female puppies Reason for Difficulty: Probably anxious due to household circumstances. May also have needed help freeing pups from membranes Vet intervention: None Medicals: None
Uterine Infection Name: Oma Breed: Pomeranian, orange Age: 4-5 years Whelping History: No live births Here is a bitch of dubious history. I know her breeder and the woman who now owns her. Since I got conflicting reports about her prior history I picked up the phone and contacted the Kennel Control. Supposedly she had one live litter in 1993.
She is 3 and a bit pounds and very shy. She also has grade 4 patellar luxation. Not a good breeding prospect at the best of times. This is her story.
I brought her home 8 days prior to whelping. Apart from being very thin and nervy she seemed well enough. Her delivery was uncomplicated and she delivered 3 tiny, tiny pups. The biggest was 42 grms. (slightly over one 0z.) These babies needed tube feeding if they were to survive.
After delivery she wouldn't settle down with the pups. SOME BITCHES WILL HAVE QUITE STRONG AFTER PAINS. IN A FIRST TIME MOTHER MUM THIS IS NORMAL. I knew that this bitch had had at least 1 litter however and I was worried. So up to the vet we go. It turns out her uterus was full of e + b coli. She probably has carried this infection for quite sometime and it was the reason she delivered such small weak pups.
All of these unfortunate babies died before seven days of age. The infection was probably picked up in the birth canal and even with round the clock nursing there was no saving them.
Oma is still here with me (Mar'96) and will be for a long period. Her metritis is now under control but I'm hoping her owner will agree to a desexing. She's had enough.
Outcome: Unsuccessful - no live pups after 7 days Reason for Difficulty: Long term infection Vet intervention: X-rays and cultures Medicals: Antibiotics WHY?
I'm sure I'll get lots of e-mail branding me as a puppy mill. I hope everyone keeps in mind that the majority of these girls were not mine. In fact in the last 2 years I have breed only 2 litters. These litters were bred to replace show stock and to continue my own breeding program.
The examples I have written about were picked for educational value only. I have helped many more bitches in trouble than I could have possibly included here. The majority of the bitches come from caring breeders but in truth some would have died without careful nursing. We have a house full of someone's "retired " brood bitches. Please, before you breed that next litter consider carefully. Also remember to pay your debts. If every breeder took in one or two desexed toy dogs the world would be a better place.
WHY? Because if the people who care won't help, then who will?
Carla Timmins © 1996
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© This work cannot be sold or distributed for profit without the express permission of the author. Please check with the author if you wish to reproduce or link to this article. |
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