•         C-SECTION GUIDELINES

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•         When is a C-Section Recommended?

•         High Risk moms (the dog, not the human mom) such as Bulldogs,

•         Bitches with pelvic fractures or vaginal strictures

•         Bitches with illness diagnosed during pregnancy predicted to cause dystocia such as diabetes

•         Bitches with previous primary uterine inertia (75% of c-sections are due to maternal causes)

•         Large litters (double digit)

•         Small litters (1-2)

•         Highly valuable puppies such as frozen surgical  inseminations

•         Bitches predicted to develop dystocia based on rads taken several days prepartum – films show malpresentations, log-jams, oversized pup or pups

•         When the labor is prolonged and pups are at risk

•         “A bad feeling”

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•         When is an Emergency C-Section Needed?

•         WhelpWise indicates there is a problem with fetal heart rates (<160 BPM) or uterine contraction patterns

•         Pups are being delivered after too long a delay

•         Pups are being born dead

•         X-rays or ultrasound indicates a problem

•         Prolonged labor on first or subsequent pups (over 2 hours on first or 1 hour on subsequent)

•         There is green vaginal discharge PRIOR to the delivery of the first puppy

•         Efforts to plan in advance have failed.

•         There is evidence of maternal or fetal distress

•         You get that “sinking feeling”

•         When do I know to call?

•         1.  ALWAYS call us when there is an indication that pre-labor is starting if it is during regular office hours. 

•         2. When there is green or bloody vaginal discharge without the delivery of the first puppy

•         3. When the bitch is acting distressed or is weak or sick

•         4. When the bitch has not eaten for 12 or more hours

•         5. When there is hard labor for more than 1 hour without successful delivery of the first  puppy or longer than 3 hours between puppies RUN to surgery

•         6. When the pup is seen but cannot be delivered (Episiotomy)

•         7. When a vaginal exam reveals a puppy in an odd position or that is not progressing through the birth canal

•         8. When her temperature drops and goes back up without initaition of labor within 4 hours.

•         9. When her pregnancy exceeds 63 days post-ovulation

•         The placenta ages and becomes dysfunctional as it approaches 65 to 68 days.

•         This can lead to fetal death, particularly in 1 and 2 puppy litters

•         Labor is initiated by the pups

•         10. Previous history of dystocia

•         11. Evidence of fetal distress

•         Low heart rates (<160 BPM)

•         Doppler

•         Ultrasound

•         12. Weak or nonproductive contractions with multiple puppies left

•         13. Minimal or no response to oxytocin

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•         Methods of intervention:

•         To try at home:

•         Walking the bitch- take a flashlight and a towel!

•         Ice cream – lots and lots of ice cream

•         Vaginal Examination – yes, you can do it – please wear a glove!

•         Vaginal Feathering

•         Don’t wait too long

 Brownsville/Lomira Small Animal Clinic LLC/ICSB-WI

351 East Main Street Lomira WI 53048 Phone 920-269-4072 Fax 920-269-2345

smallanimalclinic.com                                                       blsac@charter.net