• C-SECTION GUIDELINES
• • 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”
• • • 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
• • 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
