If your dog is pregnant, it is vital that you inform yourself about everything important during the dog's pregnancy to know everything she needs and everything that can happen. By the time labor begins, it is vital that you are fully informed about the birthing problems for your bitch and how you should act as a responsible owner.
In this article we are going to inform you about these problems that can occur during childbirth and give you some tips to try to ensure that they do not happen or how to anticipate them in order to act in time.
Main complications and problems in giving birth to a bitch
If we have followed the pregnancy properly with the help of our trusted veterinarian, it is unlikely that there will be problems during delivery. But some setback can always happen and it is better to be prepared. Next, we expose the most common problems in childbirth of a bitch and situations that can complicate it:
- Dystocia: Dystocia is when puppies are unable to exit the birth canal unassisted due to placement or some type of obstruction. It is primary dystocia when it is the puppy itself that is turned and poorly positioned to be able to be expelled properly. Instead, we speak of secondary dystocia when the impediment is caused by something other than the puppy, for example an intestinal obstruction that greatly reduces the space of the birth canal.
- Puppy jam: It may happen that due to the position of the puppy that is being born at that moment or because of the size of its head is too big for the dog's birth canal, the pup gets stuck and can't get out without the help of the humans in charge of the mom or the vet. We will never pull the puppy trying to get it out with force. This will only cause great pain to our dog and easily the death of the puppy.
- Brachycephalic breeds: These breeds, like bulldogs, have many respiratory and cardiac problems. This is why it is very common for bitches to not be able to carry out the birth on their own. In addition, not only is it that they cannot make the effort in a normal way due to the insufficiencies they suffer from, but it is most likely that since they are breeds with very large heads, the puppies do not fit through the birth canal due to their size. of his head. It is highly recommended to avoid any complication that in such breeds a caesarean section be scheduled directly at the veterinarian.
- Problems getting the puppy out of the amniotic sac and cutting the umbilical cord: It is possible that if the dog that is giving birth is a first-timer or is extremely exhausted or ill, has difficulty finishing removing the puppies from their pouch and cutting the cord. In this case, we or the vet will simply do it, since it must be something quick once the little one is out of its mother.
- A puppy can't start breathing: In this case we must act calmly and efficiently. We must resuscitate the newborn puppy to help him breathe for the first time. It is always better if it is done by an experienced veterinarian, instead of doing it at home. Therefore, it is recommended that the delivery be attended by a veterinarian either at home or in the clinic.
- Reperfusion syndrome: It occurs when a puppy has just come out and the mother has excessive bleeding. It is not one of the most common complications, but if it happens it is highly dangerous for the bitch since she loses a lot of blood in a moment
- Rupture of the uterus: It is not the most common, but if it happens, the life of the bitch and the puppies is in danger. Therefore, a veterinarian should be called urgently. It can happen because the weight of the puppies is too much for the mother. In such a case, even if the uterus did not rupture, there would also be complications since the mother would not be able to expel the puppies properly because they were too big.
- Problems in cesarean section and postoperative: As in any operation with anesthesia there are risks to the patient's he alth. It is not usual but there may be infections, complications with anesthesia and bleeding. After the caesarean section there may be some problem with the recovery, but if the dog was in good he alth prior to delivery and there were no complications during the caesarean section, the recovery does not have to be complicated at all.
- Pre-parturition illnesses: If the bitch is sick before delivery, she will probably be weak and will have a hard time carrying childbirth carried out by herself. In addition, complications during childbirth are likely to occur if the mother has been ill for a long time. If this is the case, it would be best for her to give birth at the veterinary clinic with everything as well controlled as possible.
How to avoid the problems that can arise in the delivery of our bitch
As we have mentioned before, the best way to avoid these problems is proper pregnancy monitoring from our faithful companion. Therefore, we must take her to the vet every month at least for a complete check-up with which possible problems can be detected in time. Various tests such as ultrasounds and blood tests should be performed during these veterinary scans. It is very important to know how many puppies are on the way to take it into account at the time of delivery, because if fewer have come out and it seems that the process has stopped, we will know that one is stuck.
When we begin to notice the first symptoms and signs that our dog is in labor, we must prepare all the necessary material such as clean towels, the number for veterinary emergencies, sanitizer for our hands and latex gloves, sterilized scissors, silk thread to tie the umbilical cord if necessary, oral syringes to help the puppies expel the amniotic fluid, among others instruments. In this way we will be prepared to help our partner throughout the delivery process and in case of complications, be able to solve them properly. But, we should not intervene in the natural process of childbirth if there are no complications or problems.
Even so, as a vital recommendation and since we are not veterinary or medical experts, it will be safer for both our dog and her puppies that the delivery be assisted by her usual veterinarian and preferably in the veterinary clinic with all the necessary material and knowledge at hand.
