Page 51 - Chow Life - Summer 2017

Vet Corner

by Dr. Marty Greer DVM JD

Should I schedule a C-Section for my girl?

This is a question that seemingly has a c-section. This should be assessed prepared to handle this after hours. As
no right answer - should I do an elec- by the veterinarian by doing a vaginal a result, many emergency c-sections
tive c-section on my beloved brood digital exam. are referred to after hour emergency
bitch or should I let her free whelp In our hospital, we recommend clinics.
and intervene only if there is a crisis? a c-section for litters of 1-2 pups or If you live a long distance from
If you do a scheduled c-section, you more than 9 pups (10 and up). In small emergency veterinary care, scheduling
have the nagging feeling that you may litters, the pups tend to be large and a c-section may be safest for you, the
not have needed to do one. But if you deliver late (63 days from ovulation is pups and the mother. Weather also
don't schedule it with your repro or a normal pregnancy length). Placentas needs to be considered - driving in a
regular vet and end up in a crisis in are only made to last 63 days, so after blizzard is treacherous with newborns
the middle of the night, sometimes in day 65, the placentas deteriorate and and a post op mom in the car.
the middle of no where, you will kick no longer nourish the pups, so we When given the option, many
yourself if you lose a puppy or even lose them. In later litters, over 9, most breeders chose to use their repro vet
worse, the mother. bitches run out of steam and start or their regular vet for c-sections.
How do you make this difficult deci- losing pups toward the end. Prolonged They have a comfort level with them.
sion. and frequent uterine contractions In many cases, the repro vets have a
First, we assess the breed, the lead to inadequate blood flow to the great deal of experience in managing
placentas, so often later born pups are
number of pups and their relative born dead. c-sections and early neonatal care
size. Second, we determine what we that can lead to better outcomes.
know about the breeding - how she 2. If we have good timing at the Many Emergency and referral clinics
was bred, how she was timed for the breeding, meaning either progester- also have worked to develop staff and
breeding, and the value of the pups. one tests with results to pin down protocols to lead to highly successful
Third, we consider your options for ovulation date (4-10 ng/dl in our lab) deliveries and newborn resuscitation.
emergency care. or LH testing, we can schedule a c- If you expecting a litter, you may
section with accuracy 98% of the time.
1. Some breeds are nearly auto- We do our scheduled c-sections 61 wish to consult IN ADVANCE with
matic c-sections - Bulldogs and Bullie days after ovulation in Bulldogs and a veterinary clinic to discuss their an-
breeds, pugs, Frenchies, Bernese and bullie breeds and 62 days after ovula- esthetic protocol, puppy resuscitation
Greater Swiss Mountain dogs and tion in other breeds unless there is events, and whether you are invited
Corgis, Pembroke and Cardigan. evidence of labor earlier. In addition to be involved in puppy care after the
These are breeds that are notorious for to timing the ovulation, we look at the c-section.
either a small pelvis relative to the size pups on ultrasound for gut motility
of the pup's heads or for inadequate and kidney development to assist in
pattern of contractions - primary timing the c-section.
uterine inertia. Relative size is difficult
to assess - we don't have any way to If the pups are from valuable se-
make a standard measurement of the men or particularly valuable for other Dr. Marty Greer
pup's head compared to the size of the reasons, we are more likely to do a Veterinary Village
mom's pelvis - so if anyone knows a scheduled c-section than to take a N11591 Columbia Dr.
veterinary student looking for a proj- chance on free whelping.
ect, send them my way and we can get 3. Options for emergency care are Lomira WI 53048
some data and use it to standardize highly variable depending on where Phone: 920-539-3594 |
decision making. you live and the hour of the day. It Email: drgreer@veterinaryvillage.com
Strictures in the vagina or narrow takes a full team of highly trained staff
vaginal lips will also make delivering to adequately manage the mother
pups difficult and can push us toward under anesthesia and a large litter of
pups. Most veterinary clinics are not
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