In a retrospective study of 182 cases of canine dystocia, no relationship was found between either breed or age and occurrence of dystocia. However, medium-sized breeds (between 12.7 and 20.5 kg bodyweight) were slightly over represented. Of the bitches that had whelped previously, 42 per cent had experienced dystocia. The dystocia was of maternal origin in 75.3 per cent of the cases, mainly due to uterine inertia, while 24.7 per cent were of fetal origin, mainly resulting from malpresentations/malorientations. The most common reason for dystocia was primary, complete uterine inertia (48.9 per cent) and 40 per cent of the bitches with this problem had small litters of one or two pups. The most common treatment was calcium and, or, oxytocin injection followed by a caesarean section. Digital manipulation including forceps delivery and, or, medical treatment was successful in only 27.6 per cent of the cases. Of the bitches studied, 65.7 per cent had a caesarean section. Pup deaths occurred in 52-2 per cent of the litters. Among bitches that had been treated within one to fourand-a-half hours after the beginning of second stage labour, 5.8 per cent of the pups died, whereas the corres-ponding value for bitches that had been treated between five and 24 hours after the beginning of second stage labour was 13.7 per cent. The total frequency of pup deaths was 22.3 per cent. These findings show that early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial in reducing the pup death rate in cases of dystocia.
ABSTRACT
Treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in dogs by continuous low-dose intravenous infusion of insulin
Radiographic pelvimetry was used to assess the role of pelvic anatomy in obstructive dystocia in bitches. Based on the history of previous whelpings, 20 Boston terrier and 14 Scottish terrier bitches were divided into two equal groups: normally whelping bitches and bitches with obstructive dystocia. Additional whelpings during the period of study were closely observed and the pups were immediately weighed and measured. The bitches were clinically examined and the pelvis was radiographed in ventrodorsal and lateral projections. Measurements from the radiographs showed a significantly smaller pelvic size in the bitches with obstructive dystocia compared to the normally whelping bitches. Fetal-pelvic disproportion in the Scottish terrier was mainly due to a dorsoventrally flattened pelvic canal, whereas in the Boston terrier it arose from the combination of a dorsoventrally flattened pelvic canal and big fetuses with large heads. These results suggest that radiographic pelvimetry could be used to predict a disposition for dystocia in individual bitches, and as a basis for selection of breeding animals.
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