Dystocia or a difficult Whelping in Dog Breeding

A prolonged or difficult whelping which is referred to as dystocia, is the main cause of a weak puppy at birth.

Causes of dystocia

• An overlarge puppy
• a puppy in the incorrect position
• a small or abnormal birth canal through which the puppy must pass
• a bitch that is not in the the best physical condition through lack of exercise and poor muscle tone or through being overweight.

Inertia can be divided into:

1. Primary Inertia

wThis occurs when the uterus is so full of puppies and therefore so distended that there is little chance of strong contractions starting.

wIt can also be caused by the 'single puppy syndrome' when there is so little distension of the uterine muscle that there is no apparent stimulus to initiate contractions.

wIt is so important that you keep your breeding bitch fit with good muscle tone as an unfit bitch is more likely to develop primary inertia.

2. Secondary Inertia

wThis may develop after the bitch has given birth to some of the puppies but contractions then stop. The bitch may also appear too tired to carry on.

wYour vet may need to intervene here and give an oxytocin injection intramuscularly which should stimulate further contractions within the next 10-20 minutes.

wIn some cases, we have to give to give intravenous calcium as well as oxytocin.

Return to breeding dogs