Dystocia in Dogs

Overview:

Dystocia is defined as an abnormal or difficult labour. Causes of dystocia can be classified as maternal or fetal. Some are listed below;

Maternal;

• Narrow pelvis.
• Misshapen pelvis (from fracture etc).
• Pelvic obstruction.
• Uterine inertia. This may be primary or secondary (exhaustive). Primary inertia is when the uterus fails to produce any contractions or only weak contractions from the onset of labour.  Primary inertia  may be the result of poor health, obesity, age, stress. Some bitches become nervous & highly strung during labour (known as hysterical inertia).    Secondary inertia is the result of a long second stage resulting in uterine fatigue. Contractions start strong but becoming progressively weaker.
• Uterine torsion (twisting) or rupture.

Fetal:

• Abnormally presented puppy.
• Excessive fetal size (often seen in small litters or one or two).
• Excessive fetal head size (often seen in brachycephalic breeds).
• Malformation of the fetus.
• Fetal death.

Stages of labour:

First stage labour:

Birth begins with the onset of uterine contractions. During this stage the cervix begins to dilate (open). A clear, odourless discharge from the vagina is usually apparent. This discharge is known as the mucus plug & was in the cervix during pregnancy sealing the uterus from the vagina. As the first stage progresses, contractions will become closer & closer together.

Second stage labour:

Contractions become stronger & closer together & the cervix is fully dilated. The bitch is ready to give birth. The puppy moves down the birth canal. Pressure   on the cervix initiates an urge to push from the mother. You may see her visibly straining to push the puppy out.  The puppy's water bag (or bubble) is normally seen at the vulva, these burst & some fluid will be cleaned up by the bitch. It takes around three pushes for the puppy to be delivered.

The bitch will tear & lick the membranes from the face & body which will stimulate breathing.

Second stage usually takes around 5 minutes to 1 hour. If a hasn't been born after an hour it is time to call your veterinarian.

Third stage labour:

Immediately following the puppy's birth, the placenta is normally delivered. Once the bitch has cleaned the puppy & breathing has commenced normally the bitch will chew the umbilical cord in two & quite often will eat the placenta.

Note: When the puppy has been delivered it is important that you pay attention to the delivery of the placenta. Even have a pen & paper close so you can make a note of how many placentas have been delivered, if you feel you may lose track due to the excitement of the birth. This is important because a retained placenta will lead to infection which is life threatening.

What are the signs of dystocia in dogs?

• Gestation lasting longer than 70 days
• Stage 1 labour lasting longer than 24 hours
• 20 minutes of intense labour without birth.
• Straining for 10 minutes if a fetus or a fluid filled bubble is  visible in the birth canal
• Acute depression
• Fever (above 103°F)
• Sudden discharge from the vagina of bright red blood  lasting longer than 10 minutes
• Thick, black, foul smelling discharge from the vagina.

If any of the above occur, the bitch should be examined by a veterinarian immediately.

Interrupted labour:

It should be noted that there can be a significant gap between puppy deliveries. This is known as interrupted labour. The bitch  will cease straining & attend to the puppy's she has delivered by cleaning & nursing them, she may eat some food if it is offered & will appear to have completed labour. After a period of rest, labour will resume & the rest of the litter will be delivered. It would be worth speaking to your vet if no puppy's have been delivered in 4 hours & you suspect your bitch may have gone into interrupted labour.

What is the treatment? 

If a fetus can be seen protruding from the vagina & no progress is being made you may have to assist. If the fetus is stuck in the birth canal, apply gentle traction in a downward motion to pull it out.  If the fetus is presenting head first, wipe away the membranes from the nose & mouth first. Once delivered, remove the remaining membranes & aspirate the fluid from the nose & mouth. Then place the puppy in front of the bitch.

Obviously, it should be noted that when handling the birthing bitch or her offspring, hygiene is a must. Make sure your hands are thoroughly washed.

Veterinary diagnostics:

If it becomes necessary to take the bitch to the veterinarian, bring along any puppies that have already been born.

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination & evaluate the situation & establish what the cause of dystocia is so that the appropriate treatment can be given.

He may wish to run some diagnostic tests such as;

• Complete blood count.
• Biochemical profile.
• Xrays to determine fetal size, numbers, position.
• Ultrasound.

Veterinary treatment:

• Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone which stimulates contractions.
• Calcium stimulates muscle contractions. If the labour has been long, calcium levels may have become deficient. When combined with oxytocin, calcium gluconate can result in contractions that are more efficient than with oxytocin alone.
• Anti-anxiety medication if the mother is anxious or stressed.
• Intravenous fluids.
• Caesarian section if strong uterine contractions do not occur following calcium & oxytocin or if the puppies are too large to deliver vaginally or if there is uterine rupture/torsion.

Even with an apparent straightforward delivery, it is always important to have the bitch & her puppys examined by a veterinarian to make sure there are no remaining puppies, no retained placentas & everything is healing as it should.

Further resources:

Pregnancy in Dogs

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets. 

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.