EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!
This article by T. J. Dunn, DVM appeared in Dog World Magazine
Breeders as a group are well organized, attentive to details, and goal oriented. They know what they want and work hard to achieve consistent success with their breeding activities. In any good breeding program efforts are made to structure efficient plans for the actual breeding, gestation period, whelping, nursing and raising of the newborns. In spite of all that preparation, though, unforeseen glitches do happen. My advice is to expect the unexpected!
Case in point: a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was two days past her due date with her fourth and last litter. The breeder was a successful and knowledgeable veteran of three decades with this breed; we discussed our options and a cesarean section surgery was done resulting in five live and healthy pups. Unexpectedly a problem arose, though, when we noticed three of them were not vigorous enough to breathe properly. The other two were squealing and squirming like champions as we got to work trying to revive the three poor-doers. Mucous and fluid was suctioned from their nose and throat using a small rubber bulb syringe. I administered injectable medication to stimulate respiration and circulation, the techs provided oxygen via nose cones, and gentle chest and body massage was performed to promote circulation and nervous system stimulation. It took a team effort and almost an hour to finally get these three pups out of danger. I’m certain that providing them with well-oxygenated air made all the difference.
Afterward the breeder stated she needed another prescription to obtain a new oxygen canister to have on hand for future whelpings with her other bitches. To my surprise she stated she had been utilizing oxygen for emergency use for years and it had “saved a number of newborns”. Should all breeders have a small oxygen device on hand? Maybe not. Oxygen must be handled carefully and could pose some risks if used improperly; the point is, though, that this particular breeder prepares ahead of time to safeguard all the newborns and to maximize the success of the breeding and delivery.
You will surely obtain useful and interesting information if you pose the following question to your veterinarian and to a few experienced breeders: What medications, instruments, or materials should be readily available if the bitch or pups develop unexpected problems? The diversity of answers you receive will require some “review and editing” before you incorporate them into your whelping kit.
Just because your favorite reproducing bitch has never had a problem before has no bearing on the next pregnancy or whelping. If you don’t already have the following items on your breeders’ check list, don’t call me if you run in to trouble late some stormy night!
Basic Check List
Have emergency phone numbers handy for your favorite veterinarian… and a few other doctors in case doctor number 1 is unavailable.
Contact your veterinarian well in advance of the due date to set up a prewhelping exam, to establish probable due dates, and to find out which doctor will be on emergency duty in case the crisis arises at approximately 2:36 a.m.
Procure any medications, lubricants, drying towels, umbilical suture material, bulb syringes and external heat sources prior to the whelping date.
Assemble a nursing kit with syringes or nursing bottles with appropriately sized nipples; many puppy nursing bottles have nipples that simply do not fit the newborn properly. Have fresh milk replacer ready to go if needed.
Plan to have your bitch examined no later than the 65th day after the last breeding if she has shown no signs of contractions. She just may have uterine inertia, a dangerous situation where the uterine muscles are so stretched that they simply cannot generate the contraction force needed to begin moving the pups.
Keep the bitch’s medical history on hand in case an emergency veterinarian becomes your best friend some Sunday afternoon and especially if you are traveling with your dogs.
Keep the bitch’s medical history on hand in case an emergency veterinarian becomes your best friend some Sunday afternoon and especially if you are traveling with your dogs. Rick Cisneros of Night Stalker Kennels, a veteran dog breeder with nearly 100 litters whelped and over 100 champions produced underscores the importance of having the dog’s records updated and available. “We always carry medical records because we travel quite a bit showing dogs across the country. The only thing you can do when you have pets is always expect the unexpected and keep your eyes and ears open to everything.“ Keeping track of heat cycle dates, lengths and intervals, documenting breeding attempts, staying current on available male dogs, and keeping a close relationship with your veterinarian are all important aspects of successful and efficient breeding programs.
Breeders carry great weight when it comes to influencing new puppy owners so be sure to emphasize basic “new puppy” management. Kimbertal Kennels in Kimberton, PA, has been dedicated to producing healthy and well-adjusted dogs for over forty years; they understand the impact good instructions have on the well-being of their pups. Office manager Anne Grim suggests, “Well before selling the pups check with your local ordinances for age restrictions, breeder responsibilities and other legal information you should know. Develop a rational puppy care instructions handout for the pup’s new owners. Your veterinarian or trusted breeder friends will be a good source of what to do and what not to do with the new pup.”
The fact is that all of us who love and live and work with dogs never stop learning new ways to interact and care for them. Anne Grim underscores this learning process well when she tells us “Even with giving the breeder family a multi-paged instruction sheet we expect multiple calls asking numerous unforeseen questions. Some puppies get colds, diarrhea, lose weight, you name it! Raising pups can be time consuming, expensive and emotionally crushing when pups take a bad turn due to mastitis or some sudden unexpected happening.” So even the most experienced breeders on occasion face some new challenge relating to this dog breeding enterprise we all enjoy so much. Just do your best to minimize the hazards, expect the unexpected, and be ready to respond to the eventual surprises that are attendant to the dog breeding endeavor.
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