In most cases, the breeding of a dog and a bitch will be a very simple and natural process. However, there will be some cases in which the intervention of a veterinarian may be necessary. The veterinary intervention may be necessary for the health and well being of the bitch or the puppies or to assist in the breeding process. Regardless of the reason for the intervention by a veterinarian, it is important to understand these types of interventions are costly but necessary. This article will discuss some of the reasons why intervention by a veterinarian may be required during the breeding process or the labor and delivery process.
Veterinary intervention may be required during the breeding process for a number of reasons. Specifically, if the dog and the bitch are not able to breed naturally for some reason, the use of artificial insemination may be used. One of the reasons why natural breeding is not possible may include abnormal physiology of the bitch. In these cases breeding may be difficult or impossible and it is worthwhile to invest in artificial insemination instead of risking a breeding failure. Bitches that show aggression towards potential sires may also require artificial insemination. In this case, the veterinary intervention will help to prevent injuries in both dogs if a fight ensues.
Planned c-sections are other cases where veterinary intervention is required. These are cases in which it is known before the breeding even occurs that a c-section will be necessary to deliver the puppies. Breeds with large heads and shoulders, such as the Bulldog, are often candidates for canine, planned c-sections. Whelping these types of breeds naturally is extremely risky and may result in injury, or even death, to the bitch, the puppies or both.
During the course of a bitch’s pregnancy, there may be a need for veterinary intervention if complications occur. In particular, a bitch that is not thriving during pregnancy may require veterinary assistance. For example, a bitch that will not eat and is not gaining weight while pregnant should be evaluated by a veterinarian. There may be a need to feed the bitch intravenously to ensure the well being of the bitch as well as the puppies. A loss of appetite towards the end of the pregnancy is normal and usually signifies labor will begin soon. However, if the loss of appetite exists earlier during the pregnancy and is prolonged the owner should seek out the assistance of a veterinarian.
Finally, veterinary intervention may be required in emergency situations that arise during the course of labor and delivery. Late in the pregnancy, the temperature of the bitch should be monitored regularly and the veterinarian should be notified when the bitch’s temperature drops to around 98-99.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This type of drop in temperature usually means labor will begin within hours. Alert your veterinarian of the development so he is aware you may be calling with questions or concerns. Signs of active labor include panting, digging and visible contractions in the back muscles. If these signs exist for more than three hours without a puppy being delivered a veterinarian should be contacted immediately. At this point, the bitch should be examined to determine if there is a need for an emergency c-section.
Finally, failure to deliver a placenta for each puppy should also trigger intervention by a veterinarian. If one or more of the placentas is not delivered it can result in a serious uterine infection. For this reason, veterinary assistance should be sought immediately so it can be removed before causing harm to the bitch.
