Whelping / Dystocia
1. Is it beneficial to the bitch to allow her to eat the placentas during or after whelping? Why or why not?
2. What is primary uterine inertia? What is secondary uterine inertia? List two causes of each.
3. Dystocia is likely to be present if:
- the bitch has been in Stage I labor for more than ________ hrs.
- the bitch has been in Stage II labor, with frequent, strong contractions, for more than __________ minutes.
- the bitch has been in Stage II labor, with infrequent contractions, for more than ________hrs.
- the bitch has not had a pup in _________ hrs.
- the bitch is passing _________-colored vulvar discharge before having passed any pups.
4. Describe benefits of radiography and ultrasonography when assessing a bitch for possible dystocia.
5. Describe procedures to be completed when you are handed a pup within its amniotic sac at the time of Cesarean section.
Case Study: Your Border Collie had a rectal temperature of less than 96 degrees F about 36 hours ago, has been restless and completely inappetant for over 12 hours, and passed a small volume of clear fluid from the vulva about two hours ago. You saw what may have been weak contractions for about 15 minutes one hour ago. Is this a dystocia? Why or why not?