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Originally Posted by YorkieRose This is an interesting discussion...it is so hard to tell someone how to breed. When I had a new breeder I was mentoring, I insisted on being with them for as many whelpings as I could, until they felt comfortable to try it alone. It is very difficult to know when there is trouble and when there is plenty of time....I just get a gut feeling.
From the time of the start of labor to the first water sac appearance can vary so much depending on the intensity of the contractions. If the bitch is just starting, digging, walking around, lays down pushes a bit, then stops, digs, walks etc..I do not call this serious labor.
I used to tell friends not to call me until the "heavers" appear. Those are the strong contactions that should not go more then 30/60 mins..but here again it depends on many factors..dam size, number of pups, first litter or repeat..that has so much to do with it. Mild labor should produce a water bubble in 30 mins..no sac in an hour, then I want a check and a shot.
Two hours and no pup, I want a section. after giving a shot of Oxy and there is no pup in 30 mins, I will give another, then in 30 mins I want a section.
I give a bitch two chances...but the problem with sections is adhesions. They can cause so many problems in the future. RiniW and I know a friend who lost a girl last year due to adhesions that prevented a second whelping..no way of knowing before..the adhesions blocked the birth canal.
Free-whelping is when the breeder does nothing, but watch. When a bitch needs help, I call it assisted free-whelping.LOL
As to spaying after a section..I have always done it that way with no problems to the dam as to accept pups..BUT not everyone is so lucky. For one thing my virgin bitches spend lots of time with puppies..they see the other girls taking care of puppies and they want to mother them also...so I let them visit the whelping box when mom goes out to potty for a few minutes. Most have to be dragged out...they lay down and play mom...so I never have to encourage anyoen to be a mother.
I have pulled pups out, broken their necks and legs doing so...I had no option. ..That is one reason I stopped breeding the winter..a couple snow storms prevented me from getting to the vet, once all teh electric went out everywhere for 8 hrs...plus, the vet was unable to get out also..he told me to do whatever I had to do to get it out, so I did. My bitches are treasures to me, they never made a sound, they knew I was doing all I could and they trust me.
A breeder must establish a strong "leader of the Pack" imagine..dogs relax when the leader is there, taking charge with no panic. |