Opinions on Oxytocin
 

What's your personal opinion on the oxytocin shot? I've been reading several articles lately that seem to point out the negatives. For me, I think it's comforting to "clean" her out when she's finished. However, I have such mixed feelings about it currently after this reading...

What do you think?

I have never used it during whelping.
All has went well there.
And only one time did I feel one of my gals needed it after whelping
I worried about a retained pup.My vet felt all was well.
But I felt better if she had it. There was no puppy.
I dont like all the cons I read about it either

I'm curious to what you feel the pros and cons are of giving the shot

I personally do not like using it.
If you are watching and counting placentas and have no retained placentas and if in doubt let the vet check to see if there is another pup if you cannot tell for sure.
I have heard of people killing their dog accidentally with it. It just scares me to death.
I like calsorb to give a boost in contractions.

Deana
Prestigeous

Oh lord...where do I start? There are probably more cons than pros...that's why I'm leaning towards NOT giving it UNLESS I feel it's absolutely imperitive. It seems that anything that stimulates contractions that heavily could have negative effects...

Probably googling it would give you the best detailed answers?

And I also use calsorb...and these last two girls have been xrayed...so I had an idea of how many they were having...of course that's not a definite answer. I'm thinking that the best way to go would be exactly as you said, just watch closely, which I do anyways. I'm not sure who said it, but it was on another thread...someone mentioned that although it's important to always WATCH closely, there is still a certain element of letting nature take its course and not pumping the bitch full of things that may not be needed.

Thats my view.
Theres wayyyyyyyy more cons then pros
I cant remember them all offhand. I have a tired brain right now
YES , I do have a brain ....sometimes..lol:p
There is just NO way I would give it during whelping.
If I felt there were a problem I'd take her to the vet
I do know that it causes more problems whelping then after whelping.
But why give you dog a shot she dont need?
And ask for problems.
My vet did not want to even give the one I took in.
I insisted , even tho all placentas were counted for.
I worried about a retained pup but the vet was the one who was right.

Some keep the oxytocin on hand and will use it without the vet.
When I first started the breeder got me some and I used it but the more I talked with my vet I realized this was really not a smart thing for me to do and I should not have even been able to get it without getting it thru a vet.
I will not use that unless a vet gives it.
To me that is just too risky for me to make that decision for my girl.
I want a vet to make that decision, they are trained for that decision and I totally trust my vet.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Maybe its my age...lol
I come from the 70's
Where all my kids were born natural.
No drugs what so ever...
(How I wish there were epidurals then):p :p
Glad my daughters had them.
But I agree.....why use something if its not needed?!?!?!?!?!?

Yes, my vet just gives it to my mentor and I...:p

I have never given oxytocin during whelping but I would give it after whelping as a clean out shot. I had a bitch have a severe reaction to it one time so I have not used it since.

There's the thread I was talking about!!! It just popped up! It's the "How much calsorb?" one...:p

I let my vet decide when to use it...
 

I may be a nervous type but twice recently I felt labor was taking too long with insufficient contractions and headed to the vet for x-rays followed by oxytocin. There is a nice emergency hospital where they let fearful breeders occupy an exam room for whelping...Nice because one can always grab a passing dr. if something doesn't seem right. If ever in doubt, or when whelping comes on a weekday when my regular vet is available I routinely take Mom in for a checkup and vet usually chooses to administer oxtocin then. Not being medically trained I wouldn't want to make the call on when to use a potentially dangerous drug...

I have used it but it depends on the circumstances,I always speak with my vet first and then we go from there.
Last whelping we had contractions were not effective at all had a pup in the canal way to long and could not get him out,I ended up calling a wonderful lady who has been breeding for 30+ years (I could not get my vet) she advised me to give a shot I did and out he poped but he did not make it,I was worried she was going to be so swelled after me trying to get him out etc that the next pup would have problems she adivsed to give another shot after 1 hour if no progress,well no progress and another shot and out popped the last pup.
Her and I have spoke after and she did not think the calsorb would of worked in this situation? I spoke with my vet also and he thought the same thing.
My vet is ALWAYS around but had a family emergency that night.
I did call another vet and he said she would be fine sometimes they can be in the canal a hour:eek: And told me to wait 24hrs for the next pup:eek: SO I more less just hung up.
My vet also said sometimes both would be needed depending on symptoms. CAlsorb and oxy
I have alitter due here this month and told him no family emergencies :) He laughed and said I will try Tammy

I have only had one litter and the next litter is due in a few weeks, but I have decided not to use it unless absolutely necessary. My mentor who has been breeding for over ten years and works for a vet told me to be very leery of it. There are alot of side effects and it can really stress the mama out. Why make her have contractions when she is done giving birth if you are sure all placentas and babies are out? We humans wouldn't want to do that to our bodies after having a baby! Contractions are bad enough without bringing on more. I say let nature take its place and know your dog's body signals. I think we as breeders can usually sense when there is a problem. When in doubt consult your vet for the best advice.

We never use it as a "clean out shot" beause as long as you have nursing babies, their nursing will stimulate her body to produce her own oxytocin to help her uterus clean out and shrink down. We do however make sure we get all placentas out and accounted for during labor. This is believed to be better for their bodies and the process than one large injection of the hormone by several theriogenologists.

During the whelping process it is administed by our vet only after an x-ray has been taken to ensure they are not mal-presented, a digital exam is done and her calcium level is checked and normal.

no....since you are new at breeding, you should not attempt it. my breeder (26 yrs exp) has made her mistakes and lost two of her girls due to "blowing out the uterus" i think that is the proper term.
calsorb, with most cases, will make the bitch vomit during delivery. believe me, no fun when you are trying to clean up the whelping bed, help deliver, and clean off a puppy at the same time.
just let nature take its course and if you are having problems, call the vet. you are too new to be able to tell what type of distress/problem you are having. you may cause more harm than good.

------------------------------------------------

We get so busy sometimes that we lose track of placentas. We also have had a couple of reluctant mothers that became more motherly acting after getting their oxytocin. HOWEVER, we always rely on the advice of an experienced veterinarian in these matters.

I wasn't actually asking for me...just curious about opinions on it. I've assisted and birthed about 20 or so litters now...and oxytocin was administered during every one except Brooke's. For hers I used Calsorb and was pleased with the results. That's what I'm sticking with. I do have oxytocin on hand if I ever think I may need it, but I've decided it will only be on an "as needed" basis.

I've also dealt with several different types of distress and problems during those whelpings, also having done extensive research over the last year. Don't worry, I went into this with a wealth of knowledge on the subject, I'm not one to jump into something I'm not prepared to do. I am aware of the symptoms and signs of 99% of the issues I may face during whelping.

I mainly asked this as a general question to satisfy my curiosity. Thank you for your concern though. :)

Nicki - love your avatar pic!!!! Too cute. Who is that? :)

No, I refuse to admin oxytocin myself. I am not an educated vet with years of training. I was a vet tech for 5 years: in which I gave shots, counted wht. blood cells, checked, fecals, developed x-rays, and assisted in surgery to name just a few of my duties. Even with my knowledge, I would not risk it - giving it myself. I prefer to have my vet give it - and only if necessary. I have heard of some real scary stories where breeders gave it themself and the bitches reutured their uteris. So no - I too believe in letting the pups help by nursing. I also count plancetas. I use a chalkboard near by and all you do is make a tally mark for each placenta as you see it. It takes only 3 seconds to write down. No matter how busy you are - one can make this simple and easy tally mark.
T.

Tina I agree, it is just simply not worth the risk for our girls is the way I see it. I would forever hate myself if something happened to one of ours and we administered that drug instead of letting the vet make that decision.
This is just one I won't touch.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Dallas...;) :D