I was reading the answers to another question on here about what could happen during delivery if a dog was too young to be bred in the first place, and one of them involved the uterus bursting and the female dying.
Here's the question: What would be the right thing to do if your dog goes into labor, her uterus breaks, you know that she's dying, but none of the puppies have been born. Let's say that you don't have any access to a nearby vet because it's a weekend and it's closed. You do, however, have the phone number of the emergency vet next to you just in case there were complications, but it's at least an hour away from you, and you know that by the time you get there, your dog will probably be dead, along with the majority of the pups...what would you do? Is it ethical to try to save the pups? I mean, the only way to save them, I'm strictly guessing, would be to open the mother and take them out one by one...but would you be able to do it if it happened?
2007-07-27 15:01:56 · 9 answers · asked by Pink_lemur 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I PROMISE that I'm not trying to be horrible. I just know that this could happen, and if it does, what should you and what would you do? I mean think about it, sometimes this is what comes of breeding...so what's the right thing to do?
Jennifer T., if you're reading this, I got this question from one of your answers, and I really want to know if this has happened to you before and, you having experience in breeding, if you were in this situation, how would you save the pups, if you could, and you knew that the mother was completely regretfully injured beyond repair? Goldengal, you too. I really look up to y'all. And I want to know what you would do.
2007-07-27 15:06:16 · update #1
No, I mean if the mother is really close to death, and she does die, then would you be opposed to removeing the pups before they die too? I didn't mean to opperate on her if she were still alive.
2007-07-27 16:03:24 · update #2
Thanks sweet pea! &10ve I think you pretty special too!
Well in the first place this would be an extraordinary circumstance if this were to ever happen. In my long years of breeding Golden's I can say I've never had this kind of experience nor do I know of anyone who has.
I honestly can say to you this kind of a situation might happen to the inexperienced person but to a person who has studied their breed and knows what to expect and what the danger signs are, than this type of problem would be headed off long before the uterus even comes close to rupturing.
What your asking is a very difficult thing to reason. First if this ever happened to me I would probably panic for a minute then try to compose my self long enough to decided what to do. I don't think I'd have a good choice if the mom died and if there was even a chance to save the pups or even a few by going in after them, I'd probably try. I was never one to just throw in the towel when it came to the pups so I can't see myself throwing it in if I was ever faced with this type of situation. I'd probably throw up a few times and be crying through the whole thing but I'd try all the same. The window to save the pups is like minutes after the mom dies, so if I was able to save a pup or 2 than yes I'd try to save as many as possible.
I could only do this if the mom was already gone and no hope of getting her to a qualified vet in time. I agree with Jennifer there would be no reason to sterlize anything. The main objective would be to get the pups out and get them breathing . Pups are pretty amazing little creatures they can surpise just about anyone with how they can survive if given a chance.
2007-07-28 12:25:16 · answer #1 · answered by ♥Golden gal♥ 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If I'm reading your question correctly, you are asking if I could cut the mother dog open if she were dying, but not dead yet?? If that is the question, then no, I could not. If she is still alive, that would be like performing surgery on an animal without anesthesia, and nothing is worth doing that. She would feel the pain if she were alive, even if she was very sick. If the uterus ruptured, there is still a chance to save her and the pups, even if it took you an hour to get to the emergency vets. I've seen dogs come in in horrible condition, days in labor, holes in uterus, and they survived (sometimes the pups didn't). So, it's always worth a trip to the vet...just be prepared for anything!
2007-07-27 15:42:57 · answer #2 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The mother would bleed out in less than four minutes. I, having had vet experience, would most likely do a c-section as soon as she was gone, and save who I could. There would be a compomised survival rate, but I'd try. I would have no way to save the b itch, no matter what, if she had ruptured her uterus, but then, I'd most likely know she was in trouble long before it got that desperate.
To &l0ve: Thank you! I appreciate the kind thought. :-)
To Nedra, If the poor mother was gone, you wouldn't have to sterilize, as she wouldn't have to worry aobut infection. The pups wouldn't be cut if you did an incision in the linea alba, (The line that runs down the center of the abdomen) since the pups are contained in the horns of the uterus. The uterus is a "Y" shaped organ, with the two upward arms of the "Y" being rather longer than the trunk. The pups are pretty evenly distributed in those arms. Each arm is lateral to the linea alba. :o)
2007-07-28 11:37:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Okay, when I was breeding, I had a vet who was on call and close by. The vet knew when we were to deliver, I knew ahead of time when the event would take place by certain methods we use for this purpose. So the vet is waiting for a call if there's trouble. The LEAST hint I have a problem, the vet is called and I am on my way to the office. There is no way I could do an emergency surgery myself, but I can and have unstuck breech births, thawed cold pups and done cpr. It's the same with the horses. I have a vet who's willing to drop everything and get here asap. We have worked this relationship out in advance. I wouldn't breed witthout this backup from a vet, I feel it is too important to the process.
2007-07-27 15:34:05 · answer #4 · answered by ibbibud 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It crosses my mind anytime I whelp a litter!
It happened to a friend of mine in 2004. The dam became very listless after whelping, he rushed her to the vet and there wasn't anything obvious. He took her home and she died. This was her first litter, but the breeder was experienced and this has never happened in this line before that anyone knows of... a freak accident. (And no oxytocin was injected!) A terrible loss to our breed community. She was a lovely, sound dog with tons of potential. She has a son from that litter that is ranked top 25 this year.
2007-07-27 15:17:13 · answer #5 · answered by Wyandotte Hen 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there's any reason to NOT try to save the pups, but it takes guts (chutzpa) and a strong stomach. You'd also have to sterilize the right equipment to do it and most people are not well equipped for that emergency surgery.
Personally... no, I wouldn't be up to it.
2007-07-27 15:06:10 · answer #6 · answered by Nedra E 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
That is why I could never breed dogs. I couldn't bear if something happend. If I had to say I would try to save any of the puppies if it was not to late.
2007-07-27 15:28:04 · answer #7 · answered by Weimaraner Luver~ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'll star this question so Goldengal will see this since shes on my Contacts. I really look up to her, DP, Jennifer and Bassetnut. They're my Y!A idols :]
Hopefully some of them will answer!
2007-07-27 15:32:32 · answer #8 · answered by &l0ve; 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would save the puppies but then sew it back up and give it a proper burial. It would be the right thing to do.
2007-07-27 15:07:25 · answer #9 · answered by Just Me Being Me 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋