How COMMON is it really?

Question

Ok first of all I am not a breeder, I don't have dogs and I do NOT plan on breeding dogs at any time in my life.

Second of all I am not asking what the risks are. Third of all HOW COMMON is it for a dog to die during birth(the female giving birth) and HOW COMMON is it for a dog to have complications during birth.

I want to know HOW COMMON it is not the risks of giving birth.

Answer 1

Large dogs rarely ever have complications. It is extremely rare. In small flat-faced dogs like pugs, pekes, bulldogs, etc it is about one in eight to ten births that have a problem.
Most of the problems that occur in whelping are due to anxious owners who want to "hurry up" the process and just get too nervous and bring the dog in. The real problems in breeds are due to size issues (such as flat faced dogs) or infections.

I know neuternuts on here try to make the issue more serious than it is. But honestly, I see very few sections done at the clinic at all. And almost all of the truly necessary ones are on small "dwarf" type dogs such as pekes, bulldogs, pugs, etc. It is not a common problem unless a vet does one to speed up a birth for an over-anxious owner.

I wanted to add to what Goldengal said.... Lack of medical care does become a problem if people don't see a vet after birth to make sure everything passed. Sepsis will kill mom and litter if there is retained placental tissues. Hookworms can kill litters. Other diseases can kill litters. But I still don't see a lot of whelping issues like people try to describe on here. True problems in whelping are less common than people think. Infection can be a problem after birth.

Answer 2

It depends on a lot of factors. Some breeds, by body design, and more porne to whelping problems. The Bulldog, for instance rewuires help with the actual breeding and usually requires a c-section. Anytime a dog requires a c-section, there is the anesthetic risk. Also the infection risk.
In a standard whelping, it is quite common for a bit ch to have "simple" problems...like a stuck pup, needing an oxytocin injection to help stalled labor. After the whelping, there is a resonable chance that the bit ch may run a fever, either due to a non-specific infection, or retained tissue (placents). They usually need to be seen and get antibiotics.
Of all the whelpings I have been involved in, only one bit ch dies during the birth, but in about 50% of the rest, there was some minor complication during or after, and in about 10% there was something major, but the bit ch did not die.
The bottom line is, if you breed you need to be prepared for EXPENSES!!!! If you plan for a c-section, and some after bith antibiotics....you will be prepared. If you breed having no money thinking that nature will take it course and you will have a healthy litter to sell.....something will go wrong and then people get on here wondering what to do.
There are also a lot of things that can and do go wrong with puppies when they are born. They can be born dead, or they can be born with severe defects and need to be euthanized ASAP. I have seen more than one bit ch lose an entire litter to a virus. I have seen entire litters that had heart defects and had to be euthanized. Big expenses can come ther also.
Breeding should only be done by people who know what they are doing and what to expect and also know how to handle the problems that arise!!!!

Answer 3

You would need to study the statistics, the average person cannot answer that... I have heard one too many stories anout dogs dying after giving birth...whether it was complications during labor and the breeder wasn't experienced enough to see the signs in time or after where the c-section stiches open or they get eclampsia due to lack of calcium and nursin lots of pups....lots of things can go wrong, thats why you should be expereinced....the more inexperienced the breeders out there are, the more deaths occur...also depends on the breed.....that should answer the question....for now....dogs die during birth just like humans....read the article on the news today about the rise in human deaths during childbirth....it happens a lot

Answer 4

Generally dogs are ok UNLESS humans intervene and breed incorrectly. For example, if a larger breed is bred to a smaller female. Pups that are too big have a greater chance of getting stuck in the birth canal (called dystocia) and complicate the birth. Really, the risk of that is greater for the pups than for the mom. Getting one stuck means the rest could die waiting to be born, and the mom needs emergency surgery.
The other thing is the breed category called brachycephalics (i.e. the "smooshy-faced dogs"), which include bulldogs, pugs, and dogs like that. These dogs have larger heads and no sharp nose to push their way out of the birth canal. If breeders are smart, they plan c-sections for these dogs to minimize the pups getting stuck on the way out. Same problem- blocked passage, pup gets stuck, the ones behind him die unless they have surgery or medical intervention to get them out.
The best rule if the dog is a healthy, non high-risk breed is to let the mom give birth and leave them the helll alone. People seem to think they need to help out the dog when that is what tends to cause issues. Dogs that are small breeds, older animals, sick animals, etc will have a harder time while a larger, young, non high-risk breed will have an easier time giving birth.
Giving a number to how often these things happen isn't really possible. Just realize that some dogs have a higher risk for these things, and you need to plan for those complications.

Answer 5

It really depends on a lot on the breed of the dog.
Some breeds (I can't remember which) virtually can't give birth without a c-section.
It also depends on how responsible the breeder is. A responsible breeder has a much lower risk because all their dogs have been pre-screened for health (in addition with as births as they've seen they know much more about how to help mom along). Suzy Stray who has not had the same screening is in much more danger.

Answer 6

It is more common that people think it is. I have know breeders who have lost not only mom but pups during labor. No warning just happened. I have also know people who have not proper vet care during pregnancy and their pups die right after birth.

There are many thing that can cause the death of mom and pups. A good breeder does everything possible to avoid these horrible things happening but there are times when even if you do all the right things something goes very, very wrong.

Breding is a very tricky thing and should only be done if you know what to look for and when to rush your dam to the vets. There is no wait and see.

Answer 7

It depends on the breed. Bully breeds (like boxers, bostons, bull dogs ect) have a hdrder time giving birth which can result in either dead mama, or puppies or both. How common is it? I dont think there is any actual statistics on it.But in bulls dogs, bostons ect it is very common for them to have c-sections.

Answer 8

I have known many many female dogs WHO have died during whelping and after whelping , The dangers in mastiffs is high 70 percent require c-sections bull dogs 100% c-section . It depends on the age of the dog to young and to old can be a problem It depends on the breed , it depends on genetics and health of the dog . Here are just a few that can cause death in a female . People who do not know what they are doing and do not know what to look out for and can loose their dog .

Can cause death

hemorrhage
uterus rupture
retained puppy or placenta
mastitis {infection in breasts }
Uterine infection .
milk fever .
shock
death from reaction to sedative during c- section

Answer 9

From what I have heard and know. Not very often But I could be wrong. Stop in at a local vets office and ask them they would be the best way to find out or give you some ideas on how to find out...