Post-Partum Problems in Canines

International Congress on “Modern Concepts in Canine Health and Diseases of Human Concern” and IX Annual Convention of Indian Society for Advancement of Canine Practice 9th-11th February 2012 Bikaner Rajasthan India Compendium page 139-144

Management of post partum genital complications in the bitch

G N Purohit1, DK Bihani2 and AA Gauri3
1Department of Veterinary Gynecology and Obstetrics
2 Department of Veterinary Medicine College of Veterinary and Animal science
Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Science
Bikaner Rajasthan 334001 email: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

The post-partum period in the bitch is different from other domestic animals and so are the post-partum genital complications. The incidence of post- partum complications in the bitch appear to be low and two complications appear to be most frequent; the sub-involution of placental sites and metritis. Eclampsia is a metabolic disorder of the post partum period commonly affecting poorly managed bitches and is common in the Pomeranian breed. Placental retention, uterine prolapse/rupture and vaginitis are infrequent in the bitch and their clinical diagnosis is often complicated. Bitch owners and clinicians often prefer ovariohysterectomy when complications do not respond to usual therapy. The incidence, diagnosis and therapeutic approaches for the common genital post-partum complications of the bitch are described.

Key Words: Bitch, eclampsia, metritis, SIPS, uterine prolapse.

Canine post-partum problems are different from other domestic animals. The parturition is prolonged in the bitch (second stage of labor sometimes requiring up to 24 hours) hence the first thing a clinician must look for is the presence of any fetus. A novice owner may think that the whelping is completed when the bitch is taking rest after delivery of a few fetuses and would be worried when the bitch is again straining to deliver the remaining pups. Alternatively, a bitch may deliver a part

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