Hi
My litter were born and I have 2 but sadly 3 were born dead. They didn't look like they had been dead for long and so I wonder if anyone could shed light so it help for another time.
I took my girl to vet on Monday as I was worried she had been restless and panting for over 24 hours and thinking if there was a problem it would be overnight so best to find out. They took her temperature and said it would be in next 24 hours and that was it. No other info.
Overnight as predicted she took between 2 and 3 hours and then first puppy came tail first but she really struggled and I had no choice than to help puppy out. We saved this puppy. I think it wore her out and then she didn't start up again. I got her to the vet who gave Oxytocin  to start her off again. She said if nothing within a 1.5 hours to bring her in for a Ceasarean. We took her home and she started pushing on way home but we got her back in to deliver the first puppy who had died. Two more dead puppies and then fortunately   a last minute live arrival who just seemed to slip out easily.
I have since read that once Oxytocin is giving the puppies are released and if not born quickly will suffocate and I am regretting not going for a Ceasarean straight away but would this have made a difference or am I kicking myself for no good reason. Anyone with any insight I'd be grateful for my own knowledge for the future at least.
Diane

My vets would normally try oxtocin twice before even considering a cesarian. Considering the amount of bitches that have been lost during the op I wouldnt be kicking myselft. Did you try to resusitate the puppies? If so for how long?. Oxtocin trigers the womb to contract it doesnt release all puppies so its unlikely that this caused the death of the, I would geuss that they sufficated because they were in the birth canal too long or had so kind of defect although im sure no one can say for sure what it was.

Im sure some one with more knowledge will be along soon to help you understand what happened.

My Vet would do a Caesar if a pup hasn't been born within an hour of Oxytocin and if The pups do not come quickly. (half hour at most after each other).

Interestingly my last two litters from half sisters they both showed obvious early labour 24 hours or so before their waters broke/pup arrived, and both had their second pup stillborn, folowed by live puppies,a dn neiter showed an obvious delay between first and second delivery.

It is almost impossible to know if a pup is taking too long (placenta has detached) or will arrive safely hours after other.  I have had a safely delivered surprise pup 8 hours after others,a and friend had a live pup delivered the day after a C section!!!

Some placenta's may detach prematurely even if labour appears short, other bitches have long gaps between each pup with no harm.

> They didn't look like they had been dead for long

How long did you work on them for?  I had a pup born totally lifeless, and spent 2 hours resucitating, and he is still perfectly fine years later.

>> They didn't look like they had been dead for long
> How long did you work on them for?  I had a pup born totally lifeless, and spent 2 hours resucitating, and he is still perfectly fine years later.

I did this on a pup in my last liter and wish I hadn't, as a week later I had to have her PTS.

Wow - well done jean - what do you do ? swing puppy and use dopram V ?

Thanks for the responses. We did try for quite a while but the tongues went white and it seemed a lost cause then.
One of the surviving 2 I thought we had lost, ( the first born ) but we revived.
We live and learn. Hayley is 6 now and this her 2nd litter but I will not breed from her again and she will be spayed.
Had to have antibiotics for slight mastitis, she is fine now and being a really good Mum to the 2 we have.
Diane

> swing puppy and use dopram V

Yes, but, as you know, you can't use the Dopram until you have a gasp - that had me sweating!  I never thought it was going to happen.  I even gave him heart massage!!  I had to hold the head and spine firm as I "flicked" very hard.  As I took a backward stroke, the cack just flew out of his lungs.

He is almost 5 years old now, and living in a Rectory!  All the congregation know him!

So,,, never say never!!  :-)  :-)  :-)