Totally unsure what to do now!
When our bitch was mated the very experienced lady helping with the stud wok said our bitch had a stricture but we got three matings over a period of a week.  She was scanned in whelp and if we go 63 days from ovulation - as oppose to matings - she is due this Friday/Saturday.  Today she went to the vets for a check up as I wanted to check that the stricture would not cause problems, previously been told by a couple of people that they tend to possibly cause a longer time for the first puppy to be born but usually ' stretch' enough.  Today the vet manually examined her and said she could not get her finger past the stricture so unlikely she can give birth normally and will require a c section.  The experienced stud handler has just said that she would expect the stricture to be 'tight' now as she has not yet started the first stage of labour and therefore the stricture will be tight as dilation has not begun.  So help please - would the stricture dilate as she goes into first stage, would you give the bitch an opportunity to give birth naturally and if so how long would you allow her to try to give birth naturally?  My mind was made up this morning on leaving the vets that we had no choice but to have the c section but now totally confused with other advice.  None of my girls have ever had a section in over 25 years of breeding so this is unchartered territory for me - only had 5 litters in that time too.  You hear such horror stories about bitches not bonding with c section puppies.  HELP!!!

No experience of this however with the vet advice you have been given I think I would opt for an elective section. I would start thinking about progesterone testing and once levels drop below 2ng  schedule the section as at this point she should start progressing towards stage one labour with in approx 24 hrs -36 hrs. This will ensure you do not section too soon.

Unfortunately as many of my girls went into secondary inertia, we've probably had more C.Sections than natural births, in fact we have!!   In every case I live in hope, but in most cases the moment they felt pain, it was ouch mum, give up.   That's bassets for you.   But even knowing this might happen, I always gave them the benefit of the doubt and let them start the process, even if after a little while, we ended up with the vet for a Section rather than leave them to just sit there.    I've never had a problem with bonding.  In fact the 'joy' of a C.Section is the bitch is usually still pretty zonked out when they first come home so you can get the puppies latched on and nursing, getting the first milk, before mum is really aware.   If there's any resistence, then you just lay them down, and latch a couple of puppies on, reassuring them that it's fine.   Nature usually kicks in and off you go.

In your case, and I'm more inclined to think things will be much different once dilation starts, and she's bound to be 'tight' when examined internally by a vet??, I'd let her start and if you don't see her progressing, get her in for surgery.  If she had 3 matings, that would surely have opened her up some?   I'd call the vets ahead to warn them she's started, so they can organise their schedule to include your possibly need for a C Section.  Trouble is Sods Law this will all kick off during the small hours, so make sure you have a contact number to hand, just in case.    Whatever you do, do not let her go on struggling, having strong contractions for much over 1 hour, each delivery, without seeing a puppy born.  There's no point letting her become exhausted, risking her life and those of any unborn puppies when realistically these days, a C.Section is quick - she will have extra recovery to get through of course, so if she can deliver these naturally, so much the better.

I'd not let her go over by more than 2 days from the first mating, even if conception didn't take place right then.

Good luck - and I'm sorry for your confusion...... I'd tend to listen to experienced breeders to be honest.   Vets know the theory, or should, but not always the practise!!!

This would be my advice too, Mamabas. We've had a couple of c.sections over the years -secondary inertia and malpresentation. We've never experienced rejection by the mum. As you say, while mum is still 'zonked' you have the chance to get the pups attached and feeding and mum has just taken over the cleaning up once she was fully awake. Also agree re stricture. She'll have opened up quite a bit for mating. Hopefully she'll go into labour normally and as long as you are alert to any possible problems -green discharge/no pups after protracted second stage things should be fine. But of course, alert your vet in advance.

All the best !

Thank you for your advice.  Will keep you updated

>When our bitch was mated the very experienced lady helping with the stud wok said our bitch had a stricture but we got three matings over a period of a week.

I am also experienced.  Both in whelping bitches, and handling males at stud.

I have had a visiting bitch with a stricture, and refused to try and mate her.  Why would I purposely want to breed a bitch that would produce bitches with the same medical problem.  I have, for many years, been concentrating on self whelping bitches.  Not an easy task with a breed known for whelping problems.

It's too late, and the deed is done, so don't allow her to go over, book her section now.  Over many years, while trying to reach my goal, I have had a lot of sections, more than natural births.  It is just as others say.  You latch your pups on while mum is still dopey.  Your pups will be fine.  Please spay your bitch afterwards.

The stricture did not cause a problem for mating which is why I Did not expect a Problem with Whelping! Is there evidence to prove that a stricture is an inherited problem as the bitches mother is a self whelper?

I would certainly give her a chance to whelp naturally, the stricture may well soften once labour starts. Alert the vet when she starts and then everyone can be prepared if she strains for any length of time and you think there may be a problem.
I don't think it's an inherited condition, more like "one of those things" we have had a couple of bitches with them (in 30 years) although both have broken during mating. Depends exactly where they are and what type they are as to what sort of problems they cause.

just to update everyone - we have five puppies!

Well done, did she whelp naturally, or did it end in a section?

no it was a section.  Good job we knew it would probably be one as when she was opened up it turned out she had uterine torsion as well so would never have whelped the litter naturally.  Also due to high volume of bleeding we decided to have her spayed at the same time so this is a very precious litter for us.  Just so grateful to have our girl in one piece and on the mend.  She is being a fabulous mum to the puppies though reluctant to eat at the moment  -

That is a relief, and wish you joy of the pups, and that you get what you hoped for in the litter for yourself.

So pleased that mum and pups are doing well. A breeder I know had several unsuccessful matings of her girl . The boys she used were proven studs. Eventually the lady decided enough was enough and decided to have her  girl spayed. It was discovered that she had such severe uterine torsion that viable pregnancy would be impossible.