I am sitting here on the pc at this time of night as have just finished whelping my bitch, naturally and successfully I might add, even though the vet on call did his best to obstruct this.

She had been in labour since about 11 this morning but very slow to get on with things, she shown her waterbag at 7.15pm and had done very little pushing by 9ish. She was absolutely full of pups so was getting a little worried that uterus was stretched too far to allow forceful contractions, so decided an oxytocin jab would be the answer. Rang the my Vet who wasn't on call, even though they hadn't been on call all weekend!!!! Got the on call Vet who proceeded by telephone to question me from the start of labour etc. etc. on giving him some very in depth answers he finally asked if I was a Breeder, and was told I was, thought that it was almost certain a Caesar would be needed, told him not if we can avoid it and oxytocin would do nicely for a start.

Arrive at the vets to find a young man, very pleasant and a vet nurse, both still wet behind the ears!!! to be told I couldn't go in with my bitch for him to examine her (you can imagine my reply to this, told him that where she goes I go and was finally allowed to take her in to be
examined.

He examined her and said cervix wasn't hardly dilated (very strange as she had produced water bag over 2.1/2 hours ago) and he wasn't prepared to give her oxytocin injection, but would put her on drip of glucose and saline for an hour and then caesar if necessary, or he would caesar immediately.

I said no would rather take her home and see what nature did for that hour and if I then thought caesar would ring him. He had by the way already prepared caesar equipment before I got there having no idea of how the bitch was.

Got in the car, hubby driving, 15 mins down the road, guess what one puppy arrived!!!!!!!!

She ended up having 7 pups all fine, 4 boys 3 girls. without any intervention at all. Mind it did cost me £70 quid for the privelege of finding out that I know best. :-D

Thank god I am brave enough to stand up for myself, anyone else's poor little bitch would have been cut open by the time my first pup arrived!!!!!

Maybe it would be a good idea if trainee vets spent time at breeding kennels to learn about normal whelpings, instead of wanting to go straight in with the Bl***y knife!!!!!

One exhausted lady, so please excuse the rant.

Well done Lady Dazzle!! As as ex Veterinary Nurse, I have always said that Vets are taught very little about mating and whelping bitches. Glad you've had a good and happy result.

So pleased to hear that everything turned out well! Hope you will be able to snatach a couple of hours sleep sometime today.

.....And what would have happened if you hadn't stuck to your guns???

Margot

Thank goodness you knew to stick to your guns. I agree they should spend time at an experienced breeders kennels. I once took a bitch in for oxytocin and while we were waiting for it to work the very experienced vet I was with asked if I would stay for the whole whelping - rather than rush home after the (if it did) first puppy had arrived ok. I was happy to as I was on my own , it was the middle of the night and didn't want to keep stopping in laybyes to deliver the pups! She wanted me to stay as she had NEVER seen a natural birth with no complications. She is a fab surgeon and a very good vet of probably about 15 yrs in practice. As it turned out, all went well and we had 3 healthy pups after just the one jab. She was amazed that all I did was pop a vet bed under the bitch as she delivered, (she was wandering around) The vet wanted to jump in and deal with cords etc - and I had to almost hold her back!! The bitch did everything unaided and all we did was give each a dry off and inspect for clefts etc once they were all delivered safely.

So glad all went well LD, you will have to call the one/s born in transit something special like Travelling Man or Laybye Lil!!! I bet you will have great pleasure in informing him of your happy event today.

Perhaps vets these days - like doctors rush for the knife during labour to prevent law suits/come backs as if they do delay and the birth/s are not live that they will get into trouble for not sectioning.

Well done and hope you have had some sleep. Looks like you paid for a Vet and a Nurse and the theatre to be prepared when all you needed was a oxy jab. May be another time the senior vet will let you have some to use at home if you kick up enough fuss. Mind you a car jouney seems to work almost as well.

I had a similar experience with my bitch a while ago. She was a first timer and I had not had a litter for 7 years. After two pups and several hours wait I decided she needed a jab. So off to the vets at 4.30 in the morning, and all the vet wanted to do was open her up. Finally my bitch was given her jab and about 5 minutes later I could see she had started again. We were told to rush her home, Just got her into the car and one arrived and another was born on the drive home and she had one more in her box. Then we waited another couple of hours and back to the vets who again wanted to open her up after arguing they scanned and gave her another jab and off home we went. 3 more were born in her box. But the best bit is they have never billed me and this was over 10 weeks ago, suppose I will get the bill now. I have since changed vets and am very happy with my new vets.

Congratulations Jayne, hope all goes well.
Dawn.

p.s "Connor" (Tom's son) has just had his 10th birthday, with lots of goodies!

Happy Belated Birthday Connor :-D

Jayne and all your cousins
xxx

Perhaps the internal was what she needed to get her going - I know some women in labour often speed up after what's called a 'cervical sweep'........ Glad everything turned out OK - what would have happened if you'd been a novice breeder or hadn't stuck to your guns doesn't bear thinking about :(

Im glad the outcome was good it just shows we know our dogs .I was gutted last year when my Vet retired he was so good I would go in and say I think she has such and such and he would say well lets see shall we,but now they look at you as if well what do you know ? anyway now have found really nice Vets so more than pleased.
Dont forget send pics of the babies asap ;)

Glad to hear all went well. Have you been able to get some sleep yet?:D

Thanks everyone

Mum and babies doing very well and I have managed a few hours sleep today so not nearly so exhausted as I was early hours of this morning.

Still angry with the vet though, just wait till I see my own vet tommorrow he will be told what I think of the practice who take his calls when he isn't on duty.

Jayne
xxx

hello :D and well done you, --hows the little man from the older bunch coming along, ???? and have you got bitches in this litter???
you'll not be at darlington then,

Hiya

Yes thank god, got 3 bitches in this litter.:-)

Alfie is doing well thanks have sent you a recent pic of him.

Jayne
xx

ME TOO! a pic I mean.
Dawn.