Has anyone encountered uterine torsion during a delivery? This is a new one on me and seems pretty rare. Was wondering what the outcome was for bitches short term. And also long term for future breeding plans and the wisdom of having a subsequent litter from that bitch.

All the articles I could find on Google seemed to say that the dog had a full spay and that other complications were common depending in how fast the problem was found and treated

Woah!  New one on me too but quite honestly, if something like that happened, I don't think I'd risk taking another litter.

That had me reaching for more info. via Google.   Perhaps a spay was needed at the time, to save her life, if not those of any unborn puppies?

https://www.ijset.net/journal/2183.pdf

That was my feeling too Mamabas. It’s another example of why rookies shouldn’t go galloping into breeding without thinking it through. The bitch had seven puppies, four didn’t make it, but thankfully the bitch did, (with uterus) and is being a superb mum to the remaining three.

Gary England's (UK repro vet) book says:

"The published literature shows more bitches with uterine torsion were not pregnant rather than pregnant. In pregnant bitches the condition usually occurs in late pregnancy and most commonly affects one horn. If there is vascular compromise the condition causes severe abdominal pain and reluctance to move. Can only be diagnosed at laparotomy. Hysterectomy or hysterotomy may be performed depending upon the viability of the uterus."

Sounds to me like it might have happened late in pregnancy and perhaps those pups in that horn were not viable anyway. Personally, I wouldn't risk breeding from her again. If you do, I'd do regular ultrasounds to be sure all is ok in there and maybe a c-section at the end. Discuss with a repro vet!

Thank you, I don’t think she’ll have another litter, but I can have the conversation. We got three living pups, two whoppers breech, stillborn. And the torsion happened after the second breech. The two still inside didn’t make it.

Just to add that when one of mine had a delayed C.Section (vet incompetence - she was there buy he thought he new best - to this day I have huge guilt that I left her with him), we decided not to even try putting her in whelp again (there should have been 9 puppies but 4 were doa and we lost the 5th after they tried bottling the remaining puppies which WASN'T NECESSARY!).   We gave her time to raise the remaining 4 and then after much thought because she was my Canadian-bred UK Champion, went for a spay.   As it turned out one horn of her uterus was paper thin and the new vet (no way was I going back to the original one - we sued) said she'd never had carried another litter to term.

Glad for you that mum was saved and is now being a great mum.   Life can be such a b*tch!!

Thank you Mamabas, I thought I’d done everything right. She’s been shown and done quite well, we’ve had full health testing done with excellent results. She’s had regular check ups and I’ve kept her fit. It just goes to show that even then something can bite you on the bum. Just so relieved she’s ok and has three to look after.

CORRECTION!!   " she was there buy he thought he new best... "   she was there (for a 'Section I knew she needed) buT he thought he Knew best + and he left her to struggle on without doing the C.Section I'd taken her in for.

Sorry!!  Sometimes my brain doesn't engage with fingers.