"The Schnauzer bitch is obese and pregnant at the 61st day after the first breeding," Ms Cheng asked. "Can she have a vaginal birth and deliver healthy puppies naturally?

It was a very difficult question to answer. If the bitch has a prolonged labour, the puppies will  be in great respiratory distress, refuse to suckle milk and die within 2 days. 

If I recommend Caesarian section, the breeder will need to spend money. There are risks of infection, death of puppies and mother and other complications in Caesarian sections. These are not common in planned Caesarian sections, but they do occur.

This Schnauzer had a previous Caesarian. She could give birth naturally. She was obese and that was a risk that her heart might not be able to cope with prolonged contractions in natural delivery.  There needed to be staff to monitor her for the next 48 hours or more and to get her to an emergency Caesarian section past midnight and the veterinary costs doubled after midnight.

Professional breeders need vigorous puppies to select for excellent lines to improve the quality of their stock. More puppies permit them to select one top quality out of a hundred and this may take several years of breeding. Yet, they had to contain costs. Canine breeding must be a viable business as tThere are so many overheads including high rentals and remuneration.

The breeder decided a planned Caesarian section. The puppies were large, bigger than the palm of a woman.  The first puppy was in breech and the other was in cephalic presentation, meaning that, respectively, they would be born with the backside and head coming out first. Large-sized puppies usually cannot be delivered naturally and the elective Caesarian section was obligatory.

As the membranes over their head were ruptured and the clear fluid flowed out from the amniotic sac, they cried immediately. I cleared the mucus from their nostrils. No need to rub its neck. It was a joy to see vigorous puppies cry immediately as they leave their protective amniotic sac as I usually see distressed weak puppies delivered by emergency Caesarian sections from breeders.

The main complaint of Singapore breeders is that puppies delivered by Caesarian section take a long time to suckle milk.  Yet, they may contribute to this problem by delaying the decision to perform Caesarian section for over five hours after labour contractions had begun.

Ms Cheng swung the first puppy with its head downwards to remove fluid from the lungs.

"It is not necessary to do that," I said. "The puppy is breathing and the lungs are inflated."

The breeder disagreed: "There will be mucus inside its nose." The puppies were groping the mother for milk and suckled vigorously.  This was one case when a planned Caesarian section resulted in healthy puppies and mother.  The mother refused to care for the puppies though. They were fostered to a nursing bitch and survived to be beautiful "miniature" Schnauzers.  Not as small as Singaporeans expect but a bit bigger and taller at 14-inch tall at the shoulder.


Copyright:   asiahomes.com
23 Jun 2003