Emergency Guide: How to Handle Canine and Feline Diffic

Causes and Types of Difficult Labor in Dogs and Cats

① Maternal Causes: Primarily due to weak uterine contractions. These can be categorized into primary and secondary types. Primary cases often occur with the first or second offspring during pregnancy, resulting from insufficient hormones and stimuli, or from multiple pregnancies, excessive amniotic fluid, or oversized fetuses that cause the uterus to overexpand.

Secondary cases are often caused by factors such as genetic predisposition, nutritional imbalances, and advanced age. The secondary type is mainly due to obstructed birth canals, which lead to excessive consumption of uterine contraction energy and the termination of labor.

② Fetal Causes: These include oversized fetuses (resulting from mating with a larger male animal), incorrect positioning or orientation of the fetus (such as breech, transverse, or longitudinal presentations).

Clinical Diagnosis of Difficult Labor in Dogs and Cats

A thorough investigation of the pet's clinical symptoms and medical history is conducted.

① Observe the frequency and intensity of the mother's contractions.

② Check if the fetus is visible at the vulva; differentiate the type of vulvar discharge to further assess the situation.

③ Palpate the vulva and abdomen; a tense vaginal anterior wall indicates good uterine muscle tone, whereas a relaxed one suggests weak contractions.

④ Determine the number of fetuses, vital signs, and fetal orientation through Xrays and ultrasounds.

Treatment Methods for Difficult Labor in Dogs and Cats

① Primary Uterine Inertia: If the fetus's orientation is normal, oxytocin can be used for treatment; however, it is contraindicated in other cases.

② Fetal Correction: If the fetus's orientation is abnormal, the vet may insert fingers into the birth canal to assist in correcting the fetal position.

③ For more complex anomalies or when the fetus is too large or the birth canal too small, surgical extraction may be necessary.

How to Identify Difficult Labor at Home in Dogs and Cats

When dogs and cats are nearing the end of their pregnancy, owners should have a 24hour pet hospital on standby, as deliveries can occur at night. If difficult labor is suspected, the pet should be taken to the nearest hospital immediately.

① During labor, the normal progression is for the fetus's head to emerge first. If the legs or other parts come out first, the owner can wear gloves and gently push the fetus back into the correct position. However, if the situation is complex or uncertain, it's best to seek veterinary care promptly.

② If a prenatal examination revealed multiple fetuses but only one has been delivered within half an hour to four hours, or there is no further contractions, it is likely a case of difficult labor and veterinary attention is needed.

③ If a cat shows clear signs of labor, with the vulva dilated and the fetus's head visible, yet the kitten does not emerge after a prolonged period, it indicates difficult labor and immediate veterinary care is required.

Prevention of Difficult Labor in Dogs and Cats

① Small pet breeding should be handled by professionals. For small animals not under professional care, it is advisable to undergo sterilization to avoid the risks associated with labor.

② When breeding, ensure that the male animal is of a similar size or smaller than the female to prevent oversized fetuses.

③ Conduct predelivery examinations to determine the number, size, and vital signs of the fetuses. This helps prevent undelivered fetuses going unnoticed and ensures that any remaining fetuses are surgically removed promptly to avoid infection and save the life of the mother.