Last week, we dealt with the signs of ‘labour’ at delivery time. I had mentioned that non-intervention during delivery was the best policy. However, there may be occasions when it becomes necessary for you the assist the mother dog/cat, especially if you cannot get in touch with your veterinarian. Do recall that I had advised that not only must you inform your vet when delivery is imminent, but you must have quick access to his/her contact numbers. Again, I emphasise that it is important for the pregnant animal to visit the vet’s clinic once or twice during the circa two-month period of pregnancy.
It is sometimes noticed, during a normal delivery, one of the larger sized puppies/kittens appears to be stuck in the vagina. You will notice that when the mother contracts, a portion of the puppy/kitten protrudes, and then – as she relaxes – the pup disappears. Let me suggest that you wait for the pup to peep out again and then, with two fingers, try to grasp a portion of the skin – preferably at the top of the head or neck. Pull the puppy/kitten towards yourself while opening the lips of the vulva and slipping them over the grasped head. Move the gripped puppy slowly and gently from side to side which exerting with light pulls. If there are no complications, the pup ought to slide right out.
It is important not to intervene too soon. However, getting involved too late can be worse.
The mother might have become tired from constant contraction and then has no energy left to press out the remaining puppies/kittens. I should mention that once the puppy/kitten has reached the vaginal canal, its supply of oxygen from the mother is no longer available.
Of course, I am not trying to make a pet midwife out of a caregiver in one quick lesson. Obviously, your veterinarian is the best person to assist you or guide you through any phase of your dog’s difficult labour.
In passing, I should mention that there is no written law other than the Veterinarian’s version of the Hippocratic Oath, which dictates that the vet must be called out to exercise his/her obstetric ability in the middle of the night/on Good Friday /on Christmas Eve r New Year’s Eve. But it never fails; a dog/cat is there to give her owner and the vet a hard time on a ‘rest’ day. No vet will turn away a dog/cat which is having difficulties at birthing. Nevertheless, it seems unfair to suddenly call your vet at birthing when the animal’s pregnancy was not brought to his/her attention, or to abruptly seek the service of vet “X” when the animal is not his/her patient, but the patient of vet “Y”. This brings us back to a previous “PET CARE” column in which I belaboured the issue of choosing your vet carefully when you have taken the decision to acquire a pet.
Continuing along the line of assistance during a normal delivery, it sometimes happens that the ‘mom’ is so busy delivering newborn after newborn, that she does not lick off the membranes that surround the puppies/kittens. At this point, you should intervene and peel away the thin foetal skin (amniotic sac). This will ensure that the newborns do not suffocate.
In some cases, the (especially young, first-time) mother severs the umbilical cord too close to the navel, and bleeding may emerge. (I should mention that the mother dog actually chews at the umbilical cord. In this way, the ends of the blood vessels contained in the cord are shredded, which allows for a blood clot to be formed more easily). If she bites through the umbilical cord cleanly, then the bleeding may continue for a while. In any case, it would be incumbent upon you to stop any prolonged bleeding. This can be done by tying off the stump. A piece of thread or thin twine would suffice. If you have something like a forceps (any light clamp would suffice), you could pinch off the bleeding blood vessel. Finally, you must disinfect the stump of the umbilical cord with a Q-tip which has been dipped in an antiseptic preparation. I apply povidone Iodine or even Mercurochrome once or twice to the stump after the bleeding has subsided and the severing of the stump has been completed.
I’ll keep it short today; one must recognise that giving birth is a stressful period for both the mother dog/cat and the caregiver!
