C-Section in Small Animal Patients

Question 1

List indications to perform a Cesarean section

Answer 1

• Prolonged Gestation
  - > 63 days (from what date???)
  - 58-71 days from breeding dates
• Dystocia
• Maternal Toxemia
• Unproductive/inappropriate labor
• Vaginal discharge / Fetal Death
• Elective

Question 2

• Edema or swelling of the ventral floor of the vagina during PROESTURUS and ESTRUS
• Swelling is broad-based and ventrally located
• Tissue swelling induced by increasing estrogen (initiation of heat cycle)
• Edematous vaginal mucosa may protrude from the vulva
• Generally affects young females - Pugs, Labradors

Answer 2

Non- Neoplastic (Occurs during heat cycle)

Question 3

• Surgical opening into the uterus
• Ventral midline incision uterine body
• Incision large enough to manipulate fetuses from both horns
• Remove fetus in the uterine body or canal first

Answer 3

Hysterotomy

Question 4

What are the accepted indications for elective cesarean section?

Answer 4

• Maximize survival of neonates
• Small litter (1 or 2)
• Use of frozen semen from a deceased sire
• Excessively large litter

Question 5

You are asked to perform an elective C-section on a canine patient. What objective measurement will assure you that the bitch has reached the full term of pregnancy and it is safe to perform surgery?

Answer 5

Progesterone concentration less than 2-3 ng

Question 6

The preferred site of a hysterotomy incision is?

Answer 6

Body of the uterus