Dystocia Flashcards
How is dystocia defined; how is it clinically characterized?
difficult birth;
a situation where a pregnant female is having difficulty or is unable to expel a fetus (or fetuses) through the birth canal
What fetal problems lead to dystocia?
- too large (can’t fit thru pelvis)
- wrong position
What are the wrong positions for a fetus that causes dystocia?
head-first presentation w/ retention of one or both forelimbs
ventroflexiation of neck
Do breech deliveries cause dystocia in dogs?
No, not typically
List maternal problems that may lead to dystocia
- uterine inertia
- uterine fatigue
- pelvis is too small
- vaginal vault is too narrow
- maternal inhibition of contractions
What is uterine inertia?
failure of the uterus to sustain contractions strong enough to expel uterine contents; underlying cause unknown
What is uterine fatigue?
occasionally secondary to another cause of dystocia; prolonged contractions against a situation not conducive to normal delivery results in uterine muscle fatigue and inability to continue contractions
Why can the maternal pelvis be too small?
- breed size or shape
- previous pelvic injury
Describe a situation in which the mother may inhibit uterine contractions and contribute to dystocia
nervous bitch or queen that becomes overly agitated
What 3 anatomic regions of the mother may have problems during delivery?
uterus
pelvis
vaginal vault
What two type of dogs are often at risk for dystocia and why?
Brachycephalic breeds
-uterine fatigue secondary to trying to push a large headed fetus through a small birth canal
Small/Mini breeds
- often nervous and easily frightened which may lead to interruption of birthing process if they become agitated
- prone to single births, meaning the fetus may grow too large to fit through birth canal
If large breed dogs have dystocia, what is a common reason?
uterine fatigue due to large litter size
General clinical signs associated with dystocia and what they may indicate
- strong abdominal contractions with maternal pain (fetus too big, pelvic canal too small, vaginal vault too small)
- weak contractors for longer periods of time with no production of puppies (uterine inertia, uterine fatigue)
6 guidelines for identifying dystocia in an individual patient
- No evidence of puppy following 30-60min of strong abdominal contractions
- No evidence of puppy following 4-6hrs of weak, intermittent contractions
- Longer than 4-6hrs between puppies
- Obvious maternal pain with no evidence of puppy (licking, biting at vulva, crying during whelping)
- No evidence of a puppy 24-36hrs following a decrease in the maternal rectal temp to below 100F
- Prolonged gestation (>70-72 days beyond the first breeding or >60 days beyond the first day of diestrus
Why is a PE show for a patient with dystocia?
to ensure mother doesn’t have underlying conditions that could be life-threatening
