SA - Canine Parturition, Pregnancy, and Dystocia

Question 1

What are the nutrition recommendations of the first 1/2 of canine pregnancy?

Answer 1

Well balanced dog food, raw diets are NOT recommended, and no supplements are required

Question 2

What are the nutrition recommendations of the second 1/2 of canine pregnancy?

Answer 2

Recommended high protein diet, double the amount fed by the time of whelping, and triple 2 weeks post-whelping, no supplements required, keep plenty of fresh water in a clean bowl

Question 3

If you are going to vaccinate a dog that you want to breed, when should you vaccinate it?

Answer 3

At least 2 weeks prior to onset of proestrus

Question 4

What intestinal parasites do you need to control for in pregnant canines?

Answer 4

hookworms and roundworms

Question 5

What dewormer is safe for pregnant canines?

Answer 5

Panacur

Question 6

What heartworm preventatives are safe for pregnant canines?

Answer 6

Heartgard, Ivomec, and Interceptor

Question 7

What preventative is good for flea/tick/heartworm?

Answer 7

Revolution and Advantage Multi

Question 8

What preventative is good for just flea/tick prevention?

Answer 8

Frontline

Question 9

What should you have in your whelping kit?

Answer 9

Sterile lubricant, towels, warmth source, mucus trap/suction bulb, 1’ x 25 g needles, thin string/umbilical tape, small hemostats, scale, nursing bottles, and milk replacer

Question 10

What hormone is required for maintenance of pregnancy in the dog?

Answer 10

progesterone

Question 11

When does progesterone peak in canine pregnancy?

Answer 11

15-30 days after the LH surge

Question 12

When is the rapid decline of progesterone in canine pregnancy?

Answer 12

24 hours prior to whelping

Question 13

What is the only known specific pregnancy-associated protein in dogs?

Answer 13

Relaxin

Question 14

What produces relaxin?

Answer 14

The placenta

Question 15

When do relaxin levels begin to elevate and how long do they stay elevated?

Answer 15

Elevated from day 24 post LH surge until day 30 into lactation (post whelping)

Question 16

When do the embryos enter the uterus?

Answer 16

Day 10

Question 17

What happens prior to implantation of the embryos into the uterus in dogs?

Answer 17

They float freely within the uterine lumen and are nourished by uterine milk. Migration occurs between the uterine horns and blastocysts space themselves evenly between the horns

Question 18

When does embryo migration end?

Answer 18

Day 16

Question 19

When does embryonic implantation occur by?

Answer 19

Day 22

Question 20

What type of placenta do dogs have?

Answer 20

Endotheliochorial, zonary (circumferential), and modified deciduate

Question 21

What structures are formed at the edges of the zonary bands, what are they formed from, and what do they contain?

Answer 21

Marginal hematomas are formed from maternal blood and contain uteroverdin

Question 22

During what period are fetuses highly sensitive to drugs and potential teratogens?

Answer 22

Embryogenesis

Question 23

What are some possible teratogens?

Answer 23

Not a complete list: Aspirin, Chloramphenicol, Griseofulvin, Carbaryl, Dichlorvos, Corticosteroids, Anabolic steroids, Vitamin A and D, and Exogenous hormones

Question 24

When can transabdominal palpation diagnose a pregnancy? What will you feel?

Answer 24

Day 25-40 from the LH surge is the best window for this and you will feel a string of large pearls

Question 25

What blood test can you do to diagnose pregnancy?

Answer 25

relaxin test

Question 26

When can a heartbeat be detected on transabdominal ultrasound? What else can be seen at this time?

Answer 26

Day 25-30 post LH surge You can also see embryonic vesicles

Question 27

When is the vesicle first detectable on ultrasound?

Answer 27

Days 19-23 post LH surge

Question 28

If you don't know when your patient ovulated, when is the recommended time to do transabdominal ultrasound?

Answer 28

4+ weeks following breeding and then recheck 7-10 days if negative ultrasound to confirm

Question 29

What is occurring to the embryo at day 42 post LH surge that you can see on ultrasound?

Answer 29

The embryo is undergoing organogenesis

Question 30

When is the most accurate time to estimate gestational age via ultrasound?

Answer 30

Days 30-40 - measurements should be performed on at least 2 fetuses

Question 31

What measurements can be taken to estimate gestational age?

Answer 31

Crown rump length, head diameter, and body diameter

Question 32

Note.... flip

Answer 32

The specific calculations for estimated gestational age are not in this flashcard set

Question 33

What is the yellow line?

Answer 33

Biparietal head diameter (HD)

Question 34

What is the green line?

Answer 34

Crown rump length (CRL)

Question 35

What is the blue line?

Answer 35

body diameter (BD)

Question 36

At day 48 of canine pregnancy, what can you detect on a radiograph?

Answer 36

the skull and spine

Question 37

At days 60-61 of canine pregnancy, what can you detect on a radiograph?

Answer 37

teeth and digits

Question 38

When should you check for mastitis?

Answer 38

You should check daily 1-2 days prior to whelping and continuing through the first 3 weeks of lactation

Question 39

What clinical signs are associated with mastitis?

Answer 39

Firm, painful and/or reddened glands, and abnormal color or blood in the milk

Question 40

What is the mean parturition date?

Answer 40

day 65 from LH surge

Question 41

When is a female considered overdue for whelping?

Answer 41

72 or more days from her last breeding 65 or more days from day of ovulation 60 or more days from onset of diestrus

Question 42

Why is timing of pregnancy so critical?

Answer 42

A great deal of organ development occurs in the last few days of gestation. Puppies removed \>24 days before natural whelping generally results in stillborn or ill-thriving puppies Puppies \> 48 hours overdue are usually non-viable

Question 43

A delay of ___ hours after onset of Stage II labor will result in loss of all puppies.

Answer 43

24

Question 44

What happens to the pregnant dogs temperature 24-48 hours prior to whelping?

Answer 44

It drops to 98 degrees - it is not always reliable

Question 45

If you see teeth and digits on radiographs, how soon will whelping occur?

Answer 45

\< 3-8 days

Question 46

If you see peristalsis and kidney development on abdominal ultrasound, how soon will whelping occur?

Answer 46

\< 3 days

Question 47

What is a good monitoring service that monitors for uterine contractions and has an uterine Doppler for use in your home?

Answer 47

WhelpWise

Question 48

What occurs during Stage I of parturition?

Answer 48

Vaginal relaxation and cervical dilation. It is the beginning of uterine contractions +/- abdominal straining

Question 49

How long is stage I of parturition?

Answer 49

6-24 hours

Question 50

What behavioral changes occur during stage I of parturition?

Answer 50

Agitated, restlessness, nesting, may refuse food and vomit

Question 51

How long is stage 2 of parturition in the dog?

Answer 51

6-12 hours, rarely 24 hours

Question 52

What occurs during stage 2 of parturition?

Answer 52

Puppies are delivered and abdominal contractions are visible

Question 53

When is the average delivery time for each puppy?

Answer 53

A delivery every 30-60 minutes

Question 54

Is posterior presentation abnormal in parturition?

Answer 54

No - 40% of fetuses are delivered this way

Question 55

True or False: If disturbed, dogs can voluntarily inhibit the 2nd stage of parturition.

Answer 55

True

Question 56

What is the normal behavior of the dam after each fetus is delivered?

Answer 56

To lick the neonate vigorously to clear the airways and stimulate respiration

Question 57

What occurs during stage 3 of parturition?

Answer 57

Delivery of the fetal membranes

Question 58

When are placentas typically discharged after each fetus is delivered?

Answer 58

Typically within 5-15 minutes after each pup

Question 59

When should the placenta be delivered from the time of the last fetus?

Answer 59

It should be passed within 4-6 hours from the delivery of the last fetus

Question 60

What immediate puppy care should be done once they are born?

Answer 60

Remove the membranes covering the face, rub with a dry towel to stimulate breathing, and tie or suture the umbilical cord 1 inch from the body

Question 61

What is considered abnormal during parturition?

Answer 61

Black or green discharge prior to delivery of the first puppy 20-30 minutes of strong contractions with no puppy being delivered 2-3 hours of weak, infrequent expulsive efforts failing to produce a puppy 2-3 hours between puppies Obvious problem such as a puppy displaced within the birth canal

Question 62

What is the overall incidence of dystocia?

Answer 62

5%

Question 63

What are the maternal causes for dystocia?

Answer 63

Pelvic anomalies, uterine anomalies/inertia, vulvar anomalies, and vaginal anomalies

Question 64

What are the fetal causes for dystocia?

Answer 64

Single fetuses, uterine distension, fetal oversize, fetal monsters, fetal death, anasarca and abnormal presentation, posture, and position

Question 65

What is the most common maternal cause of dystocia?

Answer 65

Primary uterine inertia

Question 66

What is primary uterine inertia?

Answer 66

Failure to expel a normal-sized fetus(es) through a normal birth canal except for an incompletely dilated cervix or lack of uterine contractions

Question 67

What is complete primary uterine inertia?

Answer 67

Absence of signs of 2nd stage labor

Question 68

What is partial primary uterine inertia?

Answer 68

2nd stage labor stops before fetal expulsion occurs

Question 69

What are the maternal causes of primary uterine inertia?

Answer 69

Hypocalcemia and heritable tendency to primary inertia

Question 70

What are the fetal causes of primary uterine inertia?

Answer 70

single fetus and uterine distension

Question 71

What is secondary uterine inertia?

Answer 71

Prolonged uterine contractions fail to expel a fetus obstructing the birth canal or failure to expel the fetuses

Question 72

How is primary and secondary uterine inertia diagnosed?

Answer 72

Based on history - make sure to rule out nervous voluntary inhibition of labor

Question 73

What is anasarca?

Answer 73

Fetal edema; hydrops

Question 74

What is the diagnostic approach to managing dystocia?

Answer 74

Thorough history, general examination, obstetrical examination, and imaging

Question 75

Is surgery the only option for dystocia management?

Answer 75

No - first rule out premature labor (Ultrasound and Rads)

Question 76

Aside from surgery, what can be done to manage dystocia?

Answer 76

Manually correct a mal-positioned fetus, and medical management

Question 77

What are the indications for medical management in dystocia?

Answer 77

Dam is in good health, labor has not been excessive in length, cervix is dilated and fetal size/position permits vaginal birth

Question 78

Can tranquilizers be used as medical management of dystocia?

Answer 78

Yes, they can be used to overcome voluntary inhibition of parturition but it depresses the fetuses

Question 79

What medical management can be done for dystocia?

Answer 79

Correct the underlying medical problems and oxytocin and calcium gluconate administration

Question 80

How quickly should a pup be delivered if the mom is given oxytocin and calcium gluconate?

Answer 80

within 30 minutes of treatment

Question 81

What are the negative side effects associated with giving oxytocin and calcium gluconate administration?

Answer 81

Increased fetal stress and a higher stillborn rate

Question 82

When should an owner seek veterinary assistance post-whelping?

Answer 82

If the rectal temperature is greater than 102 F If there is odorous or excessive vulvar discharge If there is any trembling, twitching, rigidity, or excessive facial twitching If there are any signs of depression or disinterest in puppies