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Administrator | Problems in Pregnancy To start with, let us remember that pregnancy is not a disease but a completely natural condition. The less fuss we make, the more naturally and easily these nine weeks will pass. However, during this period we should observe the bitch even more closely than usual. If we notice anything unusual, this might well be a sign of one or the other of the disorders I shall describe. The widely accepted idea that bleeding ceases after mating is completely erroneous. We have always observed that bleeding continues from four to eight days after mating, and only then does it slowly abate. From bleeding - either pronounced or less so - no conclusions can be drawn as to whether the bitch is in whelp or not. Hormonal changes within the bitch are of vital importance to the development of the fetuses. The estrogen dominance prevailing on the day of mating is overtaken by a rapidly rising progesterone level. In the further course of events - approximately one week after mating-the blastocysts are approaching the uterus. There, after their migration from the oviducts, their implantation in the mucous membranes of the uterus takes place. A precondition for this pregnancy, however, is that the bitch's uterus has been prepared for this moment by hormonal changes. The advice given here is intended exclusively for the owners of bitches that have repeatedly failed to conceive. In these cases, checks on the 3rd and 8th day after mating at a special clinic (such as the on at the University of Vienna) might well help. Vaginal examinations and hormone tests give an accurate diagnosis, and hormone treatment can assist in overcoming disorders. I am thinking especially of valuable brood bitches, whose puppies are urgently needed by breeders for the furtherance of the breed. Examinations and treatment are, in my opinion, justified in such cases. However, it should not be forgotten that, in all probability, in 98% of these cases, disorders of the endocrine system are inherited and can therefore be passed on to the offspring. Nature is generally the wiser partner, and we should respect her methods of natural selection. In Vienna, a third examination is recommended between the 18th and 35th day of pregnancy. As already described, the bead-like string of embryos can be detected by palpation from the 25th day. They have at that time - depending on the breed = grown to a size somewhere between a hazelnut and a table-tennis ball. The expert is also able to draw conclusions from an inspection of the vagina and mucous membranes, which will show any deviations from the normal clinical findings. If, for instance, the embryos are somewhat smaller or considerably larger than is usual at this stage, or if there is an increased cervical discharge, the specialist will describe this as hypoluteinism, an anomaly in which the loss of the embryos must be reckoned with. Even in this case, special treatment would be possible, but what was written in the previous chapter applies here, too - it would be unwise to attempt to save the situation. Pyometra I have learned, from my own experience, that it is imperative never to treat a pregnant bitch with antibiotics. Many readers know what a thalidomide child is. The use of antibiotics during pregnancy causes, with great probability, malformation among the puppies. In a litter of eleven, we had three severely malformed non-viable pups. Occasionally, a risk of this kind may well have to be taken. Our bitch was found to be suffering from pyometra ( an inflammation of the uterus) three weeks after mating. The heavy, purulent discharge, accompanied by a temperature, left us in no doubt at all. We were, however, fortunate for it is only very rarely that pyometra can be successfully treated by high doses of antibiotics. In general, a veterinarian will advise an operation, a spay or hysterectomy, since it is well known that inflammation of this kind recurs repeatedly. The symptoms of pyometra are not always very clear. As a rule, the bitch is very thirsty, she occasionally vomits, and she seems depressed. A very high temperature is symptomatic. It is a good sign if the purulent discharge appears at once. In some cases the uterus is closed and, thus, fills steadily with pus. This leads to toxic substances entering the bloodstream, and the bitch poisons herself through the bacteria in her uterus. It should be mentioned here that an inflammation of the uterus can occur in a bitch of any age, even in a maiden bitch. It is, in my experience, very rare indeed for the litter of a pregnant bitch suffering from a pyometra to be saved; we were very fortunate with our eight healthy and only three malformed puppies. False Pregnancy Another problem, which sadly occurs very frequently, is the pseudo or false pregnancy. The worrying thing about this is that it can so easily be mistaken for a genuine pregnancy. There is hardly a breeder, hardly a veterinarian, who has not been taken in at one time. The bitch suffering from a false pregnancy shows all the signs the breeder so much desires in his mated bitch. She is tired, spends a great deal of time sleeping, she occasionally vomits, and her girth increases steadily. The mammary glands begin to show, and the nipples turn pink. The bitch has a good healthy appetite, which tends to make her put on even more weight. I shall have to confess, at this point, that I have more than once prepared the whelping kennel, got the whelping box ready,and put everything else to rights to await the expected birth. The scales stood at the ready, and we have even begun to keep watch at night with our expectant mother - until we were forced to the conclusion that it had all come to nothing. And this was not just in our early days of dog breeding! The frequency with which false pregnancies occur is one of the reasons why it is important to diagnose a proper pregnancy at as early a date as possible. I have already pointed out that in a false pregnancy the bitch's girth is considerably increased; the milk is even let down. From my own experience, I would go so far as to say that when a bitch produces milk between the 56th and the 58th day, it is much more likely to be an indication of a pseudo-pregnancy than of a real one. Again, I must emphasize the fact that small amounts of thickish, transparent vaginal discharge from the third week onwards, is the surest sign of a proper pregnancy. I have never observed any discharge of this kind in a false pregnancy. The breeder must, however, look very carefully, under certain circumstances even feel for it, especially if the bitch's genitals are pinkish or white. It is perfectly normal for a bitch suffering from a false pregnancy to start digging large holes and making nests shortly before the prospective date of parturition. The bitch's body is being stirred by inner forces that compel her to act exactly as a pregnant bitch would. Not until the imaginary day of parturition is past do these forces subside. The organs and tissues then return to normal, lactation abates, and the bitch reverts to her normal life. Abortion Abortion can result from severe external effects such as a hard knock, jumping off a high wall, falling into a deep ditch, and so forth. A further factor might be an infection, such as bacterium brucella canis. This disease sometimes affects whole groups of dogs without the cause becoming easy to diagnose. When a member of the group is mated, the bacterial infection leads to an abortion between the 30th and 50th day of pregnancy. This is a very treacherous disease requiring careful observation and meticulous treatment. UGM Admin undergroundmastini Check out the links below Neapolitan Mastiff Photos Useful Links Neapolitan Mastiff Videos Neapolitan Mastiff Health Neapolitan Mastiff Chat RoomNeapolitan Mastiff Boa Forum UK | |||
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