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Last Updated:

Jan 22, 2009

Difficult Labor

October 29, 2008

     One of the biggest concerns an owner can have when their cat or dog is expecting is the possibility of a difficult birth, or dystocia. It can happen for any number of reasons:

• the mother is not having proper uterine contractions
• she has a small birth canal
• the mother is too young and her body is not developed enough for labor or to care for the babies. Old enough to get pregnant is not old enough to have babies.
• the mother has had a previous pelvic injury/fracture
• the baby is too large
• the baby is stuck in the birth canal

Signs:

• There is no baby within 24 hours of the mother's body temperature dropping below 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The mother is having strong contractions for 30-60 minutes with no baby being produced.
• The sac is visible for more than 15 minutes.
• The mother rests for more than 4 hours during labor.
• There is more than 3-4 hours between babies.
• Crying out as though in pain.

What to do:

     Contact your veterinarian immediately if suspect your animal is having any problems while giving birth. We recommend that if your animal is pregnant, have an examination performed by a vet and discuss deworming the mother and possible x-rays to see how many babies you can expect. A difficult labor can lead to the loss of a baby and the mother. Also be sure to discuss with your vet aftercare of mom and babies. Remember: it never hurts to call your vet and ask!