I bet puppy millers, Greeders and the like do not torment themselves about whelping decisions. You think it would be simple — just pop out those babies and all is well.
Daisy
The decision about Daisy is straightforward. She will have a c-section because her litter is likely to be a big one, and that caused issues last May — we lost two puppies before electing for a c-section to maximize the odds the last four would survive (they did).
“Lost puppies” — it sounds like they were misplaced. No — not misplaced. Dead. That is what we are talking about. Still, lifeless, dead-on-arrival puppies who could not be revived. Birth is risky.
The rate of stillborn puppies in one large study was about 6% (Cornelius et al., 2019), with stillbirths more likely as litter size increases.
Canine dystocia — or difficult birth — can be caused by a variety of things, and it is related to stillbirths as well. The overall rate of dystocia in the Cornelius et al. study was about 24%, with smaller and larger litters both having more risk than a medium-sized litter.
A pre-birth x-ray can be done to count puppies, and help inform decision-making. I have never done one because I prefer not to radiate the puppies — even though I know the risk of doing so is low and there is benefit.
A c-section is less risk to the puppies than a natural birth — but more risk to the mom, and leaves her with an abdominal incision. Ouch.
A vaginal birth is better for the puppies’ gut microflora.
A c-section means they are nursing from a mom on some drugs for a few days — theoretically these are safe for the puppies but still…
The hormones associated with labor supports early mothering.
Claire and Rosebud
A whelping emergency at night could wind us up at a veterinary emergency clinic.
Elective c-sections are safer than emergency ones.
There is a pandemic — and Claire’s knee injury.
Do I proceed with a natural whelping for Claire because that is safer and easier for her, knowing I could be risking a puppy or two AND we could still wind up with an emergency c-section?
Is Claire’s comfort and the benefits of a natural whelping worth potentially losing a puppy or two?
You get the idea.
This is tough.
Cornelius, Alyssa J, Moxon, Rachel, Russenberger, Jane, Havlena, Barbara, & Cheong, Soon Hon. (2019). Identifying risk factors for canine dystocia and stillbirths. Theriogenology, 128, 201-206.