Care and Diseases of Breeding Animals 



aid. The actual process of delivery takes place very 

 quickly and is accomplished by one or two vigorous 

 contractions of the uterus. The afterbirth usually 

 conies out with the puppy, and the mother, after 

 severing the cord, eats the sack. She then proceeds 

 to clean the puppy by licking and rolling it around 

 on the bedding. After it is dry she cuddles down 

 with it up near a breast. If the puppy is healthy 

 he will immediately begin to look for the nipple. 

 Only a short interval should elapse between suc- 

 ceeding births and a litter of four or five should 

 be born in from one to five hours. 



Difficult Parturition. — ^When there is a deform- 

 ity of the pelvic cavity of the bitch or the puppies 

 are too large to pass through it, trouble ensues. 

 Labor becomes more difficult if the puppies are dry, 

 dead or decayed. If the uterus is infected the labor 

 pains are much weaker. Should an interval of two 

 hours pass after the beginning of labor without re- 

 sults, it may be assumed that the bitch is in trouble. 

 In such cases help should be summoned immediately. 

 If the bitch is able to force the puppies but part way 

 out an attendant may remove it, providing he does 

 not have to exert great force. Occasionally one 

 puppy is delivered without trouble, but the bitch 

 does not seem able to bring forth the second. This 

 may be due to a dryness of the canal or if the 

 puppy has been dead for some time and the sack 

 broken the hair may be dry and sticky. To over- 

 come this, olive oil may be carried into the vagina 



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