OBSTETRICS AND CASTRATION OF THE BITCH. 191 



Obstetrics and Castration of the Bitch. 



As a rule, the bitch has her pups without any difficulty. The 

 period after conception varies from fifty-eight to sixty-two days 

 Dun kept a record of 189 bitches and found the average period 

 was 63.28 days, the maximum being 71 days, and the minimum 

 being 53 days, when she generally seeks a quiet place and drops 

 from one to eight blind pups, the period of whelping being from 

 one to six hours (quite frequently lasts ten or twelve hours). The 

 labor-pains generally come on from three to ten hours before birth, 

 and are indicated by the bitch being very restless and going into- 

 dark corners or scratching as if to make a bed, and on putting the 

 hand on the abdominal walls the foetuses are found to be very 

 lively. 



Immediately after the birth of each pup the placenta is passed 

 out and is eaten by the bitch. 



The retention of the whole or a portion of the placenta is very 

 rare in the bitch, and must not be mistaken for a dead fcetus. 

 Violet has seen three such cases, and describes them as follows : 

 Great depression; no milk in the mammae; the bitch pays no at- 

 tention to the pups ; frequent contraction of the uterus similar to 

 labor-pains ; entire loss of appetite ; pain on pressure of the abdo- 

 men. The temperature was normal at first, but gradually in- 

 creased; the pulse was quick and hard; and a fetid discharge from 

 the vulva. 



The treatment consists in constant irrigations of antiseptic solu- 

 tions, ergot, warm poultices around the abdomen, and stimulants. 



After the birth of the pups there is slight lochial discharge, bloody 

 in the onset and finally purulent. The short but strong umbilical 

 cord is torn during labor or bitten ofE by the bitch immediately 

 after birth, and the entire mass of placenta and amnion is eaten 

 by the mother. 



The normal course of birth may be changed in some instances 

 by certain circumstances. 1. The labor-pains may not be strong 

 enough ; there may be a narrow, contracted pelvis; the vagina 

 maybe lessened in diameter by cicatricial contractions, tumors, etc. 

 The fcetus may be very large or may be presented in an irregular 

 position. Extract of ergot is the best preparation to increase the 

 contractions of the uterus. Several writers have recently spoken 



