RELATIVE EFFICACY OF VARIOUS TREATMENT PROCEDURES EMPLOYED TO RELIEVE DYSTOCIA IN CANINES

Abstract

Studies were conducted to analyze the efficacy of different treatment procedures employed to relieve
dystocia in bitches (n=240). In the present study medical treatment using oxytocin, calcium and dextrose either
alone or in combination was employed to treat only cases of primary complete or primary partial uterine inertia
and the treatment protocol was successful in only 16.67 per cent of the cases. Nearly 83 per cent of cases of
primary uterine inertia failed to respond to medical treatment and had to be subjected for cesarean section. The
vaginal manipulative procedures to relieve dystocia using gloved finger or sponged forceps was successful in
relieving 15.41 per cent of cases of obstructive dystocia and the rest had to be subjected for cesarean section.
Cesarean section had to be carried out in 67.91 per cent of all cases of dystocia encountered in the present
study. The higher frequency of cesarean section employed to relieve dystocia in small animals may possibly
due to small size of the animal, multiparous nature, long duration of delivery and demands by the owner to
deliver as many live puppies as possible.