27. A Yorkshire has a timely Caesarean section

Friday Apr 22, 2016

The quiet gentle Yorkshire Terrier is 59th day pregnant but she had stopped eating for the past 2 days. She became lethargic. What to do? The breeder brought her to Toa Payoh Vets for an IV drip at 3 pm. A bottle of Hartmann's solution "Glucose is important," I said to my assistant. "Give her 5 minutes of the 5% glucose IV."

The breeder intended to bring the dog back home to continue the IV in his farm. The IV stopped flowing as there was blood clot and he returned. Dr Daniel cleared the clots and the IV infusion flowed drop by drop.

"Best to leave the dam here till the IV drip is completed," I advised the breeder. By 6 pm, the bottle was emptied. The breeder brought the dog home.

At 9 pm, I was looking forward to my dinner. He phoned: "The green discharge has come out from the dam's backside. There is a water bag."

So, no dinner for me. I rushed down to the surgery.

Gas anaesthesia only. "Maintenance dose to effect," I said to my assistant. "Not just fixed at 2.5 to 3%.  A good assistant is worth her weight in gold.  Just observe the tongue colour, the eyelid reflexes and the breathing bag. Minimal anaesthesia. When the dog's legs or body move, increase the dose."

In this way, the Yorkshire was operated at around 1.5% maintenance anaesthesia. 5 black pups. All crying loudly, except one. I had injected oxytocin 1 ml and Baytril SC

Saturday Apr 23, 2016
I visited the farm at 9 am. A bright sunny morning. 5 pups were suckling. All had shiny coat and were active. The dam had eaten the chicken meat and so had produced milk.  The dam's bright eyes opened up directed at me, in case she had to protect her newborn. I videoed from afar. A happy breeder. An excellent output of 5 puppies. An excellent outcome of surviving dam and 5 pups. That is what the breeder wants. So, it is up to the veterinarian's skills and expertise in anaesthesia to produce such an outcome.

5 pups. Caesarean section from first time in giving isoflurane gas by mask, intubation and surgery to completion of skin stitching took 52 minutes. The pups in their water bag were clamped and given to the breeder and his Myanmar assistant to revive, tie the umbilical cord and clean up. 1 bigger pup was much distressed, according to the breeder today and he had to blow air and resuscitate to bring it to life.  (video).

The shorter the surgery, the better chances of survival of the dam.  Prepare the equipment and know what to do. Any death of the dam frightens away the breeder as he deems it is the vet's fault. Pre-op vet examination is important.