Here I am on the last day of a few days away from home. I'm three time zones away in Northern California trying hard to exorcise my recent demons. Though I've been posting faithfully, it's clear to me that I won't be able to do you justice today. That's why I've opted to bring you back to a post many of you may have missed. It's an important one, one I hope you''ll disseminate so others won't have to suffer the kind of stress this entry depicts.
***
A few days ago I wandered into the hospital on my day off (I just can’t stay away) and walked into one of those disaster scenarios worthy of Animal Planet’s Emergency Vets TV show.
The scene: Two techs vigorously trying to stimulate respiration in two recently extricated newborn pups. A German Shepherd bitch anesthetized on the surgical table, all four legs akimbo. One tech busily manning the anesthesia and instruments. The vet, my colleague, fully gowned and sweating over an open abdomen. And finally, the stunned owner standing nearby, hands over her mouth, looking for all the world like someone who’d like nothing better than to be anywhere else.
Great. Another one. Here’s where backyard breeders and I usually intersect—always under unpleasant circumstances, usually over a disaster C-section.
My colleague is like me. He likes to make them watch the fruits of their irresponsibility. While that might sound cruel—it usually works.
Faced with the impending death of two innocent babies I rolled up my sleeves like everyone else (save the ineffectual owner) and got down to the business of getting puppies to breathe.
The pups were huge and their lungs fluid-filled. They’d been overcooked. This bitch was probably due three full days ago (a very long time when gestation is only 63 days). This owner had completely missed the due date, signs of distress, etc.
By far the biggest mistake inexperienced breeders make is to assume nature will provide. This bountiful life force, she’s always in control and knows just when the little darlings will come into the world, right? Think again. After you breed a seventy-pound bitch to a hundred and ten pound male you’ve just offended Mother Earth. And she’s not so forgiving as the vets you desperately need when it all goes to hell.
When backyard breeders (ubiquitous offenders in Miami) get to teaching "the miracle of life" to their children, they can be truly stupid. Here are the mistakes they usually make that lead to that last-second, emergency C-section:
1-They don’t know the date the dogs got it together. (But they live in the back yard and they’re always together.)
2-They have sought no pre-pregnancy or pre-natal healthcare for their dogs. (When I was little we never needed to do that and my dog had ten puppies six times.)
3-They were not prepared for the birthing process. (No whelping box, no towels or newspapers, just a big backyard with a "comfy" patio.)
4-They have no idea what to look for when the bitch is ready to whelp. (What’s whelping? You mean I should hit her while she’s giving birth?)
5-They ignore signs of distress. (But she always paces around all night in a circle and that stuff coming out of her is normal, right?)
About half the time backyard breeders get lucky and they bring their dogs in before all is lost. The other half are not so lucky. While we can usually save the mother the pups are often dead or simply not sustainably revivable.
My own dog was one of these irresponsibly bred dogs. Although her owner considered herself a dog breeder, those pesky methamphetamines had been getting in the way of her breeding business. Sophie Sue was one of her casualties: her uterus had ruptured when the pups couldn’t make their way out. Who knows how long she had been trying to deliver them? I managed to negotiate her freedom for the price of the C-section and spay. (Crassly explaining that she didn’t need another non-productive mouth to feed, she enthusiastically made the deal.)
This week’s case was similarly disastrous. The bitch`s uterus was fluid-filled and unresponsive to oxytocin—it had clearly been over-used and less than cared for. In its current state it was a perfect candidate for pyometra (an overwhelming infection of the uterus). The owner did not, however, grant permission for the recommended spay.
After an hour of working on the pups it became clear we couldn’t maintain their hearts or respiration in the presence of all that fluid. Suction, oxygen, drugs….and then nothing. Yet this owner was undeterred. (Next time I’ll have to keep her inside when she starts to look big.) Great. You do that. We’ll look forward to your next visit.
You’re thinking: There should be a law against that! Nope. That’s not negligence in the eyes of the law. Nor is it considered animal cruelty. If you overstuff your fridge and it breaks that’s your dumb luck. While in Miami-Dade County (where I live) breeders have to obtain a license and fulfill some basic puppy care requirements, no pre-birth regulations are included in the legislation. Dogs are your property. You can f--- them up any way you like as long as you don’t actively do them violence.
Make no mistake, breeding is not for the meek…or the ignorant…or the irresponsible. It takes years to learn how to do it right. In lieu of that, it takes a whole lot more research and veterinary care than most people realize. I make that point with the owner of every single unspayed female that walks through my door. Are you willing to risk her life for some potential puppies?
Until backyard breeders stop doing their thing and until laws can be installed and enforced to make them stop, I’ll have to keep doing these disaster C-sections. There’s no point in denying any animal a life-saving surgery. But I will continue to make those responsible observe the outcome of their ignorance and arrogance. I want the "miracle of life" to be at least a fraction as painful and uncomfortable for them as it was for their pet.
Add Comment29 Comments
We had one of those this week, a french bulldog that the Owner did not know she was pregnant, wasn't sure what the father was (later appeared to be a boston), thought that the day she spent panting and circling was normal, and then it was our falt that one of the puppies didn't survive because we demanded a deposit first. Also refused to allow the spay that we offered for free.
We fully expect to see her next year.
How very sad and frustrating.
Erin June 16th, 2009 10:22:04 AM
Coming from the view of the responsible breeder, I agree with everything you say.
I have had 3 c-sections, but over carefully planned pregnancies. I lost my Champion ROM bitch in one and it was the worst day of my life. We had 8 healthy babies which we did find a foster mother to raise. I am looking at her 3 year old, Champion, Group Placing son lying at my feet while I type this. Hard to imagine not having him if it wasn't for her... I have tried to tell backyard people who want to breed that their dog can DIE but it usually falls on deaf ears.
Holly Goldman-Craig June 16th, 2009 10:39:17 AM
Well here's the other side of the story.
Planned, responsible breeding. Well cared for btch producing her one and only litter of very wanted puppies. Labor started on time, hard pushing started, then stopped - 30 minutes, 1 hour. Straight to the vet we went.
4 hours later they got "around" to the c-section - stalling in every way possible.
As they cut into our girl (yes, we were right there, and prepared with towels and basket, and yes, we paid up front) the vet said, and quote "hope we don't have a basket full of dead puppies!" And LAUGHED.
At this point our girl is wide open, we can't leave if we wanted too.
During the 4 hour wait the vet "forgot" to tell us the hot water heater was out, and the microwave was fritzed, so out comes 4 breathing but in distress babies. 3 are already dead. We have no heat to warm those baies up, only towels and prayers.
No heat, no water...just a full basket a a "good luck" shove out the door. The pups core temps are around 96-97F. We get out out of town holistic vet on the phone and between her, one mother/daughter team of determined puppy raisers, we saved 3. And believe me we pulled out all the stops - warming box, homeopathy, massage, tubing, etc.
We complained to the clinic but got nowhere - basically a "they're just pups, they die sometimes".
Vets can be just as horrible as owners. Annie, Doc, and Jessie - the outlaw pups too tough to die - can testify to that.
Wendy June 16th, 2009 11:06:16 AM
I always remember the matter of fact story I heard from an excellent lab breeder who had one of the her first time bitches reject the litter. There was no foster mom to be had, so the pups were hand raised. The litter was big enough that, by the time she got done feeding and taking care of the last pup, it was time to go back to pup #1. Her husband took time off from work to spell her on puppy duties, so that they could sleep in shifts. I wished I could have recorded her stopry to play back to everyone who wants to have a litter for "the kids."
Terrie June 16th, 2009 11:19:48 AM
This may sound cruel, but I guess I don't understand why anyone would "work for an hour" to save these pups. When it's going to be even harder on the mom to care for them after her c-section, when you know how bad their lives are likely to be, coming from an ignorant breeder who will undoubtedly sell them to anyone who is willing to write her a check, when it's just going to encourage the owner to breed again (since she would make some money from the breeding), and when there's a good chance the puppies will be damaged from the prolonged lack of oxygen and the fluid in their lungs, why not just let them go?
Mary Straus June 16th, 2009 01:19:22 PM
When you give the quote for surgery, remember it's only a quote. Then charge her additional for the "complications" and life-saving techniques you attempted to save the life of the pups. Sometimes, suffering the loss of that lost income makes them think twice. But sadly, only sometimes. Oh I know, they will continue breeding so they can profit and recover the profit loss, but you are in control of how much you want to sock it to her for surgery costs. I'd say fire this client, but she'll only find another vet to do the dirty work.
lexipup June 16th, 2009 02:01:04 PM
Fourteen years ago when I got my first purebred dog, I had dozens of people ask, well, she's a PUREBRED - of course you're going to breed her, aren't you? Um, no. Spayed at 6 months. This, a much loved, but not particularly good example of her breed. Yes, cute - but it's a cute breed. Breeding is best left to those who know what the heck they are doing.
The miracle of birth? And what do you do with those kids when "Missy" doesn't deliver and goes into distress? Not something I'd want my kids to view. Tell them to turn on the Animal Planet - you can watch baby animals being born all day long - and no mess to clean up!
Robinsdogs June 16th, 2009 03:54:00 PM
I vaguely remember my post when this blog was on earlier. Oh boy, nothing more nervewracking than an unexpected C-section even for one who is prepared for impending birth!
I had a carefully planned breeding go awry with 3 large pups, second whelping, that ended up with a mid-nite C-section. During the same week, a person I knew (sort of) had her GSD whelp and die 48 hours or so later, with a retained pup. The rest of the litter subsequently didn't survive. She happened to be a pet-owner that thought having a litter may be fun.
Me? I would have never forgiven myself. My dam had pre-natal care, preparation, x-ray, supplies on hand and a wonderful, skilled C-sect vet in the wings, incase!
Holly--I feel for you, the risks are there no matter what.
Wendy--another kind & compassionate example of professionalism and skill-NOT! It can get worse see:
Pocket's Story from NH
xena-2nd litter whelped nat. 8 1/2 oz
alice-dam of two litters & pups shown
pocket-4 oz whelped last of 6, nat. whelping
zoey-whopping 12 1/2 oz by c-sect 2nd litter
Dr. Khuly: enjoy! hope you have a great time!
Barbara A. Albright/NH June 16th, 2009 05:44:16 PM
Your frustration really comes through in this post as does your passion. I think that's a pretty rare skill, and keep up the quality writing. As a cat owner I had no idea about these situations, definitely informative.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth M June 16th, 2009 07:18:12 PM
This post sooooooo resonates with me today. We had a client show up today with his Brittany, who whelped 3 days ago. He said that he just noticed that she seemed distressed - x-ray showed two pups still inside. So, what does the client say? "Euthanize her, I've got other bitches that produce better, and she's stupid anyhow." I really had to restrain myself, and I am not a violent person! The doctor refused to euthanize. The client grudgingly agreed to a spay (no c-section, no trying to save the pups, who were probably dead anyway). This guy claims to be a breeder of great hunting dogs. Grrrrrrr
Sassy June 16th, 2009 08:24:17 PM
I find it hard to hide my anger at those byb who think that their Petland or ClevelandPuppydotcom dogs (almost all of whom are under 10# 'designer' mutts or ill-bred toys) should be bred because the ignorant people "want to make back their investment." "She cost $799 plus tax, plus all these shots and stuff. How many puppies do they normally have each time?" Those were actual words from a client with a 4.5# Yorkie (with a true fearbiter temperment at 3 months), and I had to excuse myself with a faked eyelash in my eye so I could leave the room before I bit their head off. Luckily, on a subsequent visit, another client in the lobby actually asked them if they wanted to have the mom die, as her 4# Chihuahua had. Sadly, the Yorkie owner lost their house, and gave the dog to a family member, so I don't know if she has been spayed or not.
KateH June 16th, 2009 11:49:22 PM
I can't belive the desperation of people to breed their dogs sometimes. I have a boxer-pit mix who couldn't be spayed until closer to a year because she came to me with a nasty bacterial infection in her vagina and she was too young for the only antibiotic that the bacteria was sensitive to.
We tried to let her go through a heat cycle to clear things up and my neighbors dog took notice. The owner had a "blue nose pit" and wanted to breed him with my dog. When I refused and told him about all the unwanted puppies out there as well as the cost and responsibility of the litter he (and my housemates) still insisted I should breed them. They even told me that they would take the puppies as soon as they were born and raise them (sans their mother!).
Eventually I had to keep her with me at all times because my neighbor and housemates suggested they would breed her when I wasn't home!
Obviously I moved.
Liz P June 17th, 2009 08:33:08 AM
I have a pair of frenchies, both rescues, and people always ask me if they're a breeding pair.
And now we have an 8 week old Spinone Italiano - we've had her for less than a week and already we've been asked 5 times if we're going to breed her.
I don't understand people.
Sarah June 17th, 2009 10:33:44 AM
Not only do I remember this post, I think it's what got me started reading Dolittler in the first place!
I'm so sorry for your recent loss, Dr. Khuly. Take care.
Liz June 17th, 2009 10:45:44 AM
Wendy - thanks for another POV.
Deanna June 17th, 2009 01:19:43 PM
Thanks for re-posting this. It is such a common scenario but ignorant breeders always think "it won't happen to me".
But I have also heard horror stories like Wendy's - vets who apparently believe the Animal Rights rule of "There is no such thing as a responsible breeder" and who - while they will save the bitch if at all possible - won't go out of their way to save any puppies. Because the evil breeder should be taught a lesson. Of course, in the meantime they have allowed the poor bitch to suffer for hours - how humane is that?
And although I deplore ignorant people breeding dogs and all the harm they do - not only to their own bitch but also to their breed and to the unfortunate future owners of the defective puppies they produce - I do not agree that there "ought to be a law" to prevent this. Theoretically it would be great, but in reality legislatures are simply not able to write laws that would restrict or eliminate irresponsible breeding without ALSO restricting or eliminating responsible breeders. It seems that it shouldn't be that hard but apparently it is. I think the core problem is simply that "you can't legislate common sense".
Barb June 17th, 2009 02:16:16 PM
Liz: Wow, you're a seriously long-term reader. This post is more than two years old! Thanks for staying with me!!
Dr. Patty Khuly June 18th, 2009 10:27:36 AM
Barb: I'll admit to some behind-the-scenes anger at the "breeders" who make no preparations for saving the life of a mother through C-section (who, reading this, wouldn't catch that gist?). But I honestly don't know anyone who won't go out of their way to save pups. Yes, it's true that we worry that the irresponsible owner of a poorly managed bitch won't take good care of the pups, either. But I think it's taking it a little far to say that we might want to punish them through pup loss. OK, maybe there are some of us like that (sociopaths in all walks of life and all that) but I don't know any--Wendy's situation notwithstanding. Hope I didn't sound defensive.
And btw Wendy, any vet that "stalls" a C-section for 4 hours (for no legitimate reason) deserves to get taken to task. That's just wrong. One of the reasons we can justify charging so much more for an emergency C-section than for a scheduled one is because we've got to stop everything, cancel appointments and get to work--NOW! In fact, the pose of the Dr. in the post's pic is an egregious violation of how C-sections should be attended. Speed is the way to save pups. Good thing the pic is of a pyo and not of a C-section! ;-)
Dr. Patty Khuly June 18th, 2009 10:39:27 AM
I have heard that in these cases sometimes there's uncontrolled bleeding in the bitch & an emergency spay becomes necessary to save her life.
Just sayin'.
hornblower June 19th, 2009 04:41:09 PM
I've seen uteruses ripped way beyond repair where the spay at C-section is a MUST. In fact, that's how I got my Sophie Sue. *sigh*
Dr. Patty Khuly June 19th, 2009 07:05:43 PM
Frankly, Dr. K, I love your approach. Doesn't necessarily teach them, but I would think just seeing the flummoxed look would be payback enough.
I, too, wish good laws--laws with teeth--would be implemented. There are too many homeless animals as it is. I think backyard breeders should be stopped, once and for all.
Jen M.
Jen M. July 6th, 2009 10:27:52 AM
Vacheron Constantin replica
Rolex Day-Date II replica
Rolex watch for sale
replica Longines
ebel watches
Vacheron Constantin replica November 10th, 2009 10:15:54 AM
Maurice Lacroix watches
Louis Vuitton watch for sale November 10th, 2009 01:27:00 PM
<a href="Rolex'>http://www.cartierwatches.us/Rolex/Day%20Date%20II/">Rolex Day-Date II replica</a>
<a href="Bvlgari'>http://www.iwcwatches.us/Bvlgari/">Bvlgari replica</a>
Panerai watch for sale November 11th, 2009 12:23:59 PM
Graham watch for sale
Graham watch for sale November 12th, 2009 10:45:19 AM
Rolex GMT watch for sale
Rolex GMT watch for sale November 15th, 2009 08:53:59 PM
Emicsoft Video Converter for Mac is an excellent, stable, full-featured Mac video converter software which can convert all video and audio formats as well as the HD videos for Mac OS X users with excellent output quality and fast conversion speed.This wonderfue video software support AVI Converter for Mac and MPEG Converter for Mac
asdfg November 18th, 2009 07:39:45 PM
replica Breitling replica Burberry replica Bvlgari replica Cartier replica chopard
replica Breitling November 19th, 2009 09:36:49 AM
Tag Heuer watches
U-Boat watches
IWC watches
Panerai watches
Gucci watches
Tudor watches November 20th, 2009 11:29:08 AM
Add Commment