Singleton Puppies And Cesaraians

[Leema]

Obviously, this poll is in relation to bitches in your care - not yourself.

Yesterday, my bitch was confirmed pregnant by ultrasound, but there is seemingly only one puppy.

The vet advocated a caesarean as many bitches have trouble coming into labour with only one puppy. I wanted to know DOLers experiences in regard to this.

Initially, I thought I'd rather wait and see if she does deliver naturally. However, I have become concerned that this may not be the best option. I could never forgive myself if something happened to my bitch when I could've had a caesarean.

Any advice is much appreciated.

For the specifics of my case: My bitch is 4 years old, and this is her second litter. She delivered the first litter of 3 pups naturally and with no issues. She comes from lines of natural whelpers with large litters.

Edited September 20, 2011 by Leema

[MissMaddy]

My bitch had a singleton and was a maiden. The vet had me bring her in daily to ultrasound and check the pup's heart rate. When it started to get a little slower, we checked twice a day, and did a caesar on her due date. She wanted to make sure we went in at the right time, so the puppy was developed but not distressed by time of delivery.

My girl showed no signs of labour, no nesting, etc, no temp drop despite stopping the progesterone supplement.

[Leema]

I perhaps should also add that this litter is by AI, and so we know that she is due on the 23rd of October.

Thank-you, MissMaddy, for your experience.

[Alyosha]

Could an xray be used to absolutely confirm just one pup? Sometimes ultrasounds are accurate and sometimes not. Could she have another one or two lurking in there?

Personally, I would xray late term to determine exact numbers and get a good idea of size and then make a decision whther to book a c-sect. For s single, apparently large pup I would most likely look at a planned caesar. If it seemed normal sized it would be more of a dilemma as I would always prefer a natural delivery if possible.

[Leema]

Thank-you for the suggestion. An x-ray may be an option. If that shows just one too, then I'll have a better idea what I'm in for.

What is the typical time that an x-ray is done for establishing numbers?

[mini girl]

My girl had a singleton with no problems at all - she is a large mini poodle approx 10 klo - she had been kept away from my boy through her season but they managed to have one mating much to my disaproval towards the end of the season - she had had her first litter and it was the season after she had had her pups - I was not even 100% she was even having pups but she had the little male while I was out briefly - we stayed up all night waiting for more to come and had her vet checked in the morning but no more pups - he turned out to be lovely and now lives in WA. I also helped a friend deliver her singleton pup - she was a toy poodle and the pup was a little larger than normal but not that much - all went fine with no help from the vet. Both girls fed and cared for their singleton pups very well.

[SwaY]

Thank-you for the suggestion. An x-ray may be an option. If that shows just one too, then I'll have a better idea what I'm in for.

What is the typical time that an x-ray is done for establishing numbers?

8 weeks plus, as this is when the bones calcify.

[Ozstar]

I would be doing an xray a few days before she is due to check the size of the pup.

I have had singletons born via c-section because the pup was to big to pass naturally.

Leanne

[Fanuilos]

We had a singleton pup from a maiden bitch, which was also AI. No C-Section required, natural delivery but we had assistance. Our vet is a small animal repro specialist and tries to avoid surgery, doesn't even do surgical AI.

Anyway, our vet used a drug called Aglepristone to induce labour.

[ashaflynn]

I have a bitch here that is now known as "The One Egg Wonder"! She's had two litters (although I use the term 'litter' very lightly) and each time she delivered one singleton. Both times I have had her x-rayed towards the end of the pregnancy and both pups were standard sized so we went along and gave her the chance to whelp naturally. Both times she whelped with no problems at all and produced very nice, healthy pups. I recommend the x-ray to get a bit of an idea of what you may be dealing with and if pup doesn't seem to be enormous give the bitch every chance for a natural whelping - but have a vet on standby just in case it's needed.

[Sandra777]

I have had all three versions of singletons.

I had a bitch who had two litters, both times singletons delivered naturally.

I had bitch with a singleton conceived by AI, never went in to labour, caesar at 67 days (progestrone tested), never mothered the pup (we didn't ultrasound, didn't know she only had one pup) She later had another litter (not my choice) of 4, conceived naturally, delivered naturally, great mum.

I had a maiden bitch conceive a singleton by frozen semen, elective caesar. The pup died at 3 days but she was a great mum. Later conceived 5 pups by natural mating, had an emergency caesar and an even better mum!

If the semen is irreplacable personally I'd go with the elective caesar in this particular case

Edited October 18, 2011 by Sandra777

[Leema]

The semen is not irreplacable. Dog is alive and well. We only did an AI as I was having trouble coordinating my bitch in Adelaide, with the dog in Melbourne, while I was in Darwin on a holiday. My bitch left 10 months between her last season and this one, and I didn't want to wait another 10 months for the next one.

I have booked my bitch in for an x-ray, so that will at least give me a better idea of what is happening. I am feeling a little better about things, and I think the x-ray is a nice strategy to at least make me feel like I'm doing -something-.

In the meantime, I am still enjoying hearing your stories and observing the poll.

[Missymoo]

We had a singleton pup from a maiden bitch, which was also AI. No C-Section required, natural delivery but we had assistance. Our vet is a small animal repro specialist and tries to avoid surgery, doesn't even do surgical AI.

Anyway, our vet used a drug called Aglepristone to induce labour.

Is this the vet at Wyndham?

[Callicoma]

I have had two singleton litters in 12 years (which resulted in 2 c-sections). First one I did not realise was a single puppy as I did not use ultrasound much back then. Bitch never went in to labour and by the day after her due date I took her in to the vets to see what was going on. Ultrasound showed no puppies !!!! but I was 100% certain there were puppies so my vet x-rayed and saw one huge puppy in there. Immediate c-section and all was fine.

Second time was earlier this year. Frozen semen AI. Ultrasound showed one puppy. I booked her in for a c-section on her due date. My current vet was not keen on a planned c-section and prefered I waited another day. I wanted a c-section during the day when he had all staff on board rather than as an emergency in the middle of the night with just him and I there. So I asked him to x-ray to confirm one puppy and to see its size. Puppy was larg-ish - not huge, but not small, so he agreed to c-section. All over in an hour and everything was fine (apart from my wallet being $1000 lighter).

[Aziah]

I haven't had a singleton litter (but have had pairs)...

If I did have a singleton I would do an elective.

[PomsNZ]

Ive had all 3.. ...

First litter, singleton, born naturally, but stillborn....

Second litter, singleton, born via C section on emergency

Another one had singleton, we xrayed 2 days before due date to estimate if would fit through, she went into very quick labor and ended up at vets 2 hours before the booked time to C section her.

all but the stillborn survived, all had had litters before, all were good mums (to around 5 weeks)

average litter size in my breed is 2-3.

[Leema]

Thank-you for the ongoing comments and thoughts. I am appreciating the feedback.

Very much hoping that the x ray shows two skulls! But feeling better suited to deal with a singleton, delivery wise, by this thread.

[Fanuilos]

We had a singleton pup from a maiden bitch, which was also AI. No C-Section required, natural delivery but we had assistance. Our vet is a small animal repro specialist and tries to avoid surgery, doesn't even do surgical AI.

Anyway, our vet used a drug called Aglepristone to induce labour.

Is this the vet at Wyndham?

Yes, Dr John Watts.

[Leema]

Clover had an x-ray today, and the puppy is on the largish size. Considering she is not due for another week (well, Sunday) - the puppy is probably going to get bigger... I am probably going to opt for a planned caesarian.

[nedsur]

Have had 2 singleton litters. First one the boy got stuck and the bitch had to be raced off to the vet. Second was the first dogs son and so we decided to do an elective c section just in case, especially since her temp dropped on the Saturday morning and she probably would have had him in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Both pups survived but the first boy was very hard to get going after being stuck.