SparkleDark/Everything_about_dogs · Datasets at Hugging Face

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pies cannot be felt with the finger.'

"Then follows a description of the Csesarean operation, which, of course,
no one but an experienced veterinary surgeon should be allowed to perform;
so it is not necessary to give it here.

"Prolapsus or inversion of the womb or uterus into the vagina some-
times, but very rarely, occurs during parturition, due to very severe strain-
ing, or as the result of too much force being used to remove a puppy with
forceps or by other artificial means. Care must be taken in these cases
not to mistake protrusion of the uterus with prolapsus of the vagina, or a
polypus. The latter may be recognized as a solid pear-shaped body with
a narrow neck, whilst a prolapsed vagina is generally a large solid oval
body which almost fills the vaginal canal if it does not protrude externally;
it has a broad base and rises at the back part of the passage just behind
the meatus or opening of the bladder. The uterus is soft, reducible, and
rough and tubular in shape, besides showing dark-colored patches where
the placentae have been attached.

"After the womb has been cleansed by being sponged with a weak,
tepid solution of Condy's Fluid or permanganate of potash, it should, if
possible, be returned by gentle pressure on the fundus of the uterus with a
piece of whalebone with the point covered with sponge; the returning is
assisted if the hind legs are raised in part by the bitch being held upside
down. Care must be taken not to use undue force or the uterus may be
ruptured. After the return it is a good plan to inject a quantity of cold
water into the vagina to act as an astringent.

"When the protruding uterus shows signs of having been injured or
is much congested, or decomposition has set in, amputation is advisable.
This is best done by drawing the part gently out and applying a strong lig-
ature as high up as possible and cutting off the free portion."

In the June number of the Kennel Gazette (Eng.) Mr. Sewell takes up
the care of the mother and puppies, and, judging from the serious losses
which occur in almost every kennel from carelessness, or worse, kennel
managers cannot read the following too carefully, and even the veterans
may gain a wrinkle or two:

"When the bitch has finished pupping she should be made comfortable
by renewing her bedding and given some warm milk. As to the bedding,
there is nothing better than straw, laid straight across the box and changed
daily. I do not like mats or cloths even for small dogs in these cases, for
they become so quickly foul. When the bitch has had a large litter or
has had a bad time, it is a good plan to give the yolk of an egg, beaten up
with milk and a little brandy; or, if the bitch is inclined to vomit, some beef
tea or Bovine — a small quantity every hour. This may even be occasionally
given before the bitch has finished having all her puppies, if she appears
very exhausted. A few hours later in ordinary cases, when all is going
well, some thin oatmeal gruel, which is the best food for the next two or
three days, may be given. When the bitch seems disinclined to take suf-
ficient milk gruel, sheep's head' broth, thickened with fine oatmeal, may
be ordered, and even bread and milk or gravy. After the third day, more
.solid food may be given, as crushed biscuit or boiled rice, with sheep's head
broth and .the meat from the bones added; also a little fish, and if the
bitiJh is not feeding well, milk may be given to drink instead of water. As
time goes on, especially when there is a large litter, more nourishment is
required, and the food must be increased by degrees so that the bitch
is kept in fairly good condition, though of course not made fat, or the
secretion of milk may be checked and the puppies will suffer.

Some bitches are so zealous in their care of the puppies, more espe-
cially at first, that their health suffers in consequence. In such cases the
dam must be made to go out to relieve herself, particularly the bladder. I
have seen very severe cases of illness caused by the mother not leaving her
puppies, and in two instances death was the result of the bladder becom-
ing over-distended and not being emptied. The condition of the bowels
also sometimes requires attention, but, as a rule, when the bitch has been
allowed to follow her natural desires and she has eaten the foetal mem-
branes, the bowels are often relaxed in the course of a day or two, and so
long as it is not severe, no notice may be taken of it, but when there is much purging it is a good plan to give a small dose of castor oil to carry
it off and if after this has worked off, very loose motions continue and
are frequently passed, some carbonate of bismuth, from five to fifteen
grains shaken dry on the tongue, may be given three or four times a day.
In these cases the milk, or broth, should be thickened with arrowroot in-
stead of oatmeal so long as the bowels continue troublesome.

After pupping, a bitch naturally has a great deal of discharge from
the womb, which continues, as a rule, for about a fortnight, sometimes a
good deal longer. I find it a good plan when the last puppy is born to
syringe the uterus out with a tepid solution of permanganate of potash.
When the discharge is very copious and offensive, it is a good plan to repeat
the syringing every day for the first week; and the coat surrounding the
passage, when the bitch does not keep herself clean, should be washed oc-
casionally with warm water and carbolic soap and afterwards carefully
dried. — *«««

When the discharge from the passage continues after three weeks,
astringent injections are necessary, as a teaspoonful of powdered burnt alum
dissolved in a pint of tepid water and repeated morning and evening.

Occasionally, after the usual discharge has ceased, a bitch will have
a blood-like discharge, the same as is seen in bitches when in oestrum, and
this may continue for weeks. It is due to a relaxed condition of the parts,
and when very profuse the bitch becomes much emaciated and weakened.
The alum injection should be given and from two to five drops of witch
hazel bark, administered three times a day in a little water. When this
does not stop the discharge, ergotine, from cne-half to two grains, made
into a pill, may be given twice a day.

pies cannot be felt with the finger.'

"Then follows a description of the Csesarean operation, which, of course,

no one but an experienced veterinary surgeon should be allowed to perform;

so it is not necessary to give it here.

"Prolapsus or inversion of the womb or uterus into the vagina some-

times, but very rarely, occurs during parturition, due to very severe strain-

ing, or as the result of too much force being used to remove a puppy with

forceps or by other artificial means. Care must be taken in these cases

not to mistake protrusion of the uterus with prolapsus of the vagina, or a

polypus. The latter may be recognized as a solid pear-shaped body with

a narrow neck, whilst a prolapsed vagina is generally a large solid oval

body which almost fills the vaginal canal if it does not protrude externally;

it has a broad base and rises at the back part of the passage just behind

the meatus or opening of the bladder. The uterus is soft, reducible, and

rough and tubular in shape, besides showing dark-colored patches where

the placentae have been attached.

"After the womb has been cleansed by being sponged with a weak,

tepid solution of Condy's Fluid or permanganate of potash, it should, if

possible, be returned by gentle pressure on the fundus of the uterus with a

piece of whalebone with the point covered with sponge; the returning is

assisted if the hind legs are raised in part by the bitch being held upside

down. Care must be taken not to use undue force or the uterus may be

ruptured. After the return it is a good plan to inject a quantity of cold

water into the vagina to act as an astringent.

"When the protruding uterus shows signs of having been injured or

is much congested, or decomposition has set in, amputation is advisable.

This is best done by drawing the part gently out and applying a strong lig-

ature as high up as possible and cutting off the free portion."

In the June number of the Kennel Gazette (Eng.) Mr. Sewell takes up

the care of the mother and puppies, and, judging from the serious losses

which occur in almost every kennel from carelessness, or worse, kennel

managers cannot read the following too carefully, and even the veterans

may gain a wrinkle or two:

"When the bitch has finished pupping she should be made comfortable

by renewing her bedding and given some warm milk. As to the bedding,

there is nothing better than straw, laid straight across the box and changed

daily. I do not like mats or cloths even for small dogs in these cases, for

they become so quickly foul. When the bitch has had a large litter or

has had a bad time, it is a good plan to give the yolk of an egg, beaten up

with milk and a little brandy; or, if the bitch is inclined to vomit, some beef

tea or Bovine — a small quantity every hour. This may even be occasionally

given before the bitch has finished having all her puppies, if she appears

very exhausted. A few hours later in ordinary cases, when all is going

well, some thin oatmeal gruel, which is the best food for the next two or

three days, may be given. When the bitch seems disinclined to take suf-

ficient milk gruel, sheep's head' broth, thickened with fine oatmeal, may

be ordered, and even bread and milk or gravy. After the third day, more

.solid food may be given, as crushed biscuit or boiled rice, with sheep's head

broth and .the meat from the bones added; also a little fish, and if the

bitiJh is not feeding well, milk may be given to drink instead of water. As

time goes on, especially when there is a large litter, more nourishment is

required, and the food must be increased by degrees so that the bitch

is kept in fairly good condition, though of course not made fat, or the

secretion of milk may be checked and the puppies will suffer.

Some bitches are so zealous in their care of the puppies, more espe-

cially at first, that their health suffers in consequence. In such cases the

dam must be made to go out to relieve herself, particularly the bladder. I

have seen very severe cases of illness caused by the mother not leaving her

puppies, and in two instances death was the result of the bladder becom-

ing over-distended and not being emptied. The condition of the bowels

also sometimes requires attention, but, as a rule, when the bitch has been

allowed to follow her natural desires and she has eaten the foetal mem-

branes, the bowels are often relaxed in the course of a day or two, and so

long as it is not severe, no notice may be taken of it, but when there is much purging it is a good plan to give a small dose of castor oil to carry

it off and if after this has worked off, very loose motions continue and

are frequently passed, some carbonate of bismuth, from five to fifteen

grains shaken dry on the tongue, may be given three or four times a day.

In these cases the milk, or broth, should be thickened with arrowroot in-

stead of oatmeal so long as the bowels continue troublesome.

After pupping, a bitch naturally has a great deal of discharge from

the womb, which continues, as a rule, for about a fortnight, sometimes a

good deal longer. I find it a good plan when the last puppy is born to

syringe the uterus out with a tepid solution of permanganate of potash.

When the discharge is very copious and offensive, it is a good plan to repeat

the syringing every day for the first week; and the coat surrounding the

passage, when the bitch does not keep herself clean, should be washed oc-

casionally with warm water and carbolic soap and afterwards carefully

dried. — *«««

When the discharge from the passage continues after three weeks,

astringent injections are necessary, as a teaspoonful of powdered burnt alum

dissolved in a pint of tepid water and repeated morning and evening.

Occasionally, after the usual discharge has ceased, a bitch will have

a blood-like discharge, the same as is seen in bitches when in oestrum, and

this may continue for weeks. It is due to a relaxed condition of the parts,

and when very profuse the bitch becomes much emaciated and weakened.

The alum injection should be given and from two to five drops of witch

hazel bark, administered three times a day in a little water. When this

does not stop the discharge, ergotine, from cne-half to two grains, made

into a pill, may be given twice a day.