We recommend that amniotic fluid be collected during a c-section to assist the dam with bonding with her litter as she recovers from the surgery. Our recommendation, though not foolproof, is based on this fascinating study from the 1990s on the role of amniotic or birth fluids in the bonding between mom and pups.

What Did They Do?

Researchers studied 30 litters of pups. Nine were controls where the dam whelped her pups unaided and was allowed to eat placentas and lick amniotic fluid as she wished. Pups were removed at birth and sham “washed” before being returned to the dam. Sham washing was taking them to the sink, turning on the water, and pretending to wash the pups before returning them to their dam. 100% of the pups in all of these litters were accepted by the dams.100% of the pups in all of these litters were accepted by the dams.

The remaining 21 litters underwent one of 3 manipulations:

Group 1 – Right after whelping, placentas and amniotic fluid were discarded. Pups were washed three times, including the genitals and anus, and returned to the dam for 36 hours of observation. All mothers rejected all pups for the 36 hours. After that, 4 dams began responding to their pups and 5 continued rejecting their pups.

Group 2 – Right after whelping, each pup’s placenta and amniotic fluid were collected and stored in the refrigerator. Pups were washed three times, including the genitals and anus, and returned to the dam for 2.5 hours of observation. All mothers rejected all pups for the 2.5 hours.

After 2.5 hours, the placentas and amniotic fluid were warmed to 100F (38C). Amniotic fluid was poured over the pup and the placenta was returned to the dam. At this point, mothers immediately accepted all pups.

Group 3 – Right after whelping, placentas and amniotic fluid were discarded. Pups were washed in lukewarm water and returned to the dam for 36 hours of observation. Mothers accepted pups immediately.

What did they find?

The presence of amniotic fluid on the newborn is very important because it leads to the cascade of events that we call newborn acceptance and bonding. Other mechanisms, besides those mentioned here, likely come into play immediately after birth and later as the mother-newborn relationship is formed and reinforced. For example, it is likely that other mechanisms playing an important role arise during lactation. It also may be that the initial maternal acceptance and bonding are especially susceptible to interference until other mechanisms more firmly establish the maternal-newborn relationship.

How can we use this?

Rejection of pups by their dams puts a huge amount of stress on all concerned–puppies, breeders, and bitches. One of the most common times we see maternal rejection is following a c-section, especially when the bitch has her first litter.

1. Ask your vet to collect amniotic fluid in a syringe during the c-section. These researchers collected amniotic fluid for each pup but that is likely too much time and effort for the surgical team unless you have a small litter. If you do, be sure to label each pup’s fluid.
2. Keep the syringes sealed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator or cooler with ice packs until the bitch is awake and possibly even settled at home,
3. Warm the fluid to 100F, ideally by immersing the plastic bag in warm water for 30 minutes.
4. Drip amniotic fluid all over each pup and put the pup with the dam. It can also help to drip some of the fluid on your bitch’s patterns and inside thighs so she tastes it as she cleans herself.

Some breeders are also freezing amniotic fluid from natural whelpings in case orphaned pups need to be introduced to a bitch. We don’t know that this will be effective, since we don’t know if amniotic fluid can be frozen or if its important to match each pup with its own amniotic fluid but it isn’t going to hurt. Let us know if you try it and how it works.

Click the link or the download button to review the abstract from the research paper on the Role of amniotic fluid in newborn acceptance and bonding in canines. 1997. Abitbol ML , Inglis SR