Other Breeding Concerns
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Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Meconium aspiration
Q: How to prevent meconium aspiration? The litter did not go past the whelping date.
A: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) can occur if the fetus is stressed and then expels meconium (first stool) into the amniotic fluid. Other than watching to make sure that there is an appropriate time between puppies, and that the puppy is moving down into position properly, and not stuck, there is little you can do.
Treatment for MAS can include steroids as well as antibiotics, and time in the incubator with oxygen may also be helpful as the lungs recover.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12760314/ You mentioned that the litter did not go past the whelping date, but you did not talk about the whelping itself. I have experienced this when there has been a long pause between puppiesor an extended whelping where there is a significant time between the first and last puppy. When a litter goes past the calculated whelping date, based on progesterone numbers and ovulation, you are more likely to have deteriorating placentas, resulting in neonate death.
