Administering Oxytocin on Dog

We hear different opinions about using oxytocin during birth. In my opinion oxytocin must be used in those cases when you suspect that your dog starts to get fatigued or that there is a uterine atonia, which can be derived from tiredness or the lack of muscular tone. But its administration must be very meditated and rigorously controlled, always keeping note of how much you have administered and putting a limit, which obviously depends on the size and weight of the dog. In any case, you should proceed if the dog has not had the uterine dilatation, either by natural means or by the administration of a certain amount of a uterine dilator. If you administer oxytocin before the first birth, it can result in the rupture of the uterus, with irreparable consequences and many times the death of the female dog. Likewise, you shouldn't consider the use of oxytocin right off the bat, without having evaluated the possible causes of dystocia. You must know that oxytocin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland and that the term "oxytocic" means "quick birth" taken from Greek. This hormone is used to induce the contractions of the uterus during birth and the production of milk after birth. If you apply oxytocin and your will without considering the causes that might be conditioning the delay of the birth of a fetus and simply induce the contractions, he can be a cause of death in the fetus which, otherwise, could have been saved.

Additionally, overusing oxytocin can lead to that premature separation of one or more placentas and the rupture of the amniotic sacs or alantoic membranes, with the consequent loss of fluid and oxygen which, at this point, are still essential for the unborn puppies, which will lead to their death by asphyxia. Now that you know this, you should also bear in mind that it's scientifically proven that the fact that the puppies breast-feed immediately and continuously after their birth induces and stimulates the production of oxytocin in the mother, which in turn, like in the vicious Circle, induces and stimulates the uterine contractions that make it easier for the other puppies to be born. It is for that reason that you must not separate the puppies from their mothers. This also explains why with the mother that has been operated it takes longer to produce milk.

Therefore, is essential that the newly born puppies remained by their mother's side, suckling, as long as is possible and if you have to separate them, make it just for little while -- when the mother is giving birth to another puppy. However, as we have seen before, administering an injection of oxytocin once the birth process has finished in order to stimulate the expulsion of fluids and placenta remains is perfectly justified. Nevertheless, you must logically have your veterinarian examine her within the next 24 hours to make sure that everything went okay.