Incidence and Factors Influencing Maternal Dystocia in Bitches

Studies were conducted to analyze the incidence and factors influencing maternal dystocia in bitches and the frequency of various types of maternal dystocia by analyzing medical records of dystocia cases presented at the department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bangalore between January 1997 to March 2009 as well as the data generated from clinical cases of dystocia handled during the course of present study, (January 2008 and May 2009). The size of the breed was found to have a significant effect on the incidence of dystocia, the incidence being significantly higher in medium and large size breed. It was also observed in the present study that the incidence of the dystocia was highest in bitches aged 2-4 years and gradually declined with the advancing age. Bitches less than 4 years accounted for nearly 62 per cent of the dystocia cases suggesting the preference of owners to breed animals at their younger age and with hold breeding in aged animals. In the present study 31.07 per cent of cases referred were primiparous and the rest had delivered 1-8 times. The incidence of dystocia decreased progressively with increase in parity and the least incidence was recorded in animals with more than 5 previous deliveries.