What are they? What do they do? How to use them. When to use them.

Two Main Drugs for Mom (both injectable)  Calcium  3cc syringe full (3 full syringes provided)  Can also have Tums with 1000mg calcium

 Oxytocin (common brand name Pitocin)  1/10 of a cc in a tuberculin (tb) syringe 

Generally there is about 4/10 cc of air in the syringe as well so that all the drug can be injected into the mom.

What Does Calcium Do?  Calcium causes increased muscle contractions and is used when

uterine contractions don’t have the push needed to get the puppy out.  Calcium is a safe drug when given under the skin. 

The pH of the calcium is very low and can cause tissue damage if subsequent injections are given in the same location. Therefore, each injection should be given in different spots over the shoulder area.   

1st injection on the left shoulder 2nd injection between the shoulder blades 3rd injection over the right shoulder

When to Give Calcium  If the mom isn’t pushing and it has been more than 1 hour

since the last puppy…  Contact Dr Daniels or one of the breeder council members to

discuss if calcium should be given. 

If you are unable to reach anyone, it is ok to give the calcium injection unless the mom is pushing hard (visible contractions) and no puppy is being expelled.

Oxytocin  Oxytocin is a natural hormone that causes the uterus to

contract and push the puppy out.  Nursing puppies will cause oxytocin release from the mom’s body

and is generally enough to keep the puppies moving out. So let the puppies nurse on mom as long as possible during the whelp.  Before giving oxytocin it is best to give an injection of calcium so that the mothers contractions are strong. If oxytocin is given to a tired mom without the calcium injection there may not be enough strength in the muscles to push a puppy out. Dr Daniels recommends waiting about 20 minutes after the calcium injection to give the oytocin.

When/How to Give Oxytocin  Calcium has been given and it has been at least 20 minutes

since the calcium was given.  You have spoken to Dr Daniels and she has instructed you to give oxytocin.  Oxytocin is injected under the skin in the same manner as the calcium injection.

Dopram  Is a controversial drug that is used to stimulate breathing

in newborn puppies.  1/10 cc Dopram is provided in a tb syringe.

When and How to give Dopram  Newborn puppies that are not breathing and lay limp can have the

injection of dopram given directly into the tongue. It may stimulate the puppy to start breathing.  The best way to resuscitate a new born puppy that is not breathing is vigorous rubbing on the whole body , especially the chest, holding the puppy securely at a 45° angle with the head facing down to expel fluids trapped in the lungs.  If the puppy is not breathing, stick the needle from the dopram syringe immediately below the puppy’s nose may stimulate breathing (well known acupuncture point for stimulating breathing).

Cleanout Shot of Oxytocin (optional)  When the last puppy has been born, wait an hour and give a shot of oxytocin to mom to help expel any remaining placentas etc.

Circumstances for Concern  The bitch has failed to progress to second-stage

labor (delivery of pups) after 6-8 hours of first stage labor (first stage labor is when the mom is having steady contractions, panting etc) (Potential cause: obstruction)

 No pups have been whelped, but the bitch is

passing thick, black-green discharge from the vulvar. (Potential cause: premature placental separation)

 The bitch is passing a heavy, persistent flow of

fresh blood from the vulvar.

Feeding Guidelines  After Breeding – CCI provides Eukanuba Premium food for mom. Feed her 2 cups per day (1 cup 2xs a day) until the ultrasound.  After Ultrasound – increase her food amount to 2.5 cups (1 ¼ cups twice a day) Unless instructed otherwise.