How do we treat and prevent miscarriage in dogs?
If you suspect that your dog may be having a miscarriage, seek medical care immediately – either with your primary vet or with an emergency clinic if your primary vet is unavailable.
Your vet may perform an abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the puppies better and present you with the best plan. An ultrasound will provide more information to your vet than x-rays in most cases. Your vet may also check your dog’s progesterone levels and general bloodwork to further evaluate your dog’s overall organ function.
If an infectious cause is resulting in fever in the female, she may be treated with antibiotics or fluids (supportive care) to resolve the infection and prevent loss of pregnancy. If her progesterone is low (which may not be apparent immediately as the results of this test may take some time), progesterone supplementation may be provided.
A C-section may be performed to save the mother or fetuses – performing a culture of her vaginal fluid or from the decreased fetus may be helpful in gathering more information and preventing future loss of pregnancies. A spay procedure may be performed if the pregnancy was accidental at the time of the c-section to prevent further pregnancies.
A dog may abort or reabsorb a litter at any time during her pregnancy due to a number of reasons. Without adequate levels of progesterone or proper nutrition, she cannot maintain her pregnancy. Infection or other diseases may likewise prompt a miscarriage. If your dog is secreting vaginal discharge, or if she abruptly becomes lethargic and depressed, she may have miscarried or aborted her pregnancy, though you will need to bring her to the veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.A miscarriage is the spontaneous resorption (stays inside the body) or abortion (leaves the body) of a dog’s litter. This is sudden and irreversible, and it typically results in a poor prognosis for any remaining fetuses, though most bitches make a full recovery. A veterinarian may potentially be able to help your dog carry the rest of the litter to term if the necessary action is taken soon enough.Youtube Play
If you suspect that your dog has miscarried, bring her in to the veterinarian. The veterinarian can test for the presence of fetuses through palpation, radiographs, or ultrasound, which will reveal any puppies that are present. X-rays and ultrasounds are especially useful both for identifying uterine contents and for determining the viability of fetuses still present. Depending on the cause of the miscarriage, the veterinarian may recommend additional tests for infection or other underlying conditions, which will need to be treated to ensure your dog’s overall health.
Treatment for bitches who have miscarried is supportive and varies depending on circumstance. Restrict your dog’s activity, and make sure that she remains hydrated while she recovers. If any of the fetuses are still viable, the veterinarian will find a way to help your dog carry them to term. Otherwise, you will need to ensure that your dog has expelled all pregnancy-related tissues, which can be verified with an ultrasound.
A miscarriage may lead to either a spontaneous abortion or a resorption. If the litter is reabsorbed at the start of the pregnancy, your dog may not exhibit any signs. If a miscarriage occurs closer to the due date, however, a fetus will be aborted. You may see vaginal discharge, contractions, or expelled placental or fetal tissue. Oftentimes, a dog owner doesn’t realize that the bitch has miscarried, as she may eat any expelled tissue before it is discovered. A dog who has suffered a miscarriage may be lethargic or depressed and may become dehydrated if she is refusing to eat or drink. If she has an infection you may also notice she has a fever and there is foul-smelling discharge from her vagina.
If the pregnancy was aborted due to an infection, your dog will require antibiotics. Any other underlying conditions will likewise need to be treated, and IV fluid therapy may be recommended if your dog is severely dehydrated. The prognosis varies according to the cause of the miscarriage, though most bitches will recover and be able to conceive again in the future, with the exception being for dogs that have developed brucellosis or a uterine infection.
Symptoms of miscarriage in female dogs
A miscarriage can cause the expulsion of the bodies of the puppies or a reabsorption of the same. If the litter is reabsorbed in early pregnancy, your dog may not show any signs. However, if a miscarriage occurs closer to the due date, a fetus will be aborted. In that case, you may see vaginal discharge, contractions, or expelled placental or fetal tissue. Often times, a dog owner does not realize that the female dog has miscarried, as she may eat any shed tissue before it is discovered. A female dog that has suffered a miscarriage may become lethargic or depressed, or she may become dehydrated if she refuses to eat or drink.
SYMPTOMS OF DOGS MISCARRIAGE / CAUSES AND TREATMENT
Just as it is with humans, a miscarriage for your dog can be a traumatic experience. Unfortunately, unlike humans, she won’t be able to tell you what’s wrong. Spontaneous abortions can occur for a number of reasons at any point in your dog’s pregnancy. So, to best help your dog in this difficult time, it is important you know the symptoms of a canine miscarriage in order to get her the medical attention she needs.
Depending on when it occurs in your dog’s pregnancy, a miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion or reabsorption of one or more of the litter. This happens suddenly and is irreversible, though the mother typically makes a full recovery. Some veterinarians may be able to help your pet carry the rest of her litter to term if they were not all affected by the miscarriage, though the prognosis is usually poor for any remaining fetuses.
Unfortunately, there are a number of things that can result in your dog miscarrying her litter. Depending on the cause, certain breeds are more prone to a miscarriage compared to others. In addition, malnourished dogs have an increased risk of miscarriage as they do not have the nutrients needed to support a pregnancy. The causes of canine miscarriage include:
The most common cause of canine miscarriage is the result of hormonal imbalances, although any of the above can have adverse effects on a dog’s pregnancy.
If a spontaneous reabsorption occurs early in your dog’s 63-day gestation period, it is possible that she will exhibit no signs or symptoms that it is has taken place. However, a late stage abortion will result in noticeable symptoms so it is up to you as her owner to keep a watchful eye for any changes. The most common symptom of a miscarriage is abnormal and abundant vaginal bleeding or discharge. The color of the discharge tends to be between deep green or black with a thick texture that may contain pus. Although, it can sometimes be bloody and thin. The important thing to note is that the volume of blood or discharge will be substantial. In some cases, you may even find the expelled fetus.
Other signs that your dog has experienced a miscarriage include stomach pain, weight loss, fever, dehydration, restlessness, lethargy, decreased energy levels, diarrhea, vomiting, and shifts in behavior that may indicate canine depression.
If you suspect that your dog has miscarried all or some of her litter, you should seek out veterinary care immediately. Your vet will evaluate the presence and health of fetuses using palpation, radiography, and ultrasounds. X-rays and ultrasounds can be particularly useful when identifying the contents of your dog’s uterus and to assess the viability of any remaining fetuses. Additional tests may be needed to determine if there was an underlying condition which caused the miscarriage. From these tests, your veterinarian will be able to tell if further treatment is required.
Once the vet has determined the cause of the miscarriage, they will devise a dog miscarriage treatment plan to help your pet return to full health. First, if any fetuses were deemed to be viable, your vet will help your pet carry them to term. Otherwise, your vet can ensure that your dog has expelled all pregnancy-related tissues with an ultrasound to avoid further complications. If the miscarriage was the result of an infection, your vet may prescribe antibiotics for your dog.
During recovery, you will need to make sure your dog rests and remains hydrated. Most canines show some signs of depression after a miscarriage and will require a quiet place to rest during their recovery. You should continue to monitor vaginal discharge over the days following a miscarriage and notify your vet if anything unusual occurs. As your dog recovers, the discharge will cease and after some time she should return to her normal self.
A dog’s pregnancy is a delicate thing and you will need to ensure that you are providing your pup with all she needs to successfully carry her litter to term. Unfortunately, in some cases, there is nothing you can do to prevent the cause of your dog’s miscarriage. In those scenarios, simply being there for your pet and getting her the appropriate medical attention is all you can do.
“Miscarriage in Dogs – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost.” WagWalking, 30 Sept. 2015, Accessed 9 Oct. 2018. www.wagwalking.com/condition/miscarriage.
Millburn, Naomi. “Signs of a Dog Miscarriage.” Cuteness.com, 9 Feb. 2017, Accessed 9 Oct. 2018. www.cuteness.com/article/signs-dog-miscarriage.