Abstract
BackgroundIn the past 10 years, the frequency of unplanned cesarean sections in the Labrador Retriever breeding colony at Guiding Eyes for the Blind stayed around 10% (range 5% to 28%). To reduce the number of cesarean sections, factors influencing the occurrence of a cesarean section need to be known. The goal of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the decision to perform a cesarean section.ResultsOf the 688 Labrador Retriever litters whelped between 2003 and 2016, 667 litters had sufficient data and remained in the analysis. The target trait was ordinal with the three levels “normal whelping”, “assisted whelping” and “cesarean section”. A general ordinal logistic regression approach was used to analyze the data. Model selection with possible predictors resulted in a final model including weight of the dam, the weight of the heaviest puppy of a litter, the number of fetuses malpositioned and the quality of uterine contractions. Weight and size of a litter, parity, maternal inbreeding coefficient, whelping season, dam and sire were dropped from the model because they were not significant. The risk of a cesarean section was influenced by the combination of the weight of the dam and the weight of the heaviest puppy in the litter, as well as by the number of malpositioned fetuses and the quality of the contractions. Larger puppies increased the risk of cesarean section especially when the dam had a lighter weight. For dams weighing 23.6 kg and 32.8 kg the predicted probability of a cesarean section was low, with 0.06 and 0.02, respectively, when the heaviest puppy in a litter was light (0.42 kg), contractions were normal and no fetus was malpositioned. However, the probability of a cesarean section was much higher, ranging from 0.24 to 0.08, when the heaviest puppy in a litter was heavy (0.66 kg).ConclusionsMeans to reduce the cesarean section frequency in this Labrador Retriever breeding colony should include genetic selection for ideal puppy weight. In addition, dams with an adult body weight substantially below average should not be selected as breeders in this colony.
Highlights
In the past 10 years, the frequency of unplanned cesarean sections in the Labrador Retriever breeding colony at Guiding Eyes for the Blind stayed around 10%
A cesarean section (c-section) is the surgical intervention applied when a dam with dystocia fails to respond to the medical treatment or fetal distress is evident [1]
The aim of the present study was to identify factors, other than uterine inertia and malpositioned fetuses that have an influence on the occurrence of a c-section in the Labrador Retriever breeding colony at Guiding Eyes for the Blind and could be improved by breeding and/or adapting management
Summary
In the past 10 years, the frequency of unplanned cesarean sections in the Labrador Retriever breeding colony at Guiding Eyes for the Blind stayed around 10% (range 5% to 28%). To reduce the number of cesarean sections, factors influencing the occurrence of a cesarean section need to be known. The goal of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the decision to perform a cesarean section. A cesarean section (c-section) is the surgical intervention applied when a dam with dystocia fails to respond to the medical treatment or fetal distress is evident [1]. Dystocia is a frequently encountered complication during parturition and for roughly 60% of these cases the decision to perform a c-section is taken [2]. Maternal and fetal factors are known to cause dystocia often resulting in a c-section. Particularities of the pelvic anatomy of the dam or the facial skeleton of a puppy may result in a predisposition for obstructive dystocia [4, 11]. The veterinarian and the owner seem to have a rather high influence on the decision of a surgical intervention
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