Great post Barb...thanx! Jodi ----- Original Message ----- From: barbara17236@xxxxxxx To: ravencd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 8:16 AM Subject: Re: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: How many of you... My two cents..... I have been lucky and only needed one c-section in all my years of breeding. The bitch never started labor, so it was not because a pup was stuck, or she got too tired during whelping. The best advice I can give you, is know your bitch inside and outside. If she is too fat, whelping could be a problem. If she becomes too tired from straining for hours, you will have a problem. You have to be able to read your bitch's facial expressions and eyes. I keep my bitches at a healthy weight during pregnancy and I feel this helps alot. Alot of reproduction vets are into c-sections, especially if the litter is under three pups, or over eight pups in size. Some insist c-sections are the only way to go. It also depends on the breed of dog. I work at a Labrador kennel ....English show Labs. Talk about LAZY whelpers. My GSD can whelp a litter of ten pups in a little over six hours but the Lab could take a whole day or longer. With the anesthesia used today, c-sections are pretty safe for both mom and pups when done correctly by a skilled and knowledgable vet. I have watched two c-sections done on Labs and the mom is up and walking around within minutes of incision closure. The pups come out not all drugged up like in the old days. Of course, this all depends on the vet, too. I have heard horror stories about some vet emergency places and c-sections. I would not hesitate to have a c-section done on one of my bitches if the need arises but I would be picky about who I let do the c-section. I would not schedule a c-section prior to allowing the bitch to attempt to whelp naturally, unless something happened and we knew she couldn't whelp the litter at all. Every breeder/owner is entitled to their own opiniion, and that is what we are getting on this list. We all have our difference level of dog experience. I still have horible thoughts racing through my mind just prior to and during each whelping. Mainly, I just let the bitch do what comes naturally to her, and I help out if she needs it. I am always right there when each litter is born just in case she needs help. You have to do what you are comfortable with. Unfortunately, we cannot help putting our human emotions into the mix of nature. I am quite sure our bitches are not as miserable during whelping as we are:) Barb Hively -----Original Message----- From: Jodi Bobin <ravencd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: Sally Hayden <dan-ann@xxxxxxxx>; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sat, Nov 7, 2009 11:36 pm Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: How many of you... Sally, I would not consider this for my own convenience nor would I consider myself to lack patience...all of my previous litters have been 12 or 13 puppies and only one ended in a section due to a large puppy, but this litter promises to be big and was only wondering if I should even consider doing a section for her benefit, not mine. Jodi ----- Original Message ----- From: Sally Hayden To: ravencd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 9:37 PM Subject: RE: [ SHOWGSD-L ] How many of you... seems to me the bitch in misery has nothing to do with a c-section sounds more like the misery of the owner not wanting to wait on the the bitch having them Kinda like the Doctor who wants to go play golf -- I have the same problem with people doing AI's all the time never letting the male breed on his own.Oh I know they claim it is to protect from disease but Me thinks it is more a convenience situation. Are we going to dumb down our breed this way too? sally > From: ravencd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] How many of you... > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:59:01 -0500 > > Hey List, > Gotta question for you...how many of you schedule a c-section for your bitches when it is not required, just to save the bitch the misery of whelping? Would you feel this is too risky??? > Jodi Bobin ??? > Sacred Heart GSDs > www.sacredheartgs.com > =========================================================================== > POST is Copyrighted 2009. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. > > ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. > > For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx > > VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org > NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ > =========================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2009. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2009. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================