C/S and health risks for our Newfs

[Joan Fisher]

From some of the conversations I had while at the Specialty, it seems that the C/S rate in Newfs is increasing. Someone mentioned booking a section because they were 3 hours from a vet, another breeder said she was planning a section because her bitch was smaller and she didn't want to risk any complications. This is not a good trend. C/S's have health risks themselves and could be a factor in the deteriorating health in our Newfs. In other mammals, including humans, C/S is associated with a higher risk of autoimmune disease, including allergies. Since my Newfs born in 1978 and 1991 had no allergies or autoimmune diseases, and my Newfs born in 1999 and 2007 have had both, I wonder if C/S and also formula supplementation in the neonate period are a factor. Tiika was born by planned C/S. Are breeders aware of these concerns?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18352976
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12084840
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16242961
http://www.earlyhumandevelopment.com/article/S0378-3782%2804%2900189-6/abstract
http://scienceblogs.com/aetiology/2010/02/c-sections_allergies_and_probi.php
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=126993&sectionid=3510210
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20100519/hl_hsn/csectionsmayraiseceliacdiseaseriskinoffspring

 

[Sun Valley]

Hi Joan,

I am not aware nor have I heard about any problems in Newfs born via a section. I have had a few sections through the years and have not had any problems mentioned in the articles.

I know many people due routine sections and I'm not too keen on that. I only section if there is a problem, but once I do a section, any further pregnancy's will also be a section.

And after those sections all of my girls still had milk, nursed their puppies, and puppies weren't supplemented.

Lou Ann

 

[Codes]

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread but I fully recommend and endorse Whelp Wise. They montor your girl and her pups and if there's even a hint of trouble, they will send you off to your vet, just to err on the side of caution. Once whelping is done they continue to monitor your girl to ensure she is no longer having contractions and that there are no more puppies. Certainly helps to get an accurate count as to how many pups to expect beforehand but sometimes xrays aren't correct. This company leaves nothing to chance.

Great service and the service doesn't end once the puppies are whelped. They phone several days afterwards to make sure Mom and pups are doing well . They are available to answer any questions one may have. Some see it as a tad pricey but I view it as a good investment for your bitch and her pups. Especially if you're new to breeding. Although I've head that several long time breeders use and recommend this service as well.

www.whelpwise.com

 

[Joan Fisher]

Hi Joan,

I am not aware nor have I heard about any problems in Newfs born via a section. I have had a few sections through the years and have not had any problems mentioned in the articles.

I know many people due routine sections and I'm not too keen on that. I only section if there is a problem, but once I do a section, any further pregnancy's will also be a section.

And after those sections all of my girls still had milk, nursed their puppies, and puppies weren't supplemented.

Lou Ann

Thanks for your response, Lou Ann. Of course, if the dam is in trouble, a C/S is warranted. Much better to save the lives of the dam and the puppies than to worry about what will come after. But I think breeders need to be aware of this new research. Most of the articles have only come out in the past two years. It's possible the breeders and owners have not correlated allergies and autoimmune diseases with pups born by C/S. I'm sure not all owners are aware of the mode of delivery of their pups. Maybe it's something that bears watching. As far as I know, there was no history of allergy or autoimmune disease in Tiika and her sister Splash's family history. Their pedigree can be traced back to 1853 with all champions on both sides in 4 generations. But Tiika is allergic to chicken. She scratches herself to pieces if she even gets a taste, and, she has masticatory muscle myositis, an autoimmune disease. Splash is allergic to poison ivy and some plants or grasses which make her very itchy. Maybe it isn't because they were born by C/S but in light of the recent research and lack of family history, it certainly sounds suspicious. I hope we have Tiika for a very long time, but I know that one of the requirements for my next pup, whenever that will be, is "born vaginally".

 

[Ginny]

I'm glad you were happy with their services, Mary K. While the price may seem a bit high, it more than likely would have saved me the cost of a C-section which far out distances their cost. I now plan to try them for my next litter. Thanks for the link.

Hope I'm not hijacking this thread but I fully recommend and endorse Whelp Wise. They montor your girl and her pups and if there's even a hint of trouble, they will send you off to your vet, just to err on the side of caution. Once whelping is done they continue to monitor your girl to ensure she is no longer having contractions and that there are no more puppies. Certainly helps to get an accurate count as to how many pups to expect beforehand but sometimes xrays aren't correct. This company leaves nothing to chance.

Great service and the service doesn't end once the puppies are whelped. They phone several days afterwards to make sure Mom and pups are doing well . They are available to answer any questions one may have. Some see it as a tad pricey but I view it as a good investment for your bitch and her pups. Especially if you're new to breeding. Although I've head that several long time breeders use and recommend this service as well.

www.whelpwise.com

 

[Sierra Newfs]

Joan have you read "Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets: The Healthful Alternative" by Donald Strombeck, DVM, PhD? He wrote an interesting chapter called "Adaptation to the Diet" which covers some of the issues you raise.

I haven't read the second edition of the book by Patricia Schenck so am unable to comment on how the same issues are addressed or if updated information is included.

http://books.google.com/books?id=sw...hful alternative&pg=PA137#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[Joan Fisher]

Thanks, Becky. It looks interesting. It's not new knowledge for me but I'm glad to see it's out there is the vet world somewhere. We know that one bottle of formula changes the gut flora of a a human baby for at least two weeks. Mammalian biology is pretty complex. We humans mess with it all the time - with our own species and others!