Water Puppies by Nightingale Bullies
We can learn a bit from “people” medicine – water babies (hydrops) is usually from lack of red blood cells in the baby as a result of an infection or immune reaction.
It can effect only one pup in a litter or the entire litter. Water puppies are impossible to deliver naturally, they are huge, swollen, waterlogged puppies. A c-section is a must, as these puppies are generally 2 – 4x the size of their littermates.
These pups range from mild, medium to severely effected.
They do not get STUCK in the birth canal, they do not get that far, as they block the birth canal.
If your dam is pushing on a single puppy, contractions for 2 hours, without puppy presentation into the birth canal, especially after delivering one or two normal pups, you should seek veterinary assistance, as the remaining pups can die, along with the dam.
This is a Medical Emergency!
There are many opinions on why these water pups develop, some say it is congenital or environmental, some say diet, trauma to the dam, or even a virus. There is no evidence to show it is hereditary, but it does effect some breeds more than others. Especially the Bulldog & flat faced breeds including, Boston Terriers, English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Shar Pei, Bullmastiff, Basset Hound, Chow Chow, and Pugs.
It has occurred in crossbred dogs, and pedigree dogs, such as the Borzoi, Maltese, Labrador Retriever, Schnauzers, Bichon Frise, Chihuahuas, German Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail), Poodle, Great Dane, German Pointer &, in a wolf from zoo/wildlife -park.
An x-ray does not always show the larger size of these puppies, as the weight is mostly fluid. An ultrasound is thought to detect these puppies.
Water pups are usually born alive, limp, and weak, and they look like someone blew them up, like a balloon. The dam was supplying the needed oxygen and nutrition through the placenta and cord, but soon after birth the medium to severely effected pup will suffocate by the pressure of the fluid.
The mildly effected pups that survive the first 2 – 3 days, have been reported to become normal, and others say there were other underlying problems and they died within the first week.
The choice to try and save, or to let the pup go without suffering, will be between you and your vet, how much experience you have behind you, and if you are willing to put in the time PLUS be prepared for heartache. Trying to save these pups at this time, is considered experimental.
The cause or treatment of this condition is un- known at this time.
Treatment:
Treatment needs to be given right away for a mildly effected pup.
Elevate the head and extend the neck for a more clear air way.
To encourage urination run one or two fingers over the genitalia.
Some veterinarians have recently had great success using Lasix in saving water puppies. Lasix is the brand name of the chemical Furosemide. Furosemide is a diuretic-saluretic, which inhibits the re-absorption of sodium (salt). The drug is administered intravenously immediately after birth of the water puppy. Administer furosemide (Lasix) .1 to .2 ml intramuscularly, to increase urination, this can be repeated every 30 to 45 minutes for three injections. Caution: more than three could cause dehydration.
Keep the pups warm and stimulate urination as described above every 2 – 3 minutes.
Elastic bandages have also been used to push out fluid (not too tight).
Mildly effected pups can take 1 to 2 hours to breathe normally. Moderately effected pups take 90 minutes to 4 hours to breathe normal. Medium to severely effected pups are difficult to save, they usually drown within 30 minutes. Severely bloated pups, have been known to split open at the abdomen, just from handling.
Some signs for you to watch your pregnant female for are: drinking large amounts of water, nipples and surrounding tissues have a shiny look, nipples produce a fluid, very early in pregnancy.
Autopsies have shown, that the organs are saturated in fluid and the life sustaining organs, cannot function, causing the pups to drown.
Theories:
A inuterine reaction to sodium, or an inability to process proteins. Hypothyrodism, as well as an inability of the lymphmatic system to drain effectively due to the anatomy.
None of these ideas have ever been proven.
Water puppies are often seen associated with a combination of vertebral column defects and often have further abnormalities particularly cleft palates
Some Findings on causes : (still not proven)
– Congenital anasarca (congenital generalised subcutaneous oedema). The aetiology of congenital anasarca is not well defined (prenatal cardiovascular anomaly)
— A traumatic origin (with disruption of the placenta) as a foetus suffering from anasarca is usually the sole occupant of a uterine horn filled with a large amount of haemorrhagic fluid.
— Could be caused by a virus, it has been attributed to the after-effects of the mother’s oronasal infection with the minute virus during the last trimester of pregnancy associated with myocarditis. In the latter case, elasticity of the foetus’ skin allows extravasation of transudate that is compensated for by the immediate supply of fluid via the umbilical cord.
– malformation of the lymphatic drainage system
Prevention:
Low salt diet.
Reduce potential Trauma (isolate pregnant dams)
Autogenous minute virus vaccine in the case suspicion of minute virus (anarsarca en-zootic within the same breeding facility).
Shared by Nightingale Bullies www.nightingalebullies.com
About the Author
English Bulldog Breeder www.nightingalebullies.com
Puppy Birth(Litter # 1) Duke & Bailey