Can anyone tell me what are the potential side effects of Oxytocyn? What dosage is considered as overdose?

If you give oxytocin to a dog that has any kind of a blockage (stuck puppy) you can rupture the uterus.

It is usually given at the end of a delivery to make sure that "everything" came out (no retained placenta's). OR...you can give it if your dog has been in labor, some pups come out and then labor 'stops' and you are pretty sure there is still at least one more pup etc to start contractions again.

Not sure about dosage.

You MUST use Dog Oxytocin not that made for Humans. I use 1/4 cc IM 4 to 5 hours after the last pup.
Ron

oops. That is for a 50 to 70 lb shepherd.
per my vet. Smaller dogs ????

Originally posted by Ron Bryant:
You MUST use Dog Oxytocin not that made for Humans. I use 1/4 cc IM 4 to 5 hours after the last pup.
Ron Ron,

Is there a difference in Oxytocin for humans and dogs? What will happen if human Oxytocin is used?

When during labor the waterbag will break and let say after some pups come out, how long can the remaining pup remain in the body before it is considered dangerous? Will the remaining pup suffer from suffocation in the womb?

Thanks.

James
Im not sure of the differance. But when I asked my Vet. How much to give to a Shepherd, She said to be sure it was made for animals not humans.
Ron

I had a bitch that had one puppy (x-rays). It had been a difficult pregnancy. When she started to leak some black/green discharge I decided to take he to the vet. The vet looked her over and made sure the puppy was O.K. (ultrasound...thus could keep an eye on puppy heartbeat etc). My vet waited 2-3 hrs. and then gave her a shot of oxytocin. SHe still did not seem to come into labor and thus another hour or so later gave her another shot. still nothing. So we eneded up doing a c-section. In this case the reason was that there was a mass of 'jelly gel' that was in the way of the pup coming out. When she contracted it just squished this mass and could not expell it. My vet did not hesitate to give the oxytocin in this case. Her uterus was fine etc.

A freind just had a litter. One LARGE pup was delivered with help from the breeder after an hour or so of labor. After this pup was delivered the dam was tired and layed down, took care of puppy etc. She did not appear to be in any more labor , however the breeder felt that there was at least one more puppy in there. She had also NOT delivered the placenta yet. She called me 3 hrs. later and I told her to give the oxytocin. I think I would have given it much earlier....likely an hour after the first puppy as she was not have any contactions etc. (easy to say in hindsight) Sure enough after the oxytocin she started labor and delivered another pup but it was stillborn by this time. (fully developed....just too long in canal). She then delivered placenta etc.

It is really hard for me to give advice on when to give it or when not to . You need to know your dog, what is 'normal'...what is not. Age of dog should be considered (older dogs may have more problems delivering) and size of litter. My freind did take her dog and pup to the vet to have them checked after second pup came out. Vet told her that small litters and especially where the pup(s) are large and birth was difficult are hard on the dog and uterus. They do a lot of pushing and in this case after the first pup her uterus was exhausted and did not contract anymore. So...yes, the oxytocin would have been more helpful earlier. Vet also said a larger litter where pups were smaller would have been easier on the uterus.

Shelley,

Thanks. Your description does help alot and now I understand much better thanks to you. BTW, do you happen to know about the human Oxytocin and Animal Oxytocin as mention by Ron? Any diff?

I'm not sure of how much difference there is. One thing, my hubby accidentally injected himself with a dose meant for an unruly cow. Let me tell you he had severe cramps for awhile afterward before it wore off ROFLOL! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />