Oxytocin misuse: A pitfall in the management of canine dystocia

Abstract Oxytocin misuse poses significant risks in the management of canine dystocia, potentially leading to adverse outcomes. Understanding the implications of oxytocin misuse is essential for promoting safe and effective interventions in dystocia cases. A 4‐year‐old female Neapolitan Mastiff was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan, exhibiting signs of prolonged labour. The owner confessed to having administered up to 30 IU of oxytocin intramuscularly at once to the bitch. Physical and clinical examinations revealed weakness, recumbency and a foul‐smelling discharge suggestive of fetal death or infection. Despite a patent cervix, no fetus was presented in the birth canal, indicating a dystocia. Management included surgical intervention, which revealed severe intra‐uterine haemorrhage and the presence of a dead putrefying fetus. The over‐reliance on oxytocin for fetal evacuation without investigating the causation of dystocia, emphasises the urgent need for proper education of dog breeders.