Successful medical management of dystocia due to secondary uterine inertia in a rabbit doe

Introduction

Dystocia is defined as difficulty or failure in the normal expulsion of fetuses during parturition. It can occur due to either maternal or fetal factors (Pretzer, 2008) [1] . Maternal causes may include pelvic abnormalities, reproductive tract disorders, and inadequate uterine contractions, whereas fetal causes include abnormal presentation, position or posture, excessive fetal size, congenital abnormalities, and fetal death (Narwade et al., 2024) [2] . Dystocia is relatively uncommon in rabbits because normal parturition is generally rapid and is usually completed within approximately 30 minutes. However, disturbances in uterine contractility can occasionally interfere with normal delivery. Uterine inertia is considered one of the important causes of dystocia in rabbits (Yadav et al., 2023) [3] . It may be classified as primary or secondary. Primary uterine inertia occurs when effective uterine contractions fail to develop, whereas secondary uterine inertia occurs when contractions initially develop normally but later become weak or cease before all the fetuses are delivered (Arizmendi et al., 2017) [4] .

Material and methods

A 3-year-old rabbit doe was presented to the Teaching Veterinary Complex, Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra, with a history of having delivered three live kits approximately 12 hours earlier. Despite the initial successful delivery, the doe continued to strain but failed to deliver the remaining fetus. On clinical examination, the doe appeared dull, restless and anorectic. The rectal temperature was recorded as 102 °F.

Abdominal palpation suggested the presence of a retained fetus, which was subsequently confirmed by radiographic examination. Based on the history, clinical findings, and radiographic evidence, the case was diagnosed as dystocia associated with secondary uterine inertia. (fig no .1)

The doe was treated with oxytocin at a dose of 1-2 IU administered intramuscularly, along with 1 mL of a calcium preparation by the intramuscular route. Following treatment, the doe was kept in a quiet and undisturbed environment to minimise stress and allow the uterus to respond to the medication. Approximately 30 minutes after treatment, the doe began to exhibit effective straining and subsequently expelled a dead fetus. Chlorpheniramine maleate was administered at 1 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly for three days. In addition, multivitamin syrup was administered orally at a dose of 1 mL daily for 20 days.

Result and discussion

The doe responded well to treatment and recovered without any apparent complications. Its general health and activity returned to normal within one week. Dystocia is not commonly reported in rabbits because normal parturition is usually rapid and uncomplicated. Nevertheless, problems affecting uterine contractility or fetal expulsion can occasionally interfere with the completion of parturition. In the present case, the doe initially delivered three live kits normally but subsequently failed to deliver the remaining fetus. Oxytocin is commonly used to stimulate uterine contractions and can be beneficial in cases where inadequate uterine activity is responsible for delayed or incomplete fetal expulsion. In rabbits, low doses of oxytocin administered intramuscularly have been reported to stimulate uterine contractions and facilitate fetal delivery. Calcium also has an important role in muscle contraction and may help support myometrial activity when administered along with oxytocin (Gruaz et al., 2017 and Nekibuddin et al., 2022) [5] . In the present case, administration of oxytocin in combination with calcium was followed which resulted in effective expulsive efforts and successful delivery of the retained fetus. The favourable response suggests that medical stimulation of uterine activity can be effective in selected cases of secondary uterine inertia. However, uterotonic drugs should be used only after careful assessment of the doe and fetus, particularly to rule out mechanical obstruction or other conditions that could make uterine stimulation inappropriate.

Conclusion

Secondary uterine inertia should be considered as a possible cause of dystocia in rabbit does that continue to strain after delivering one or more kits but fail to complete parturition. In the present case, the combined administration of oxytocin and calcium resulted in the resumption of effective uterine contractions and successful expulsion of the retained fetus. The doe subsequently recovered without apparent complications. Early recognition of dystocia, appropriate diagnostic evaluation, and timely intervention are important for reducing maternal complications and fetal losses in affected rabbit does.

References

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7. Nekibuddin A, Manav S, Prasanta KB, Sampurna NY. Management of secondary uterine inertia in a rabbit doe (Oryctolagus cuniculus). 2022. How to cite this article: Keerthana P, Bawaskar M, Raghuwanshi D, Gawande A, Patil M. Successful medical management of dystocia due to secondary uterine inertia in a rabbit doe. International Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry. 2026;11(10):40-41. doi: https://www.doi.org/10.222 71/veterinary.2026.v11.i10a.3833