Increased use of caesarean sections in pedigree dogs - A study based on data from the Danish Kennel Club 2013-2022

Dystocia is a common problem in dogs. It is often resolved by emergency caesarean section, which is an invasive procedure that poses a risk to the dam and her puppies, and can cause postoperative discomfort. The risk of death to both puppies and dams can be decreased by elective caesarean section in bitches with a high risk of dystocia. However, if elective caesarean sections lead to the continual breeding of bitches unable to give birth vaginally, the prevalence of dystocia is likely to increase. The aim of this study was to follow the prevalence of caesarean section in pedigree dogs registered in the Danish Kennel Club from 2013 to 2022 (n = 35,121 litters). Specifically, the prevalence was examined for the total population of pedigree dogs (12.7 %-15.5 %), for brachycephalic breeds (37.6 %-40.1 %), and for five selected individual breeds. We observed an increase in the prevalence of caesarean sections from 2013 to 2020, while the prevalence was more stable during the period 2020-2022. Major differences in prevalence were observed between breeds and specifically between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic breeds, with higher levels in the former. Recently imposed legal limits on the number of caesarean sections performed on each bitch in combination with breeding guidelines that account for breed and reproductive history may serve to lower the use of caesarean sections.