Which condition describes difficulty with birthing in laboratory animals?

The condition that describes difficulty with birthing in laboratory animals is dystocia. Dystocia refers specifically to complications during the labor process, whether it involves the position of the fetus, the size of the offspring, or maternal anatomy that can hinder successful delivery. This term is commonly used in veterinary medicine and applied to various species, including laboratory animals.

Understanding the other terms helps clarify the context: dysphagia indicates difficulty swallowing, which is unrelated to the birthing process; hypoxia refers to a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, potentially impacting health but not specifically related to childbirth difficulties; and metritis is an inflammation of the uterus, often seen post-birth rather than as a direct cause of delivery complications. Therefore, dystocia is the correct term to use when discussing birthing difficulties in laboratory animals.