A caesarean section, or C-section, is a major surgery to remove puppies from the uterus. This surgery is usually performed as an emergency procedure when there is difficulty with natural birth.
Most dogs recover quickly from a C-section; however, if your dog was in labor for several hours before surgery was performed, her recovery will be slower, and she will need extra attention and help with her puppies.
What should I expect during the mother's recovery period?
The mother will be given an anesthetic that should be eliminated from her body quickly. Most dogs have recovered from anesthesia by the time they are discharged to go home. Complete recovery from anesthetic may take 2 to 12 hours, depending on the anesthetics used, the mother's physical condition, her age at the time of surgery, and how long she was in labor before the surgery.
During the immediate recovery period, she must be closely monitored so she does not fall and hurt herself or roll over and crush the newborn puppies. The puppies should not be left alone with her until she is completely awake, able to stand on her own, and interested in caring for her puppies. The puppies may also be sedated from the anesthetic, and so may be sluggish and slow to nurse, at first.
The mother should begin eating within a few hours. Offer her small amounts of food and water frequently (every 15 to 30 minutes) for the first 24 hours after surgery. If she eats or drinks too much or too quickly, she may vomit. Her food intake at this time should be about 1.5 times her normal food intake. By the third or fourth week of nursing, her food intake may be two to three times normal. She should be fed a premium-brand, high-quality dog food while nursing to provide the appropriate nutrition for her and her litter. Diets that have passed AAFCO feeding trials for gestation and lactation are ideal for dogs nursing puppies. A high-quality puppy food is an alternative.
The mother's temperature may rise 1ºF-2ºF (0.5ºC-1.0ºC) above normal in the first one to three days after delivery, then it should return to the normal range. The normal range is 100ºF-102ºF (37.8ºC -38.9ºC). If the mother's temperature goes above 104ºF (40ºC), she and her litter should be examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Do not give your dog acetylsalicylic acid or ASA (Aspirin®), ibuprofen (Advil®), or any other medication, including herbal preparations, without consulting your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will provide pain medication that is appropriate for nursing mothers.
Is a bloody vaginal discharge from the mother normal?
A bloody vaginal discharge is normal for three to seven days following birth. It may be quite heavy for the first one to three days after delivery and then begin to diminish. If it continues for longer than one week, changes color or develops an odor, the mother should be checked for the presence of infection or other complications. If she had an ovariohysterectomy (was spayed) at the time of the C-section, she should have little or no vaginal discharge.
When are the mother's stitches removed?
The stitches may or may not need to be removed, depending on the type of suture material used. Many veterinarians use internal, absorbable sutures that are not visible and do not require removal. As a rule, if the stitches are visible, they will have to be removed, usually 10 to 14 days after surgery. If skin staples were used, they will also require removal in 10 to 14 days.
How should I care for the puppies?
The puppies should be ready to nurse as soon as you arrive home. Although the mother may not be awake enough to nurse the puppies alone, you can help by making the mother lie still so the puppies can nurse. Gently place the puppies near the mother's teats. If a puppy seems reluctant to nurse, you may gently massage the teat to express some milk, which may induce the pup to nurse.
"If puppies are not able to nurse within the first 24 hours, they lose the immune protection provided by the first milk."
If the mother does not have enough milk at first, you may supplement the puppies with milk replacer for the first day or two. Your veterinarian should be able to supply you with a commercial puppy milk replacer such as Esbilac®, as well as nursing bottles that are the appropriate size for the puppies' tiny mouths. Many pet stores also carry these supplies.
In an emergency, the following formula may be used until you can purchase a product designed for puppies:
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon corn/canola oil
- 1 pinch of salt + 3 egg yolks (no whites and best if the eggs are pasteurized)
Blend the mixture until it is a uniform consistency. Feed the formula at a rate of 1 oz (30 ml) per ¼ lb (⅛ kg) of puppy weight per 24 hours. That amount should be divided into three to five feedings. The average newborn, small-breed puppy weighs approximately ¼ lb (⅛ kg) at birth, while a large-breed puppy weighs ½ to 1 lb (¼ to ½ kg).
It is preferable for puppies to begin nursing immediately, but a healthy newborn can survive without complication for up to 12 hours without nursing. However, if the newborn is weak, dehydrated, or cold, it must be fed as soon as possible.
If puppies are not able to nurse within the first 24 hours, they lose the immune protection provided by the first milk (colostrum), leaving them more susceptible to infectious diseases. Your vet can administer serum (liquid component of blood) orally from a healthy, vaccinated dog (usually the mother or another dog in the household) if the puppies are less than 24 hours old, or under the skin if older, to try to achieve the same protection the puppies would have received from colostrum.
How warm should the puppies’ room be?
A newborn puppy is not able to regulate its body temperature well. If the puppies stay near their mother, the room temperature is not critical. However, if they are not with their mother, the room temperature should be 85ºF-90ºF (29.4ºC -32.2ºC). To avoid any chance of hypothermia or hyperthermia (chilling or overheating), the newborns should be kept inside the house if possible.
For further information about puppy care, see the handouts “Breeding for Dog Owners: Caring for Newborn Puppies” and “Raising Puppies”. Other handouts in this series contain further information about intestinal parasites, infectious diseases, and vaccinations. Your veterinarian can provide you with this information and give you specific advice.
