Cesarean sections are not an easy feat for the dog and pet owner. Aside from the surgery stress, mother dogs receive fluids and medications through intravenous lines in their legs to stabilize them during and after delivery. What’s worse is that the mother also has a surgical wound on her abdomen that is healing while she’s expected to take care of puppies that need maternal attention 24/7.
After your vet discharges your dogs from their care, you must provide a comfortable environment for both mom and pups to recover for at least two weeks. They would have learned how to breastfeed and started getting used to having litter around by then.
While both mother and pups have to recover from the ordeal, a lot of work also falls on the shoulders of owners who have to be extra vigilant with their dog’s recovery. At home, there are many ways an owner can do to make their dog as comfortable as possible during those days as follows:
1. Make Your Pet Eat and Drink Normally
If she doesn’t seem interested during the first two days, try warming up milk by putting it in warm water or milk bottles in hot water for 5-10 minutes before feeding. Try feeding her small meals several times throughout the day instead of one big meal. Do not restrict food until after weaning since that could prompt signs of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), which can be life-threatening.
2. Try Preventing Your Dog from Licking Their Incision
One of the consequences of a C-section is that the incision may take weeks to heal completely. Try not to let your dog lick or scratch at her surgical wound since it could lead to infection. It would also require you to visit vets for treatment and rechecks more often, so make sure she stays away from anything you don’t want her licking or chewing on.
If her incision gets dirty or wet, wipe it with a soft towel soaked in cold water, followed by dabbing it dry with another clean towel. Also, keep your dog’s mouth away from the area around her stitches, which will take longer than usual to recover. Remember, mother nature’s best anesthesia is in the form of birth hormones.
Keep the incision or wound clean and dry for at least two weeks. Check on it frequently to make sure there’s no pus or fluid. Owners should also wipe away any accumulated blood from washing the dog as this may irritate her skin if allowed to dry on the fur. If there are signs of infection such as redness, heat, swelling, odor, or pus formation, call your vet immediately since this may affect wounds that have already healed or complicate recovery time.
This important aftercare following a C-section is also vital for other post-op surgeries, such as mass removal, soft tissue surgery, etc. Find out here other vet surgery procedures and expert advice on recovery.
3. Let Your Dog to Get Enough Rest and Sleep
Let your dog get enough rest and sleep for at least 12 hours per night. Avoid letting pups near mom’s incision area until it has healed appropriately. This is especially true if the litter has started teething (around 3-4 months) since they might try chewing on the stitches, leading to infections.
4. Prevent Them from Exerting Themselves Physically
After surgery, dogs should receive minimal exercise. In fact, it’s best if she gets zero exercise at least for the first few days because strenuous activity might result in an increased heart rate, which can be dangerous.
If the dog insists on going out of the house to relieve herself, carry her in your arms. As much as possible, you want to limit outdoor activity, especially if it’s raining or recently rained, because there is a chance that the dirt could contain traces of deworming agents veterinarians use during c-sections. If possible, get an indoor potty area set up for her that you can help clean up easier.
5. Keep Pups Away from Mother Once Fully Weaned
Keep the puppies away from the mother when they’re at least two weeks old to ensure they do not disturb the mother’s healing process. Pups instinctively want to nurse even if their mom has no milk. If allowed to suckle, this can trigger the mother’s body to lactate, preventing her uterus from contracting down properly prolonging recovery time.
Try keeping the puppies in a separate space with blankets or towels that have their mommy scent for them to cuddle during those two weeks.
As an owner, taking care of your puppies doesn’t stop after the mother recovers. When they’re at least 6 or 8 weeks, you need to start taking them to the vet for their dog vaccinations, which continues until they’re one year old.
Choosing the Best Vet Hospital
Keep in mind that even if two hospitals look similar, there might still be significant differences between them. Veterinarians and their staff can differ in quality, which is why it’s essential to research the facility and ask the right questions before your pet needs emergency surgery.
Ask other pet owners and get recommendations from satisfied clients who have had similar experiences with their veterinarians. You can also search online and limit your search within your area. After narrowing down your list and asking questions, choose an experienced surgeon, like Creature Comforts Veterinary Hospital, who regularly performs c-sections. Click here for more info about their services.
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