A Cesarean section is not easy for a dog and the owner. As an owner, it’s crucial to choose a reputable vet clinic or hospital, such as this Ankeny vet clinic, to perform the procedure correctly. Aside from the surgery stress, mother dogs receive fluids and medications through intravenous lines in their legs to stabilize them during and after delivery. To make matters worse, they also have a healing surgical wound on their abdomen, while they’re expected to take care of their pups that need maternal attention 24/7.
When veterinarians discharge your dog, you must provide a conducive environment for both mom and pups to recover for at least two weeks. They would have learned how to breastfeed and got used to having litter around by this time.
While both mother and pups recover, you have a lot of work to do as an owner to help with their speedy recovery. Here are some tips you should know:
1. Ensure Your Pet Is Eating and Drinking Normally
If the mother dog is not 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 them small meals several times instead of one big meal several times throughout the day. Do not restrict food until after weaning since that could prompt signs of hypoglycemia or 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 their surgical wound since it could lead to infection. You might also need to bring them to the vet more often for treatment and rechecks, so make sure they are away from things they shouldn’t lick or chew.
If the incision gets dirty or wet, wipe it with a soft towel soaked in cold water, then pat it dry with another clean towel. Also, keep your dog’s mouth away from the area around the stitches, which will take longer than usual to recover. Keep in mind that 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. Visit these dog surgeons in Ankeny for vet surgeries, post-op monitoring, and pain management.
3. Let Your Dog 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. Limit outdoor activity, especially if it’s raining or recently rained because there is a high probability 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.
As much as possible, keep pups in a separate space with blankets or towels that have their mommy scent for them to cuddle during those two weeks.
Choosing the Best Vet Hospital
Even if two animal hospitals look similar, there can still be significant differences between them. Veterinarians and their staff can differ in quality. That is why it’s vital to research the facility and ask the right questions before your pet needs emergency surgery.
Talk to other pet owners and get referrals from satisfied clients who have had similar experiences with their veterinarians. You can also look online to limit your search within your area. After narrowing down your list and asking questions, choose an experienced surgeon who regularly performs c-sections. Click this link to know more about Creature Comforts Veterinary Hospital – one of the leading animal facilities in the Ankeny area.
