When a C-section is necessary
Whelping Puppies
Information written by MistyTrails Havanese. Photos Courtesy of Deanna and Katie of Victoria BC, along
with MistyTrails Havanese
Some causes of neonatal mortality are prolonged
labor, hypoxia and dystocia. It can be physiologic and even behavioral, or even
from their environment. Some puppy deaths are from a genetic problem or an
infection. Studies show that 20 to 30% of all puppies born die before 6 months
of age; most because of neonatal death.
If your intuition says something is not
progressing as per your thoughts of NORMAL, seek veterinary advise. To avoid
puppy deaths, you must work aggressively with your vet, on the first sign of
labor problems. I always advise people to go with their "GUT FEELING". Pain and
Anxiety, including Maternal Stress are detrimental to the unborn puppy, so keep
her calm. It is also good to know, that some vets will ask YOU, what YOU want to
do. Many vets, will leave the call for a C-section up to you, because you know
your dog. I believe there are some legal issues and reasons for the vet to like
the client to make the call. One thing I find useful, is to turn the question
around on the vet. and I ask HIM, "What would you do IF this was YOUR Dam.?"
Why do a Cesarean ?
#1 The puppies are not deliverable, because of various reasons, including puppy
size, pelvic size and shape, or even a pup in a bad position may make the call
for a C-section fast, to save the litter.
#2 Uterine Inertia,
Any signs of fetal distress may make you want to quickly consider a C-section.
not all labor leads to a natural birth. Some signs of fetal stress are, black,
red or green discharge, which often means the placenta has detached, or fetal
discharge (both can indicate problems).
A C-section should never be performed BEFORE the dams overdue date, it is always
best to wait till labor starts, OR, temperature drops below 99 fahrenheit and
stays down. Timing a C-section is EXTREMELY important for puppy survival.
| Always remember, a C-section can be a good thing, and be VERY rewarding to you and your vet. |
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The drugs given for a C-section are milder and
safer than with some surgeries, as anything given to the dam, will go to the
puppies, through the placentas, so just enough to make the dam comfy, yet not so
harsh on the puppies. It must be a type that allows for fast recovery, and not
have prolonged effects.
Tell your Vet, Do NOT use ketamine valium - ket-val, as it goes into the pups,
and takes 20 minutes to revive the pups. This is very bad for the pups. Propofol
is now, by far, the best anesthetic for a c-section. It is recommended that you
tell your vet to give propofol as it only lasts minutes, and then mask them down
with ice-o-florine from an anesthetic machine, (or JUST mask till they fall
asleep). The difference with the pro-po-fol along with masking is, the pups come
out crying, as in a natural birth.
A dam in distress, that we have decided to do a
cesarean section, is first given some "Happy drugs", including a drug that has
atropine sulfate, which helps maintain the fetal heart rates. Intravenous
is inserted into usually the front leg, and often she is given fluids. Many dams
in distress are dehydrated as well. The IV also helps to maintain normal blood
pressure.
Prep. for surgery. Dam was cleaned and shaved PRIOR to being
anesthetized. A final cleansing is done before surgery.
An incision from the pubis to the umilicus is
done. In some cases with large puppies, and the uterus is overly large, the
incision may need to be extended.
The dam is well covered up, and kept warm, limiting the exposed areas. You do
not want to get the dam too chilled. Exposing her uterus to the air can cause
hypothermia, especially in small or already chilled and in shock dams.
The Uterus (Uterin Horns) are then pulled out
An Incision is made in the Uterus to allow fast
removal of the puppies.
A secondary Staff is standing by, at the door to catch puppies, and tend to
their immediate needs and revival.
The vet and assistant in the operating room, have nothing to do with the pups
after they come out.
There hands are full, making sure ALL placental tissue is removed and they need
to close the incision.
If there were no major complications, the milk flow is not affected by the
surgery, and Future breedings are not affected.
Some pups born from cesarean, are slow to come
around. This depends on the stress level and all circumstances. The Revival Crew
Must act fast, as ALL puppies are born within a minute. As they come out, the
revival staff removes sacs, cuts cords, and begins to attempt to get them all
breathing. CPR, mouth to mouth, and aggressive rub downs start. WARMTH,
repeatedly using towels from the warmer is also needed. For a C-section, pups
can take up to ½ hour to stabilize and
breathe on their own.
Reviving pups - When the pups start to breathe,
and cry, It is a HAPPY MOMENT for the revival team.
pups in warm box
After pups are revived they are put in a warm
box, and the dam is brought out. Her gums are checked to pink up, and her
temperature needs to be brought back up.
Some dams revive within 10 minutes, some take an
hour, but, as soon as she is able to hold her head up, temperature is up, and
gums are pink, she can immediately go home and nurse the pups. EXTREME
supervision must be given, as a dam with a hard delivery will not always accept
her puppies. MAKE THEM NURSE as the nursing will stimulate release of hormones
from her brain to turn her into a good mom. Weigh the pups, if they are not
getting milk, supplement but ONLY AFTER they have sucked on the dam for a LONG
Time.
The sucking is needed to stimulate
her milk production. You just sometimes need to give the pups a boost to keep
their energy up, so they can suck even harder at next feeding.
Give the dam a big bowl of broth, or Mamalac as soon as she will take it. If not
syringe liquids into her.
AGAIN, a litter of C-section pups needs to be supervised. With her pain level,
she can easily suffocate a pup, and not know it is under her.
I suggest if you need a nap, from an All-nighter, you separate dam and pups.
Putting pups in a heated box.
Remember, NO drafts, NO chills, these can seriously harm a litter.
A C-section will cost you between $500 and $1200. The normal
easy C-section during business hours is about $500.00, then you add anything
that was extra, and of course, on off hours labor is time and a half.
Extra care should be taken to watch over
dams who have had C-sections. If the mother is put to sleep, then
has a c-section, she'll wake up, at the vet, and then, you are going
to introduce her to the pups, who, she is NOT going to believe or
understand, that they are hers. Then you are going to put them on
her teats, and let them suck, and she may NOT like this. You MAY
have to hold her down. 100% supervision is a must, after a
c-section. But after the pups nurse for 48 hours, her hormones
should kick in, at least 80% of them do. It is an important step in
whelping, that certain hormones are released during the birthing
process. These hormones coupled with the sight of the pups arriving,
and then licking the membrane, or eating part of the placenta, all
play a vital role in the process of becoming a good mother. When
these steps are skipped, like in the case of a section, the dam
often feels estranged with the pups, she misses vital steps in the
natural process, and that's what can cause dangerous episodes to
occur.
IE: it has been noted in some breeds,
that a dam could kill and eat her pups, but Rejection is the most
common occurrence in all breeds, so you need to assist to teach them
to be a good mom, as it will not always come naturally, after a
c-section. Also from sedation, you cannot leave the pups with the
dam, as even the BEST mom, could lie on one, and not realize it, in
her drugged up state. C-sections are sometimes necessary. If your
dam needs a c-section stay with her and the pups and carefully
monitor their interaction, this should be done even with natural
whelping, however extra time should be spent when a c-section has
been performed. After a section, keep the pups in a warm box, and
the Dam separate, unless you are in the room.
