

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." If a puppy seems reluctant to nurse, you may gently massage the teat to express some milk, which may induce the pup to begin nursing. Gently place the puppies near the mother's teats. 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. The puppies should be ready to nurse as soon as you arrive home.
#Stapled vagina skin
If skin staples were used, they will also require removal in 10 to 14 days. As a general rule, if the stitches are visible, they will have to be removed, usually 10 to 14 days after surgery. Many veterinarians use internal, absorbable sutures that will not be visible and do not require removal. The stitches may or may not need to be removed, depending on the type of suture material used. If she had an ovariohysterectomy (was spayed) at the time of the C-section, she should have little or no vaginal discharge. 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. It may be quite heavy for the first one to three days after delivery and then begin to diminish. Is a bloody vaginal discharge from the mother normal?Ī bloody vaginal discharge is normal for three to seven days following birth. If the mother's temperature goes above 104✯ (40✬), she and her litter should be examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Do not give your dog acetylsalicylic acid or ASA (Aspirin ®), acetaminophen (Tylenol ®) or any other medication, including herbal preparations, without consulting your veterinarian. The mother's temperature may rise 1-2✯ (0.5-1.0✬) above normal in the first one to three days after delivery, then it should return to the normal range. "Do not give your dog any medication, including herbal preparations, without consulting your veterinarian." There are now diets that have passed AAFCO feeding trials for gestation and lactation, which are ideal for dogs nursing puppies. She should be fed a premium brand high-quality dog food while nursing, in order to provide the appropriate nutrition for her and her litter. By the third or fourth week of nursing, her food intake may be two to three times normal. Her food intake at this time should be about one-and-a half times her normal food intake. If she eats or drinks too much or too quickly, she may vomit. You should offer her small amounts of food and water frequently (every 15 to 30 minutes) for the first 24 hours after surgery.

The mother should begin eating within a few hours. 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. "During the immediate recovery period, she must be closely monitored so that she does not.roll over and crush the newborn puppies."ĭuring the immediate recovery period, she must be closely monitored so that she does not fall and hurt herself, or roll over and crush the newborn puppies. Complete recovery from anesthetic may take two to six 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. Most dogs have recovered from anesthesia by the time they are discharged to go home. The mother will have been given an anesthetic that should be eliminated from her body quickly. What should I expect during the mother's recovery period? Most dogs recover quickly from this procedure 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. This is most commonly performed as an emergency procedure when there is difficulty with natural birth. A caesarean section, or C-section, is major surgery performed to remove puppies from the uterus.
