The birth of a litter of puppies is an event that is eagerly awaited. During the gestation period, the future mother needs more attention and care, although without overwhelming her. Childbirth, although it generates nerves in the family, is a natural process that most dogs are able to face if there are no complications, bringing into the world a beautiful litter of puppies.
However, complications that require human intervention, specifically a veterinarian, may occur during pregnancy and delivery. That's why we present you with this guide on how to know if your dog needs a C-section.
Brachycephalic breeds
Some breeds of dogs tend to have problems during labor, such as the Boston terrier and the English and French bulldogs. The reason for this? These are brachycephalic species, that is, the size of the head is considerably larger than the rest of the body, so it is difficult for the young to cross the canal of Birth.
The need for a cesarean section for these breeds must be determined by a veterinarian through ultrasound, in which it can be seen if the size of the puppies will cause complications during delivery.
Abnormalities in the mother's body
Sometimes, regardless of race, the body parts intended for giving birth may not have the best dimensions for it, such as when the The bitch's birth canal is too narrow, which has different reasons, or even hereditary malformations in the uterus.
Also, during childbirth the cervix or pelvis may be fractured, requiring immediate surgical intervention. Likewise, in any of the cases, only a veterinarian will be able to know if the dog needs a caesarean section through ultrasound, so it is essential to go to the specialist whenever necessary.
Puppy complications
Some puppies, especially when the litter is small, can reach a size greater than the mother's body is capable of to expel, that's why it's so important to monitor your dog's pregnancy. Detecting this in time is crucial for the life of the puppy and the mother, since she will not be able to give birth naturally. In addition, it is also possible that the puppies are misplaced in the uterus, making a natural birth dangerous as they would get stuck or choke on the umbilical cord.
As if that were not enough, a puppy with any type of malformation that affects its normal proportions requires a caesarean section
Problems at delivery
It is possible that difficulties may arise at the time of delivery that could not be foreseen in the ultrasound scans and veterinary controls. If this is your case, here are the most common so you can discover how to know if your dog needs a caesarean section:
Fetal suffering
This name receives any damage that the fetus may suffer during labor, compromising the life of the puppies. It is evidenced by unusual secretions that are dark or red in color.
Dystocia
Occurs when labor does not proceed normally, because contractions are few and unsuccessful, so the muscles involved in the process it is excessively depleted. Among the signs are spaced or frequent contractions but without result, in addition to the expulsion of greenish liquid, extreme tiredness, dehydration or hypoglycemia, among others.
If the puppies cannot be expelled, it is called obstructive dystocia. It may happen that some are born and others are not, or that none are born naturally. This condition is directly related to uterine inertia.
Uterine inertia
This is a condition in which, although other signs indicating the onset of labor have already occurred, contractions never occur, as the body does not respond to the stimulation given by the fetuses to leave. This is the case of primary inertia. In the secondary inertia some puppies can be born, while others remain in the uterus.
Any of these cases requires immediate veterinary attention and the application of a caesarean section.
Nervousness
Many bitches will instinctively know what to do during labor, how to help support their own recovery, and how to care for their newborn puppies. However, an bitch who is overly pampered and overprotectedcan become very nervous during pregnancy, so it is worth checking with your vet if she recommends a C-section to avoid complications
It also has an influence if you also find it difficult to control the anxiety caused by the imminent delivery. Remember that dogs are very sensitive to emotions and it is easy to transmit our moods to them.
Care after cesarean section
If after reviewing the different causes that can lead you to know if your dog needs a caesarean section, you suspect that, indeed, it will be necessary to carry out the intervention, you should also know that you will have to dedicate time to the care her. After the surgery, the veterinarian will determine when the new mother and her puppies can return home, as well as if the wound allows her to nurse the little ones or you should be the one to carry out this task.
Once you are home, you should dress the cesarean section every day, with iodine or povidone, and apply a cream healing indicated by the specialist. We detail all the care of the dog after a caesarean section in this article, don't miss it!
On the other hand, now that you know the most common birthing problems in female dogs, keep in mind that you can prevent this situation from happening again by spaying it following the advice of your veterinarian. Check out our article on the advantages of neutering a dog and find out everything.
