How To Prepare For C-section For Dogs

Every breeder has found themselves wondering what to do during a whelping. If you're ever in a similar spot, the first thing to do is calm down so you can make an informed decision.

The following are ways to prepare for an emergency C-Section even before you breed your dog:

Determine her due date

You can determine the precise day of ovulation with progesterone testing. Typically, whelping occurs 62 to 64 days after ovulation. Alternatively, you could collect blood during her season and have your veterinarian save it. Then, you could perform these tests when it appears she is having trouble whelping. 

Get pre-whelping X-rays

X-rays taken the week prior to her due date can reveal the number of puppies and whether any are abnormally large. A tiny litter may not have enough puppies to create adequate hormones that act on the dam to trigger labour. When there is a large litter, the dam may become too overburdened to deliver all of the puppies. In either scenario, you might think about scheduling a C-section.

Have a standby veterinarian

A veterinarian that doesn't have a relationship with you may be unwilling to squeeze you in between appointments. Get a veterinarian involved from your pre-breeding tests and make arrangements with them on what to do if a whelping emergency occurs during or after regular office hours.