At Providence South Animal Hospital, our veterinarians perform both scheduled and emergency c-sections for cats and dogs in Waxhaw.
Caesarean Sections for Dogs & Cats
A caesarean section (c-section) is a surgical procedure where puppies or kittens are removed from the uterus of a dog or cat. Most animals recover quickly and without complication from this procedure.
At Providence South Animal Hospital, we often perform c-sections in emergency cases where a pet has difficulty giving birth naturally. A c-section may also be prescribed by your vet preventively for specific dog breeds, or if they anticipate a complicated birth for your pet.
C-Section Preparation
C-sections in cats and dogs are usually preformed in emergency situations, if the pet has been labouring for too long. If your pet is having a scheduled c-section, your vet will give you specific pre-operation instructions well in advance.
Anesthesia Recovery
After the surgery, the anesthetic should wear off quickly. Most cats and dogs are fully recovered from anesthesia by the time they go home, and complete recovery from anesthesia may take two to six hours.
During the recovery period, closely monitor your pet so that she does not fall and hurt herself, or roll over on top of the newborn puppies. Before leaving her alone with the puppies/kittens, ensure that she is completely awake, able to stand on her own, and that she has taken an interest in caring for her babies.
Post-Operative Home Care
In the first 24 hours after surgery, you must monitor the new motherand her puppies/kittens constantly. This will require staying up overnight and placing the puppies or kittens on the teats to ensure that they feed, and that the mother’s natural hormones become activated to induce her mothering instincts.
Within a few hours of arriving home, your pet should begin eating again. For the first 24 hours after surgery, offer her small only amounts of food and water at frequent intervals (every 15 to 30 minutes).
You will likely find your dog or cat eats a lot of food during the nursing period. She should be fed a premium, high-quality food during nursing in order to provide sufficient nutrition for her and her litter.