How should puppies delivered by cesarean section be fed?

Caring for Puppies After a Cesarean Section

Bringing new life into the world is always a miraculous event, and when puppies are born via cesarean section, the process is even more delicate. Cesarean sections in dogs are major surgeries, and the puppies born from them require special attention and care. Here's how to nurture these little ones to ensure they grow up healthy and strong.

Immediate Aftercare

Right after the cesarean section, the puppies will be cleaned and checked by the veterinarian to make sure they are breathing properly. Once they are deemed stable, it's time for their first critical step—nursing. Puppies are born with a natural instinct to nurse, but since they can't do it on their own immediately after surgery, you'll need to assist them.

Feeding

Mother's milk is essential for puppies, especially in the first few days of life. It provides them with colostrum, which is packed with antibodies that protect them from infections. If the mother is unable to nurse the puppies due to the surgery, you'll need to step in.

You'll need to find a suitable milk replacement formula that is specifically designed for puppies. It should be as close as possible to the mother's milk in terms of nutritional content. Use a syringe or a bottle designed for feeding newborn puppies to give them the milk. Be patient, as puppies may take some time to learn how to feed.

Feed the puppies every two to three hours, around the clock, for the first few weeks. It's important to keep track of how much each puppy is eating to ensure they're getting enough nutrition.

Monitoring Health

Puppies are susceptible to hypothermia, so make sure they're kept warm. You can use a heating pad or a warm blanket to maintain a consistent temperature in their environment. It's also crucial to monitor their weight gain and overall health. Puppies should gain weight daily, and any significant drop or lack of weight gain could indicate a health issue.

Stimulating Elimination

Newborn puppies are not able to eliminate waste on their own. The mother would normally stimulate this by licking them, but since they can't do this right after surgery, you'll need to take over this task. Use a warm, damp cloth to gently rub the puppies' genital and anal areas after each feeding. This will stimulate them to urinate and defecate.

Socialization and Handling