Caesareans, Whelping and Queening
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We are experts in planned and unplanned caesarean sections for pregnant cats and dogs. Whether your girl is a first time mum or an experienced breeding animal, our team can support you from confirming the pregnancy right through to the first checkup for her puppies or kittens.
How do I know if my dog or cat is pregnant?
We can confirm pregnancy with an ultrasound from around 25 days after mating. Later in the pregnancy, from around 45 days, an x-ray lets us count the number of babies. This is really useful to know on the day, so you can tell if everyone has been born.
Does my dog need a planned caesarean?
Some breeds, such as French bulldogs, British bulldogs and Boston terriers, very often can't give birth naturally because of the size of the puppies' heads compared to mum's pelvis. For these dogs, and for any dog or cat who has had trouble giving birth before, we usually recommend a planned caesarean. We time this carefully, sometimes using blood tests to check hormone levels, so that the babies are ready to be born and mum doesn't go into a difficult labour at home.
How do I know if my dog or cat is having trouble giving birth?
Most dogs and cats give birth without any help, but it is important to know when to call us. Please call us straight away, or an emergency hospital if we are closed, if:
- She has been having strong contractions for 30 minutes or more without producing a puppy or kitten
- More than 2 hours have passed between babies and you know there are more to come
- There is green, black or bloody discharge before the first baby is born
- She is past her due date and hasn't shown any signs of labour
- She seems very weak, painful or distressed
What happens during a caesarean?
Caesareans are performed in our dedicated surgical theatre with the same careful anaesthetic monitoring we use for all of our patients, and we choose anaesthetic drugs that are safe for mum and her babies. While the vet is performing the surgery, our nurses are ready to receive each puppy or kitten, clear their airways, rub them to get them breathing and keep them warm. Mum and babies go home together once she is awake and the babies are feeding.
Whelping and queening support
We are happy to talk you through setting up a whelping or queening area, what to expect during labour and how to care for newborns. We also recommend a checkup for mum and her babies within a few days of the birth, whether they were born naturally or by caesarean.