The C-Section
These are photos from when Mulan and Pod needed c-sections. A dog's uterus is shaped like the letter "Y" and usually has puppies in both "horns" (the top part of the Y). In Mulan's case, a puppy from each side came down at the same time and "met" at the conjunction of the two horns and got stuck - one's head caught in the abdomen of the other. That essentially stopped labor, and the third puppy had no chance at all with the first two "stuck" at the junction of the Y. In Pod's case, a small undeveloped puppy prevented labor. Both of these reasons are common for needing a c-section in dogs. Other reasons include a puppy too large to fit through the pelvis, a transverse puppy blocking a horn (lying sideways), a dead puppy, or a situation called "inertia" which basically means labor stops for any number of reasons. It is crucial that if you see no progress, that you get the opinion of a good veterinarian. In Mulan and Pod's cases, just knowing their temps dropped, stayed down, and labor never really got underway was a clue something was wrong even though neither was in distress.
A veterinarian that is experienced delivering puppies and has a sterile operating room is best. The reflections in the photos are due to the glass barrier between us and the operating room. One of the many things done that really helps with the bonding is allowing the puppies to nurse immediately and often after surgery.
Preparing the patient (looking throught the window into the operating room)
Making the incision.
Removing the puppies (that pink thing is the uterus)
Stimulating and getting each puppy to breathe well.
Searching the upper part of the horn for another puppy.
The staff takes care of the puppies already born. Drying and stimulating them.
3 puppies in the incubator while Dr. begins sewing up the uterus.
The feisty puppies explore the incubator (one is under a towel top left)
Meeting Mom for the first time and looking for colustrum while she wakes up
Groggy, but home with her new kids an hour later
Within 6 hours she was protecting them by curling around them and hurrying to get back in from potty breaks - she loves her puppies!