Due to abnormally large puppies, we had to get an Emergancy C Section done for this litter. Mum & Pups doing very well but just wondered if anyone had any good pointers for aftercare.

Thanks

Over the years I have had a number of C-sections (medium to large breed).  Never had any problems with the aftercare.  Mums and babies have always thrived.  Occasionally, mum might be a bit agitated to begin with but they have soon settled to their new brood.  I just make sure that the wound is kept clean and fresh (my breed always seem to have enormous milkbars and if you don't keep them clean, they can get a bit sweaty).  TBH, mum is usually more interested in her pups than how they made their appearance into this world!  Hope your family is thriving :-)

Make sure to keep the pups nails trimmed every few days.

We are 5 days after our C section, I am keeping an eye on the stitches but no sign of anything bad except some fluff from teh vetbed tangled in one of them, which I am leaving!

I agree brainless :-)  It really makes me cross to see puppies with little talons whether mum has had a C-section or not.  It's a quick job every few days. 

We've had a few c-sections over the years, but like Brainless says, keep pups nails trimmed so they don't cause mum any more discomfort, keep an eye on the wound and keep it clean, with a diluted hibiscrub solution, we've never had any problems with stitches as all our sections were internal stitches, none to come out and nothing to catch.

Thanks all for the advice!

Mum is doing really and has taken to it like a duck to water. Even the Vet commented on how well she was doing with it all.

There are external stiches , but keeping an eye on them as suggested and also the claws.. We keep them very trim!

We've had quite a few C sections over the last 20 odd years, as everyone else has said keep trimming the nails and keep an eye on the wound for sweaty bits!  The only problem we've ever had was the litter before last when the Vet decided to "glue" the wound instead of stitching.  It was a nightmare, we had to go back 3 times to have it "re-glued".  Our breed are quite "round" and I'm sure it would have worked on other breeds.  This last litter we specifically said to have the regular stitching, no glue thanks.

> keep it clean, with a diluted hibiscrub solution

If following this method, don't forget to clean mum off with cotton wool and clean water before returning to her brood.

I agree JeanSW I use a very weak solution and make sure it's washed and dried afterwards.

I took a deep breath and did the claws today while Ellie was out in the garden, I am a professional groomer but I hate doing nails, let alone the tiniest nails like we have!

Imo no need to clean the wound with any kind of antiseptic solution, just keep your eye on it for signs of infection - presumably your girl has been put on antibiotics as a matter of course as she has had surgery anyway. One of my girls has just been spayed (she has had two litters and given me a lovely B&T girl to continue my line so no need to breed her again) and I just left her wound be, checking it regularly of course. No problems whatsoever. As a former nurse (for people!) I am confident it was the right way to go. I have had two bitches over the years who have had c-sections and again I never cleaned the wound with antiseptic solutions - keeping it dry aids healing.