Hi All

My bitch will be going for an elected caesarian section next week.  Does anyone know how the vet works out the amount of anaesthethic to use for the operation.  My bitch was 30kg before she was mated.  It looks like she is having a big litter so she is now a lot heavier.  Does the vet give her anaesthetic for the weight that she was before she was pregnant or the weight she is at 9 weeks pregnant?  Peoples advice would be much appreciated.

In humans a lighter anaesthetic is given till the baby is out but based on the mums weight on the day.

As there is a lot more blood circulating in a pregnant bitch then they must calculate allowing for that.

I hope she gets on OK.

Surely your vet should know this??  If not....!!

I forgot to ask why she is having an elective c/section? Do you have to wait for labour to start so the right hormones are triggered for milk production post whelpin?

you don't have to wait for labour to start... what happens to those that just don't start at all!! This happened to my bitch on the last litter, she was only carrying 1 puppy (large breed) so very unusual as she had 10 on her first litter. Stimulation from suckling pups should be enough to get milk flow moving.

Hi Rhodach

She is having an elected c-section because she had inertia the last time and lost pups.  She has only been bred from again to save my bitch line.  So fingers crossed that everything will go ok.

Thanks for explaining