The Use of Epidural Anesthesia for Cesarean Sections of Dogs

Cesarean sections of dogs are often necessary in the breeding of purebred dogs. With proper techniques the puppy survival rate should be increased over vaginal delivery. The selection of anesthetic protocol influences puppy survival. Systemic drugs given to the bitch are absorbed into the puppy by passing through the placenta into the uterus. The most common anesthetics used for cesarean sections are a gas-anesthetic of a type that either sedated or anesthetized. In as much as the gas is rapidly expelled, the pups usually do well. With a little stimulation they are awake and healthy.

Epidural anesthesia avoids the need to revive the puppies. Epidural anesthesia is the chemical blocking of nerve function of the nerves that supply the back part of the patient. All tissues behind the naval should be paralyzed and insensitive for about ninety minutes. Ninety minutes is long enough to complete an uncomplicated cesarean section. The puppies are alert and active as in a vaginal delivery and they have avoided the uncertainty of being damaged or dying on the way out.

An epidural has specific requirements. Patient timing is important with any cesarean. The puppies must be developed and the surgery must be done before the puppies have been weakened by a long labor. Epidural anesthesia dilates the blood vessels in the anesthetized portions of the patient. The vessel dilatation decreases blood pressure. It is therefore, necessary to put the patient on intravenous fluids to maintain blood volume during surgery. Also a drug is given to reduce the dilatation of the blood vessels. An area is clipped and scrubbed over the rump. The patient is awake during the procedure; therefore, a mild sedative is used to help keep the bitch calm. The sedation used also reduces pain perception, so as to keep her more comfortable. An excitable bitch is not a good candidate for an epidural. A long hypodermic needle is used to place local anesthetic into the spinal cord through the clipped area on the rump. Local anesthetic is also applied to the skin in the incision area to ensure complete pain loss to that area. The bitch should feel no pain.

As the puppies are delivered they have their mouths dried with a gauze sponge. The puppies are dried with a soft towel. They are looking for a nipple right away. Once the puppies are out, the bitch may be anesthetized with any other safe form of anesthesia in case more time is needed. Other anesthesia is seldom needed. The IV catheter for the fluids makes further anesthesia simple when needed.

The bitch needs to be watched carefully until she is able to use her hind feet again. Usually she can move just a bit by the end of surgery. Within two hours she is back to normal. Epidural anesthesia for cesareans is a safe alternative to systemic anesthesia. It requires more preparation and a veterinarian must be trained in epidural injections. The reward of alert and vigorous puppies and better survival can be yours.