Possible normal birth after c section

Question
Hi,
I have a dachshund that is pregnant. She is 4 years old. When we first got her, she was pregnant. She had never had any problems with previous litters but this time there was a pup stuck sideways which resulted in a c section. It has been a year and a half since that and she is again pregnant. I was wondering if she will be able to have this litter of puppies normally or will she again have to have a c section?

Answer
Hi Tracy:

Chances are she'll be able to deliver this litter vaginally; however, I would urge you to have your vet examine her & even more importantly, have an Xray taken when she's at 50+ days gestation. This way he'll be able to assess the pups' size & positioning & be able to tell you if he sees any obvious potential problems. It's always a bit of a gamble as to whether or not once labor begins a puppy may become shifted into an awkward position, much like you experienced before. Just be sure to keep an eye on the clock once labor begins & between the birth of each puppy to be sure she's delivering timely. I usually call my vet once labor begins so he'll be on stand-by just in case his assistance is needed. Often a sluggish delivery may only need an oxytocin injection which is a drug that helps the uterus to contract more efficiently. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I hope this helps & wish you the very best!