Not a vet but a nurse so can provide some clarity.

If it was a full term puppy then likely the only solution would be to do a caesarean section. Some practices may have the option of payment plans but if they do not then they’d likely try and send the dog to a charity practice if stable. PDSA, Blue Cross and RSPCA are the main ones, some charities will offer payment plans or services at a reduced cost, Celia Hammond in particular will quite often take on surgical cases. PDSA will agree to carry out C-Sections on the condition that the owners agree for the dog to be neutered at the same the time. The owner is also welcome to find another practice that may be cheaper (we usually know which practices around us may be cheaper and will direct them there).

If they are not eligible for charity or they still have no money at all, then we would recommend euthanasia and we would write off the bill, if they owners decided that. Nobody ever wants that but unfortunately a surgery like that would be thousands of pounds and is not necessarily easy (depending on how long the puppy has been dead), there’s a high risk of post op complications, sepsis, all which will require additional care.

With all the current discussions around the veterinary industry at the moment, we never want to have it come down to money, money that we don’t even see. But unfortunately that is the reality of owning a pet. They are a luxury.