Can you cut the umbilical cord of a dog? A Comprehensive Guide

Do Puppies Umbilical Cords Fall Off?

Once you’ve cut the puppy’s cord and ensured it isn’t still bleeding, you should be able to let it simply fall off on its own. It usually takes about 1-3 days for the cord to dry up and fall off.

Over the next few days after birth, take some time to monitor the stump to make sure there are no signs of infection. The simplest way to care for the stump is to clean it daily with a bit of antiseptic or iodine to remove any dirt or germs.

Keeping the cord clean is especially important during the first 24 hours because it hasn’t dried out yet. It’s essentially still an open wound, so you’ll want to check for redness or oozing.

As long as it continues the natural drying process, the cord should become hard over the next day or two. Once it fully dries out, it will fall off on its own.

Cutting a Puppy Umbilical Cord Step-by-Step

Thoroughly wash and dry your hands.

Full a shallow dish with iodine or antiseptic solution to sterilize the stump.

Carefully clean and sanitize a pair of sharp scissors.

Using dental floss or thread, tie the cord off in two places. The first should be about a half inch from the puppy’s body, and the second should be about the same distance from the first tie toward the placenta.

Using your sterilized scissors, cut the cord between the two ties

Coat the end of the cord stump in a sterilizing solution to prevent infection.

The mother will likely eat the placenta, which provides her with many essential nutrients. If she doesn’t show an interest, discard it.

When you cut the puppies’ cords, make sure to wait until all of the puppies are born. When one pup is still attached to the placenta, it can help tug the other attached puppies through the birth canal.

Emergency Supplies

Sterile scissors, rubber gloves, antiseptic solution, and heavy thread or dental floss in case you need to tie umbilical cords. These items are must-haves for a few “just in case” scenarios.

Additionally, make sure you have phone numbers on hand for your regular vet as well as for an after-hours animal emergency hospital — most whelping occurs in the predawn hours.

Cutting The Umbilical Cords Of Newborn Rottweiler Puppies

If you do, be sure to use sterilized scissors, cut about an inch from the pup’s belly, and tie the cord off with the thread or dental floss 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the puppy’s body. When cutting, it’s better to crush the cord rather than make a clean cut; this will reduce bleeding.