How do you clean a puppy’s umbilical cord? Here’s What to Do Next

How to Tie a Puppy’s Umbilical Cord

When a litter of puppies is born, their umbilical cords can be severed in one of two ways. Usually, the mother will chew off the umbilical cords of her puppies on her own. However, sometimes that isn’t the case. If she doesn’t handle the cords herself, you can do it for her in a few simple steps.

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.

In preparation for cord cutting, have on hand unwaxed dental floss, clean scissors, cotton swabs, a bottle of rubbing — isopropyl — alcohol and a bottle of iodine. Prior to cutting the cord, disinfect the scissors with the rubbing alcohol. Pour a small amount of iodine into a bowl so you have easy access to it when needed.

Once you cut the umbilical cord and treated it with iodine, place the puppy with his mother so that she can lick him. If shes still whelping, she might have no interest in him, so place him in a small box warmed with a hot water bottle or heating pad underneath towels or blankets. Its crucial that newborn puppies stay warm until reunited with their mother after she finishes giving birth. Take mother and pups to the vet for an examination within two days of birth. The part of the cord still attached to the puppy should fall off within a few days.

Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in “Horse News,” “Suburban Classic,” “Hoof Beats,” “Equine Journal” and other publications. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University and an Associate of Arts from the American Academy of Dramatics Arts, New York City.

While the mother dog nips off the umbilical cord, you must tie it. The American Kennel Club recommends tying the umbilical cord with dental floss and cutting it approximately 1/2 to 1 inches from the puppys abdomen. Rather than making a straight cut across the cord, try to crush it in half with a slight motion of the scissors, so that it appears more chewed than cut. This resembles the way a mother dog detaches the cord. During the procedure, hold the puppy in the palm of your hand and hold the cord between your thumb and forefinger. If the cord bleeds a bit after cutting, light pressure from your fingers should stop the bleeding. After cutting the cord, daub iodine on the end for infection prevention.

If your dog is expecting puppies any minute, you might be a nervous wreck. Even though nature likely will take its course and everything will turn out fine, theres always the chance that something could go amiss during labor. Some preparation beforehand can help you deal with birth issues, such as the need to cut the newborn puppys umbilical cord. In addition to having certain supplies on hand, keep your veterinarians contact information handy.

Newborn puppy umbilical cord care‼️

Abscessed umbilical cords are lanced and flushed. A broad-spectrum antibiotic should be administered parenterally. When peritonitis is present, the abdomen should be drained.