Umbilical Cord

[kchogan]

hi,

i was just woundering how many of you cut the umbilical cord and why?

i thought the bitch cuts it obviosly if she wont then i could understant that you might want to step in, but if all is going well i dont understand the reasoning behined all this.

please explain.

[WreckitWhippet]

I let my bitches do the job on their own.

Many believe that if they allow the bitch to do it and she cuts it too short or pulls on it, that there will be problems such as umbilical hernias.

I've had delayed closures in pups and they have been from a c-section where the bitch was under GA and had nothing to do with the pups and their cords.

[Ozstar]

I have always cut the cords and have never had a problem.

When my pups are born I grab them, remove the sac, cut the cord and flick any mucus out.

I then check the pup over making sure it is fine and then hand it back to mum.

Leanne

[ellz]

I let the bitch decide.

If she is an experienced mother or is obviously moving rapidly towards the puppy to do the job herself, I will let her.

Otherwise, I give it a couple of seconds and if no action is happening, then I will do it. Two ties with dental floss and a quick cut in the middle. And then of course the cleaning up. If mum has recovered her senses by this time and the puppy is strong and squarking, I usually give it back to her to finish up.

I draw the line at afterbirth though. I'll allow the girls to eat a couple of them if they are so inclined but the rest are accounted for and disposed of. Too much afterbirth usually leads to a messy, upset stomach and a mum who is upset because she is torn between being clean with a rumbly tum and wanting to be with her babies.

[nabs]

First time mums I do it for them. They catch on quick. Last litter a week ago Perri had the first pup. Looked at it bewildered when it came out. Second pup I had not a chance to get near. She did the rest herself.

[angelsun]

I usually do the job myself, clean up pup and give it a good rub to help dry, then mum takes over...no issues doing that I've found.

[SwaY]

I cut myself, clean up puppy weigh it then give back to mum.

Mum is often cleaning herself up at this time.

If she was distressed or upset i had the puppy i would cut and let her have it.

[Sandra777]

I don't cut it - I tear it, and only if mum doesn't seem inclined to. Usually I'll leave the pup in the box and hold the cord close to the stomach when mum starts really pulling on it, sometimes sneakily help tear it with a finger nail. After everything is cleaned up and finished I'll check the cords and any more than a cm or so long I will cut off then, otherwise my girls like to pull and worry at them. Never tied them off, never had a problem.

[Missymoo]

I cut them too as my bitches seem to think they are spaghetti and slurp them up and want to keep going!

[Cockerlover]

depends on the mother ,if she knows whats she doing I leave her to it, but take bub of her as soon as detatched ,give a good rub while checking all other things then return to muma ,if muma to slow i step in & tear (if i can)or cut cord ,never bothered to tie off, no problems there

[becks]

Having had a few pups cords chewed off so close there was no way to stop the bleeding, I now take the pups off mum and tie and cut the cord and give pup a quick rub to make sure they are OK then back with mum. I do this next to her so she can see the pup the whole time.