Quote:
Originally Posted by JessicaT  Regarding the umbilical cord, I know you all seem to do it differently. Should I clamp it, then cut it and tie the end? I am going to talk to my mentor about it, just wanted more opinions. I have most of my whelping supplies, I still plan to get some nylon hemostats and plain dental floss. And maybe som different colored thread to tie somewhere to help me remember which is which. |
I've never used nylon hemostats, since I obtained mine from a surgical supply company.
You can use your hemostat to clamp about an inch from the puppy's belly and a second hemostat one more inch down on the cord towards the vulva to keep the cord from going back in. Use dull scissors or your fingernails to cut the cord between the two hemostats. It's great if you have a 2nd pair of hands to help hold the hemostat.....
Be careful to keep the hemostat pressed against the pup's belly so you do not pull it away from the belly and cause a hernia or pull out the intestines. (in the event the intestines are accidentally pulled out by you or the dam, do put a sterile, cold, wet compress over the intestines and get the pup to a veterinarian RIGHT AWAY!)
Keep the pup's head down while you are working on the pup. If you see any bleeding at the pup's naval cord, you may apply a silver nitrate stick to stop the bleeding. After the pup is crying and breathing, towel dry, and quickly tie the cord between the belly and the hemostat (approx 3/4" from the belly).