I first suction the mouth and then nose while keeping them flat with a baby nasal aspirator, then do the cord, then "swing them down" to help get any fluid out of their lungs, and then suction again and dry them off with a towel and let mom have them back until she gets ready to have another. I place the born ones in a safe location on a heating pad on medium covered with a towel while she is having a pup.
Most dogs know how to chew off the cord properly on their own, but you do run the risk of an umbilical hernia if she cuts it too short. I like to clamp about a 1/2 inch from the body with hemostats (dental floss works too) and then cut with dull scissors (kids kindergarten scissors) and cut almost between 1/4 and 1/2 inch between the tie and the placenta. I only let mine eat one placenta because any more than that causes diarrhea. |