Hi, my bitch is due to deliver next week. I haven't whelped a litter for a few years and am wondering what everyone feels about using clamps on the umbilicus? It seems unnecessary to me as the bitch just chews them through and they're fine. Any opinions would be welcome.

Personally I have never used clamps, I dont feel they are really necessary although I dont let the bitch chew through the cord as I have found they can sometimes chew them too close its easier just to take the pup clean it up quickly and cut the cord with blunt ended sissors?

I do have some of the 'baby' type clamps and found them very clumsy to use.  My girls are not always interested in chewing cords - especially on first pup or two so I use clamp type scissors to stem the blood flow and cut with steralised blunt ended scissors.  I also find these useful if I think placenta may be left behind inside, just clamp cord so you still have hold of it!

Thanks for that. I guess it is the sort of thing you assess at the time. I have been loaned them.

I have used them found them easy to use they fall off after a couple of hours leaving a nice neat cord. The type I used were from fit and fertile

Never got on with mine, so were a waste of money for me.  I agree that some bitches can take it too close, so I do watch with eagle eyes.  But I need to do them myself only rarely.

Although books recommend that tearing is best, I too prefer scissors if I need to intervene.

I use the ones from Fit and Fertile too, they are only 35p with free postage, so not a big loss if you don't use them.

With our first litter last year, we had a couple of stressful moments with mum chewing too close, we also had one pup born leaving placenta inside it's placenta had broken off at the navel!! We had a few anxious moments where we couldn't stem the blood. If I had a clamp it would have come to good use in that instance. I think I'll be using them in the future. I didn't find it particularly easy tearing the cords either (I had to take over as mum was being a bit too eager!).

All in all, I did what was advised, but I suppose everyone does what works for them. Fit and Fertile have some excellent stuff on their website, will go have a look.

> We had a few anxious moments where we couldn't stem the blood.

One of my bitches took it too close last year, and it did seem to bleed too much.  I used styptic.

This happened to me 2 weeks back. Could not get this little one to stop bleeding and after trying alsorts i realised i had some clamps. Popped one on and within minutes it had dried up and it dropped off naturally a couple of days later. I wouldn't use them as a rule as they are clumsy and i was constantly watching in case it was getting pulled or caught as the pup was clambering about after mom. But so glad i had one here so will always keep some handy when i have pups in future.

Mel.x

Thanks all for lots of great information. It sounds like having them available for emergencies is wise.