It is common for mother dogs to eat their puppies’ umbilical cords shortly after birth. The practice likely stems from the mother dog’s natural instinct to keep the area clean and free of anything that might attract predators. By consuming the umbilical cord, the mother dog ensures no trace of birth remains. She also ingests the nutritious placental fluids in the process.
Eating the umbilical cord seems to be an innate behavior, as mother dogs who give birth for the first time will still engage in this practice. It is not something they are taught. Consuming the umbilical cord may also help stimulate the puppy’s metabolism and respiration and strengthen the bond between mother and offspring.
Overall, the eating of puppies’ umbilical cords allows mother dogs to eliminate evidence of birth, provide early nourishment, and maintain a clean nesting area. It is a natural part of the birthing process for dogs.
Historical Perspective
The practice of mother dogs eating their puppies’ umbilical cords likely originated thousands of years ago when dogs lived in the wild. When puppies are born in the wild, the mother must remove the umbilical cord to help prevent infection in the puppy. The quickest and most efficient way for the mother to detach the cord is by chewing it off with her teeth. This behavior became instinctual over time.
According to veterinarians, mother dogs licking and eating the umbilical cord serves an evolutionary purpose. In the wild, the placenta and umbilical cord could attract predators or spread disease if left in the den. By consuming the afterbirth, the mother dog keeps the den clean and protects the puppies from harm (source).
Today, even domesticated dogs retain this instinctual behavior of severing and eating the umbilical cords. While not strictly necessary, it is completely natural dog behavior that has origins tracing back to their wolf ancestors.
Prevalence
Eating the puppies’ umbilical cord is a very common behavior among mother dogs. According to research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, over 90% of mother dogs will consume the placenta and umbilical cords after giving birth [(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7765311/)]. This behavior has been observed across all breeds of dogs, though some breeds exhibit the behavior more frequently than others. Overall, it is considered an innate instinctive behavior in canines that serves an important biological purpose.
Reasons
Dogs eat their puppies’ umbilical cords for several instinctual and biological reasons. Mother dogs lick and chew the umbilical cord as part of the birthing process, helping to stimulate blood flow and seal off the umbilical artery (source). This prevents infection and helps detach the placenta. Consuming the placenta also allows the mother dog to regain calories and nutrients she lost during pregnancy and birth (source). Overall, eating the umbilical cord is an instinctive dog behavior after giving birth triggered by hormones and natural drives to protect the puppy.
Benefits
Consuming the umbilical cord and placenta provides several potential health benefits for puppies. The placenta contains important nutrients like iron and protein that can help replace blood lost during birth and support milk production (1). Eating the placenta and umbilical cord may also stimulate the mother’s pituitary gland to release oxytocin, which helps contract the uterus back to its normal size and control postpartum bleeding (1). Consuming these tissues allows the mother to clean up the birthing area to protect her puppies from infectious diseases. Overall, this instinctive behavior provides nutrition to support the mother dog’s health after delivery so she can properly care for her newborn puppies.
Risks
While it is common and natural for mother dogs to eat their puppies’ umbilical cords, there are some potential risks to be aware of:
Infection – If the umbilical cord is not severed properly or the area is not kept clean, bacteria can enter the puppy’s body through the exposed umbilical cord stump, leading to infection like omphalitis. Proper severing and disinfecting the area is important.
Bleeding – If the mother dog severs the cord too close to the puppy’s body, this can lead to bleeding from the umbilical stump. Normally the mother bites off the cord about 1 inch away to prevent this.
Choking hazard – If the mother does not properly chew the umbilical cord before swallowing, the cord could potentially pose a choking hazard. Supervision during this time can prevent problems.
Spread of disease – Diseases like canine herpesvirus-1 can potentially spread from the mother to puppies through her saliva when chewing the cord. Testing breeding dogs for diseases helps minimize risk.
Overall, risks are low if proper precautions are taken, but owners should be vigilant just in case to ensure the puppies avoid any complications.
Source: https://www.quora.com/Why-does-a-mother-dog-eat-her-own-umbilical-cord-after-pregnancy
Breed Differences
There are some differences between breeds when it comes to a mother dog eating her puppies’ umbilical cords. According to the Veterinary Centers of America, smaller breed dogs tend to have more difficulty with delivery and are more likely to require assistance from owners or veterinarians (Source). As a result, the mother may not eat the umbilical cords of smaller breed puppies as readily.
Larger breed dogs like Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds are more likely to whelp naturally and eat their puppies’ umbilical cords without intervention. Terriers, hounds, and herding breeds also tend to do well whelping and consuming umbilical cords. Toy breeds like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians often require more assistance, so the mother dog may not eat the cords.
In general, natural mothers with strong maternal instincts will consume the umbilical cords no matter the breed. But smaller toy breeds do seem more likely to need support from owners during whelping, which can prevent the mother from eating the cords herself.
Preventing
Many dog owners find the behavior of a mother dog eating her puppy’s umbilical cord unsettling and want to know if and how to prevent it. There are a few factors to consider:
From Why does a mother dog eat her own umbilical cord after pregnancy, eating the umbilical cord likely stems from the dog’s natural instincts and serves an evolutionary purpose. Preventing this behavior could interfere with the mother’s innate bonding and care for her puppies.
That said, some breeders tie off the umbilical cord shortly after birth to stop excess bleeding before allowing the mother to eat the cord, according to Breeding – Whelping or Birth. This allows the mother dog to complete the instinctual behavior while minimizing health risks to the puppy.
Ultimately, completely preventing the mother dog from eating the umbilical cord may do more harm than good for her natural mothering instincts. Tying off the cord first provides a middle ground approach.
As with any breeding and whelping behaviors, it’s advisable to consult an experienced veterinarian, according to the sources. They can provide guidance on handling umbilical cords based on the specific breed and situation.
Veterinarian Perspective
Eating the puppies’ umbilical cords is an instinctive behavior for mother dogs. Veterinarians generally recommend allowing her to follow her instincts, as long as she does not show signs of abnormal behavior.
According to Dr. Margareth VPI Pet Insurance Staff Veterinarian, “It’s completely natural for a mother dog to eat the placentas and chew through the umbilical cords after giving birth. Most wild carnivores and omnivores do the same thing with their young. Eating the afterbirth appears to be instinctual nest sanitizing behavior.”
However, veterinarians advise monitoring the mother dog closely. Make sure she breaks off each cord at an appropriate length, about 1-2 inches from the puppy’s abdomen. Very short cords can increase the risk of infection. Additionally, look for signs of serious abnormal behavior like aggression or eating entire placentas.
According to veterinarian Dr. Jean Dodds on Hemopet.org, “The dam normally chews the umbilical cord off as the puppies are born. Rarely, the cord may be stripped away, exposing the vessels that supply the abdominal cavity and cause internal hemorrhage.” So it’s important for owners to keep a close eye.
Overall, allowing natural instincts typically leads to the best results. But veterinarian guidance can help avoid potential risks.
Sources:
https://www.insider.com/why-mother-dogs-eat-puppies-poop-placenta-2019-10
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/breeding-for-pet-owners-whelping-in-dogs
Conclusion
Dogs eating their puppies’ umbilical cords is a natural behavior that has occurred throughout history. Most mother dogs will chew off and ingest the umbilical cords after birth as part of their maternal instincts. The main reasons they do this are to remove the scent of the fluid and prevent infection, though some benefits include additional nutrients and strengthening the bond between mother and offspring. While risks are low, some breeds are more likely to overeat the cord. Preventative measures like removing it yourself or through cesarean births are options, though most vets emphasize allowing the natural behavior unless complications arise. In summary, puppy umbilical cord eating is a common practice that, while not always necessary, is part of a dog’s natural mothering behavior and rarely causes harm.
