Dont read this post if you are squeamish – part 2 umbilical cord Alpaca cria

Please remember this post is put here not to shock but to show what can happen and how to deal with it 

you will recall my previous post where the cria was coming out cushed and after getting the cria out, obviously I had to cut the cord. this is perfectly normal, as is a larger cord due to strain from difficult birthing.

so in Part 2, you see that the Cord has started drying – hand holding partial cut cord…

so we recall that the cria had a CLAMP put on at birth when the cord was cut and this although plastic and lightweight is nevertheless cumbersome and a risk for catching… so as the cord dries out, it is always better to remove the Clamp as soon as practical and sensible. ALWAYS have several cord clamps in your birthing box.

This takes real skill and guess work. you also need to be prepared for the fact that it may still cause a bleed and need putting back on – very quickly. They are not the easiest things to work with either.

So, after an appropriate time (at least 24 hours plus), a clamp removal was attempted with “stand by” assistance.

the Clamp is removed and the cord sprayed with iodine spray / antibiotic spray where it was. a small amount of blood should congeal when laid down. Then you permit the cria to stand. if blood drips immediately, then the clamp needs to go back on FAST. obviously all blood in any weather, let alone this weather should be immediately cleaned to prevent flystrike.

Clamp on showing insides and hoping dried above clamp…

  clearly it needed more drying time as bled again SO in order to prevent a potential HERNIA by having the clamp on an umbilical cord hanging down ..

LAMB RING the top after checking no intestines caught… leaving both CLAMP and LAMB RING to fall off naturally

Happy Cria all the time, blood washed off and exclusive night in before going out again just to ensure no issues.

don’t forget the ANTIBIOTIC to prevent infection

Please remember this post is put here not to shock but to show what can happen and how to deal with it