Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

Do dogs have belly buttons? And if they do, where does the umbilical cord goes when they are born?

I saw a Labrador give birth and (forgive my ignorance) there was no umbilical cord cutting involved. Yet, I kept a puppy and he has what looks like a belly button. This may sound stupid to some, but I know nothing about the pregnancy process in animals and I'm honestly curious.

Public Comments

1. the mother bites the umbilical cord.
2. Yes, they have belly buttons. The mother dog bites the umbilical cord and eats the placenta, or afterbirth. Even herbivores, or plant-eating animals eat their offspring's afterbirths.
3. All mamals have a belly button. The mother dog may have chewed the cord very short so you just didn't see the cord. They just dry up and fall off after birth. It take 24 hours or so but all dogs have belly buttons.
4. yeah the belly button that you're seeing is where the umbilical cord was. i would assume the mother took care of the umbilical cord since there'd be no one there with scissors in nature.
5. It dries up and falls off. If you look very hard you may be able to find it. It seems to be easier to find on the lighter color dogs...
6. I don't know for sure but I don't think so. Dogs and other animals like them feed in the womb like a human babies do. I THINK they don't get the nutrients like humans. I could be wrong but it is my opinion. I have seen puppies born and really dont remember ever seeing one either. I now they clean each puppy as its born so..... Enjoy that puppy I wish I could have one. Whats the name? wow I just read the others. there were none when I wrote this. I was way wrong. I learned something new today too.
7. yes the mother eats them to keep the puppys clean and so other animals don't smell them.
8. Just like in human babies, cats and other mammals when a baby is born the cord breaks, the Mom chews it apart or a person cuts it. Then it falls off after 3 or 4 days and you are left with a belly button.
9. They do have belly buttons and an umbilical cord just like people. The mom usually chews the cord off, so you don't see it. Sometimes their belly buttons bulge from a hernia. Most times they are flat after they heal up. You can feel them on their tummy. They just don't have "innies" only flat or "outies".
10. Yes they do. The mother breaks the cord by biting it, and then eats the placenta. This gives her nutrients and helps stimulate milk production. If the mother doesn't break the cord, the breeder can do it, tying the cord off with something clean eg. dental floss. Should not cut the cord too short, and avoid pulling on it (may cause umbilical hernia). The cord dries up and falls off over a couple of days. Sometimes then gets eaten by the mother.