is my puppie ok

Question
My dog recently had a litter of pups. One of the puppies has a lump on its naval.  She happens to be the runt. Is it normal for the naval to be pushed out.  What do i clean the naval with.  Should i take her to the vet.

Answer
Hi Bob,

Newborn puppies are fragile creatures. Don't rely on hunches or guesswork, if there is any sort of a problem (such as the lump on this puppy's navel) have your veterinarian check it out. The most common cause of puppy death is infection via the belly button, so don't delay in getting this puppy to the vet!

Disinfect the pups' navels with half-strength mixture of Iodine or Betadine a couple times a day.

Best of luck,
Patti