How to take care of newborn puppies is a question that I get asked a lot. It’s crucial to give newborn puppies the proper care and attention to ensure they grow up to be healthy and happy dogs because they depend entirely on their mother and human carers for their survival.
To care for newborn puppies, ensure a warm, clean environment. Monitor their weight, feeding them every 2-4 hours with their mother’s milk or formula. Stimulate elimination after meals. Socialize pups gently after two weeks. Regularly consult a veterinarian for vaccinations and checkups.
Everything from getting ready for the arrival of new puppies to finding them loving homes will be covered in this article. We’ll go through how to provide the puppies with a secure and comfortable home, what and how much to feed them, how to keep them clean and hygienic, and how to keep an eye on their health and development.
How to Take Care of Newborn Puppies
Preparing for their arrival is a crucial step in ensuring the health and welfare of newborn puppies. You can do a few things to ensure you’re prepared for the arrival of puppies if you’re expecting a litter.
You must first ensure that the mother dog has a suitable area to give birth to and care for her puppies. The mother dog should feel secure and safe in this area, calm, tidy, and welcoming.
Setting up a whelping box, a special container for the mother dog to give birth in and care for her puppies, is ideal. Ensure the whelping box has enough space for the mother dog and her puppies to move around without feeling cramped.
The mother dog and her puppies will need all the supplies you can muster, so do that first. Clean towels or blankets for bedding, a heating pad or lamp to keep the puppies warm, a scale to keep track of their weight, and a thermometer to check their body temperature are some examples of what is needed.
If the mother dog cannot nurse her puppies or there are complications during delivery, you’ll also need to have puppy milk replacer and feeding supplies on hand.
Making a Comfortable and Safe Environment for Newborn Puppies
A secure and comfortable environment must be created to ensure the health and well-being of newborn puppies. As soon as the puppies are born, it’s crucial to make sure they are in a safe, clean, warm, and dry environment.
Making sure the whelping box is configured correctly is the first step. A mother dog and her puppies should be able to fit inside the box with plenty of room for the puppies to move around. The box should also have high sides to prevent the puppies from wandering off and becoming lost or hurt.
For the first few days of the puppies’ lives, it’s crucial to maintain a steady, warm temperature in the whelping box of about 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. To accomplish this, use a heating pad or lamp, or create a warm zone in the room with blankets or towels.
The whelping box and the puppies’ bedding must be kept clean and dry because newborns are prone to infections. Frequent bedding replacement and disinfectant solution wipings will keep the whelping box clean.
Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure the puppies have access to fresh air and that the whelping box is well-ventilated. Doing this will maintain the puppies’ health, and germ growth will be prevented.
What Should I Feed My Newborn Puppy? How Much Should I Feed Them?
As they rely entirely on their mother’s milk or a suitable milk substitute for survival, feeding newborn puppies is essential to their care. Newborn puppies must be fed frequently and consistently for the first two to three weeks to grow and thrive.
The mother dog should be permitted to nurse her puppies as frequently as possible if she is present and able to do so. Essential nutrients and antibodies are provided by the mother’s milk, helping to shield the puppies from illnesses and infections. The mother dog should have access to plenty of water and a healthy diet to support her milk production.
You must give the puppies a milk substitute if the mother dog is unable to nurse the puppies or if there are difficulties during birth. It’s critical to select a milk substitute specifically formulated for puppies and of the highest quality because numerous varieties are available.
Use a small bottle or syringe to feed newborn puppies to prevent choking or aspiration. For the first few weeks of their lives, puppies should be fed every two to three hours, with the amount and frequency of feedings gradually increasing as they grow.
Depending on the size and age of the puppy, you should feed them different amounts of milk replacer, but as a general rule, you should give them about 10% of their body weight in milk each day.
Keeping an Eye on the Health and Development of Pups as They Grow
Puppies’ overall well-being must be monitored by monitoring their growth and health. It’s crucial to pay close attention to the puppies’ physical and behavioral changes, as well as their eating patterns and weight gain, during the first few weeks of their lives.
Making sure that newborn puppies are gaining weight steadily is one of the most important aspects of keeping an eye on their health. Within the first two weeks of life, puppies should grow to twice their birth weight. By using a small scale and weighing them daily, you can track their weight gain. It’s crucial to seek veterinary care immediately if you see that a puppy is either not gaining or losing weight.
Monitoring the puppies’ physical and behavioral development and weight gain is crucial. Within the first two weeks of a puppy’s life, the eyes and ears should begin to open. They should also start moving around and getting to know their surroundings. It’s essential to seek veterinary care if a puppy is not progressing as expected at these developmental milestones.
Because newborn puppies are prone to infections and illnesses, keeping an eye on their general well-being is crucial. Lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or coughing are all symptoms of illness. Seeking veterinary care immediately if you notice any of these symptoms is critical.
Finally, it’s critical to monitor the puppies’ socialization and behavior. Puppies should socialize with their littermates and mother dogs to begin learning the fundamentals of social interaction. A puppy isolating or not interacting with its littermates may be a symptom of a health problem or developmental issue that needs to be addressed.
Taking Care of Common Health Problems in Newborn Puppies
Despite your best efforts to give your newborn puppies excellent care, they may still experience common health problems. Here are a few of the most typical health conditions seen in young puppies and how to treat them:
- Hypoglycemia: When a puppy’s blood sugar levels fall too low, it can result in weakness, lethargic behavior, and even seizures. Make sure the puppies receive regular feedings and have access to a heat source to prevent hypoglycemia.
- Parasites: Fleas, ticks, and worms are parasites that can harm young puppies and compromise their health. The best way to avoid and treat parasites is to consult your veterinarian.
- Cleft Palate: This congenital condition affects how the puppy’s palate develops, making it difficult for them to eat and increasing their risk of infection. If you believe your puppy has a cleft palate, talk to your veterinarian because this condition necessitates surgery.
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is a common problem in puppies and can be brought on by several things, such as stress, diet, or infection. If diarrhea doesn’t go away or other symptoms are combined, talk to your veterinarian.
- Infections of the respiratory system: Puppies that have just been born are vulnerable to pneumonia and other respiratory infections that, if untreated, can be fatal. Keep an eye out for symptoms of coughing, sneezing, or trouble breathing; if you see any, seek immediate veterinary care.
- Birth Defects: Congenital birth defects that necessitate medical attention can occur in some puppies at birth. These could be neurological problems, spinal cord problems, or heart defects. Talk to your vet if you think your puppy might have a birth defect.
Wrapping Up
Caring for young newborn puppies demands a significant commitment of time, energy, and focus. Every step of their care, from getting ready for them to monitoring their development and health, is crucial.
You can ensure your puppies grow healthy and happy by providing them with a safe and comfortable environment, feeding them appropriately, and keeping an eye on their health.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to be ready for common health problems that might occur, including hypoglycemia, parasites, and respiratory infections.
You can aid your puppies’ quick recovery and avoid any long-term health issues by being aware of the symptoms and signs of these conditions and promptly seeking veterinary care.
Sources
- American Kennel Club (AKC) – Newborn Puppy Care: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppy-health/newborn-puppy-care/
- VCA Animal Hospitals – Caring for Newborn Puppies: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/caring-for-newborn-puppies
- PetMD – How to Take Care of Newborn Puppies: https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/how-take-care-newborn-puppies-your-dog
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