CARING TIPS OF NEW BORN PUPPIES
Puppies are without a doubt some of the most adorable things on the planet. Parenting a new puppy, however, is no walk in the park.The first week of the puppies‘ lives is the most critical to their survival. Newborn animals are physiologically immature; body fat percentage is low 1% to 2% compared with 12% to 35% in adults and they do not develop adequate glycogen reserves until after the first few days of nursing. Puppies have rapid respiratory rates (15 to 35 breaths per minute from 24 hours to 5 weeks of age) and heart rates (200 to 220 beats per minute from 24 hours to 5 weeks of age). The first nutritional concern with puppies is that they receive colostrum immediately after birth; all pups should be held up to a nipple to ensure they get colostrum within 24 hours of birth. The next priority is that they stay warm. Neonatal pups cannot regulate their body temperature (which is 94° to 97° F for the first l4 days). They need to be kept in an environment that is 85° to 90° F during the first week, and 80° to 85° F during the second week of life. Hypothermia makes pups unable to eat, which may result in their rejection by the dam.
A good way to ensure that pups are eating and developing normally is to weigh them daily. Pups should gain 1 to 2 g per day per pound of anticipated adult body weight. For example, if the anticipated adult body weight is 50 pounds, the pups should gain 50 to 100 g (1&1/2 to 3 oz) per day.
Surveys indicate that a high percentage of deaths before weaning is due to a relatively small number of causes: infectious diseases, congenital defects, and malnutrition. The malnutrition usually results from the death of or neglect by the mother, lactation failure, or a litter that is too large for the milk supply. In these circumstances, milk substitutes must be used to feed the puppies.
Several companies have developed milk replacers for dogs and cats; until a commercial product can be purchased, the combination of 1 quart (950 ml) whole cow’s milk, 4 egg yolks, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) corn oil may be fed. This homemade formula can be used for a day or so.
Orphaned puppies can be fed four times daily if the temperature of the environment is maintained at an appropriate level. Feeding every 6 hours is optimal, but feeding at approximately 8:00 AM, l2:00 noon, 4:00 PM, and 9:00 PM (do not wake pups to feed them) is adequate if the pups are kept at the proper temperature.
Most milk replacers supply about 1 heal/ml. Puppies need approximately l5 to 20 kcal (milliliters) per 100 g (3.5 oz) of body weight per day. The milk and equipment used for feeding must be as clean as possible. Larger puppies can be fed from a small baby bottle nipple; for smaller puppies, a doll bottle nipple or one made for puppies can be used. Feed milk, at least initially, at body temperature. If diarrhea develops, maintain the amount of fluid given, but reduce the solids by diluting the formula 25% to 50%. As with puppies raised by their mothers, orphan pups should be encouraged to out from a pan by 3 weeks of age and should complete the transition to a growth diet by 6 to 8 weeks.
To ensure that orphaned or inadequately mothered puppies are maintained in an appropriate environment, an incubator can be constructed for them. This can be made from a cardboard box, a dry heating pad, a thermometer, cloth towels, newspaper, a cup, and a sponge. The heating pad cover should be pinned to the towel so that the heating element is secured under the towel and covers approximately half the floor are: of the box, allowing the orphan to choose a comfortable temperature relative to the heat source. The cup should be taped in a corner of the box, and a moistened sponge kept in it to humidify the air. The thermometer should be hung in the box near the floor, and the top of the box should be covered to help retain the heat.
How to build a Puppy incubator at home?
- Obtain a large cardboard box.
- Place a dry heating pad in the bottom so that it covers approximately half the floor area of the box.
- Cover bottom (and heating pad) with the towel.
- Pin towel to the heating pad so the heating pad remains covered by the towel.
- Tape a plastic cup to one corner of the box.
- Place a moist sponge (keep it moist) in the cup to help maintain the humidity of the box.
- Tape a thermometer in a corner of the box so the temperature can be monitored.
- Cover the top of the box and place the box on newspapers to help with insulation.
Shop for Quality Food
Your puppy’s body is growing in critical ways which is why you’ll need to select a food that’s formulated especially for puppies as opposed to adult dogs. Look for a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the packaging to ensure that the food you choose will meet your pup’s nutritional requirements.
Small and medium-sized breeds can make the leap to adult dog food between 9 and 12 months of age. Large breed dogs should stick with puppy kibbles until they reach 2-years-old. Make sure your puppy has fresh and abundant water available at all times.
Feed multiple times a day:
- Age 6-12 weeks – 4 meals per day
- Age 3-6 months – 3 meals per day
- Age 6-12 months – 2 meals per day
Establish a Bathroom Routine
Because puppies don’t take kindly to wearing diapers, housetraining quickly becomes a high priority on most puppy owners’ list of must-learn tricks. According to the experts, your most potent allies in the quest to housetrain your puppy are patience, planning, and plenty of positive reinforcement. In addition, it’s probably not a bad idea to put a carpet-cleaning battle plan in place, because accidents will happen.
Until your puppy has had all of her vaccinations, you’ll want to find a place outdoors that’s inaccessible to other animals. This helps reduce the spread of viruses and disease. Make sure to give lots of positive reinforcement whenever your puppy manages to potty outside and, almost equally important, refrain from punishing her when she has accidents indoors.
Knowing when to take your puppy out is almost as important as giving her praise whenever she does eliminate outdoors.
Here’s a list of the most common times to take your puppy out to potty.
- When you wake up.
- Right before bedtime.
- Immediately after your puppy eats or drinks a lot of water.
- When your puppy wakes up from a nap.
- During and after physical activity.
Watch For Early Signs of Illness
For the first few months, puppies are more susceptible to sudden bouts of illnesses that can be serious if not caught in the early stages. If you observe any of the following symptoms in your puppy, it’s time to contact the vet.
- Lack of appetite
- Poor weight gain
- Vomiting
- Swollen of painful abdomen
- Lethargy (tiredness)
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing or coughing
- Pale gums
- Swollen, red eyes or eye discharge
- Nasal discharge
- Inability to pass urine or stool
Teach Obedience
By teaching your puppy good manners, you’ll set your puppy up for a life of positive social interaction. In addition, obedience training will help forge a stronger bond between you and your puppy.
Teaching your pup to obey commands such as sit, stay, down, and come will not only impress your friends, but these commands will help keep your dog safe and under control in any potentially hazardous situations. Many puppy owners find that obedience classes are a great way to train both owner and dog. Classes typically begin accepting puppies at age 4 to 6 months.
Tip: Keep it positive. Positive reinforcement, such as small treats, has been proven to be vastly more effective than punishment.
Be Sociable
Just like obedience training, proper socialization during puppyhood helps avoid behavioral problems down the road. At approximately 2 to 4 months of age, most puppies begin to accept other animals, people, places, and experiences. Socialization classes are an excellent way to rack up positive social experiences with your puppy. Just be sure to ask your vet about what kind of interaction is OK at this stage.
DR RAKESH KUMAR SINGH, TVO, MOTIHARI
