Basic Medical Care For Newborn Puppies
What are the medical concerns when raising orphaned puppies? Heres some basic information about whats normal and whats not.
Temperature. A normal rectal temperature for a newborn puppy is 95 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week, and 97 to 100 for the second week. By the fourth week, the puppys temperature should reach the normal temperature of an adult dog: 100 to 102 degrees. Puppies under the age of about 38 days have a reduced ability to regulate their body temperature and will need a temperature-controlled environment.
Weight. Weighing the puppies daily to check for weight gain can reassure you that they are doing well. If a puppy is failing to gain weight or losing weight, you should consult with your veterinarian.
Vision. Puppies eyes open when they are 10 to 14 days old. Because their eyes are very sensitive to light, they should be kept out of direct sunlight until approximately four weeks of age.
Hearing. The ear canals of puppies open between five and eight days.
Warmth. A puppy burns far more body heat per pound of body weight than an adult dog. To stay warm, puppies depend on radiant heat from their mother. In her absence, they need constant temperature control. So, youll have to provide your puppies with a draft-free nesting area. Heat lamps or hot water bottles can be used to keep the temperature controlled.
Can You Overfeed A Puppy
The severity of an overeating puppy can range from one unfortunate vomit spot on your new rug, to a serious and life-threatening condition like GDV also known as Bloat. If your puppy is eating too much on a daily basis, it can also lead to severe health consequences down the road.
Puppy Living Space Feeding Disease Prevention
Living space. If the puppies were being cared for by their mother, she would choose a place that is soft, warm and away from full sunlight. In the absence of their mother, you must provide this type of environment. A box may be large enough for a first home for the family. Put the box in a warm, sheltered space. If the litter is a big one, you may need to buy a child-size plastic pool. As the puppies grow, watch to see whether they can climb out of the box or pool. Once puppies start to move, they can climb well within a surprisingly short period of time.
Bedding. Use clean packing paper or newspaper layered on top of a flat towel for the first week or so. Newborn puppies can get caught up in soft cloth and can die if they cant breathe. After they are able to lift their heads and move around a bit, you can use a towel, sheet or blanket. When the puppies start crawling, and then walking, theyll use the cloth for traction.
Feeding. Newborns will need food every two to three hours, around the clock. Six or eight meals, equally spaced over 24 hours, are sufficient for most puppies small or weak puppies may need more feedings.
Here are the steps for feeding:
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How To Care For A Newborn Puppy
Those of you who have had children probably know how stressful and time-consuming caring for a helpless infant can be! Those of us who havent can probably never imagine it! But perhaps there are some similarities with caring for a newborn puppy? If you are preparing to care for a newborn puppy, we have a handy guide you can follow below.
When And How Much Do I Feed
Puppy formula should come with instructions on how it needs to be prepared. The instructions should also include a scale of how much formula to give the puppy per gram of body weight. You’ll need a good set of scales to measure the puppies’ progress and calculate the amount to increase the feed by as they grow.
The general rule is to feed the puppies every 2 to 3 hours. Hand feeding can start to be phased out from the 3rd and 4th week as moistened solid food is introduced.
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What Should Newborn Puppies Eat
Until they are 4-5 weeks old, puppies should ideally be drinking their mothers milk, which provides all the essential nutrition that they need at this important time of growth.
If mothers milk is not available, there are a variety of milk replacement formulas available. They are not dissimilar from the formula that human babies receive, but are tweaked for puppy nutrition.
Below are some of the best puppy formulas that you can get today. You can also check out the emergency milk replacement recipes available on the Maddies Fund website.
How To Bottle Feed
Here are the steps and reminders when you bottle-feed newborn pups with commercial puppy milk.
Step 1: Prepare all the necessary equipment for feeding. Make sure to wash the puppy-sized bottles and sterilize them as frequently as possible before each meal. You also have to wash your hands to avoid sanitation problems that can potentially lead to infection.
You may also consider tube feeding milk for a puppy if you dont have puppy-sized bottles. However, do not use a water bottle for feeding.
Step 2: Prepare the water by boiling it and cooling it down to 158°F, if you are using powdered formula. If you are using the liquid type, then heat it to 100°F.
Step 3: Follow the package instruction or the manufacturers recommendation for the reconstitution of the milk. Package instruction should also indicate the amount of food to be given. Most commercial milk replacers would require 1cc of milk formula for every one ounce of body weight at each feeding.
Step 4: Position the newborn puppy on his stomach. Do not feed the puppy by holding him on his back as it can cause pneumonia due to milk potentially getting into the lungs.
Step 5: Assist the puppy in feeding by pushing the bottle gently. Of course, allot plenty of time for swallowing to prevent choking.
Step 6: Initiate genital stimulation on the puppy for him to eliminate when he is 1 to 2 weeks old due to his incapacity to excrete waste during that age.
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Dog Biscuit Ingredients I Used
One of the reasons I used baby food was because we had some leftover oatmeal cereal like thisfrom when my granddaughter visited last. I thought oatmeal cereal would essentially act as oat flour and by adding some chicken, sweet potatoes and carrot baby food, you almost have a complete meal!
Essentially all you do is mix the jar food with the oatmeal and make a stick dough. Then you roll it out on a silicone mat by taking a greased piece of wax paper and placing it on top of the dough. Then using a rolling pin, roll on top of the wax paper so the dough doesnt stick to the rolling pin.
You want to roll it to about ¼ inch thick. Then use cookie cutters to make the biscuits. I got these from Amazon and love them!
Dog Biscuit Recipe Disclaimer
I am not an animal expert. Please check with your vet to see if what you are using is safe for your dog. Here is an article about what people foods are good for your dog. These foods are toxic and should never be given to your dog: chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, yeast dough, artificial sweeteners, macadamia nuts, avocadoes, alcohol, or coffee.
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Transition The Puppy To Solid Foods
Once the puppy is about four weeks old and has a nice new set of puppy teeth growing in, it is time to begin introducing the puppy to soft foods. This is a fun and exciting time for the puppy and its owner alike.
The puppy will still need to eat a lot of food, even when it is completely weaned from the bottle of puppy formula. Give the puppy four meals a day until it is six months old, then decrease this to three meals a day. Ask the veterinarian for specific dietary requirements for the puppy because these requirements vary widely by breed.
Sponge Feeding A Puppy
Sponge feeding is a safer, gentler option to tube feeding IF your pup is strong enough to suck.
For this method you use can a small cosmetic sponge cut to approximate the size of the momma dogs teat, and also cut a small hole in the opposite end of the sponge.
Its a good idea to have several sponges ready cut for use so that you can wash and dry them in between feedings.
Fill a small syringe with the right amount of milk for the feeding and insert it into the hole you cut in the sponge.
Dip the other end of the sponge in the milk and encourage your pup to suck on it. You may need to gently insert the sponge into his mouth and squeeze a few drops of milk out to encourage him.
Once hes sucking, slowly press the plunger on the syringe to pour milk into the sponge and keep it flowing slowly so the pup doesnt swallow air.. but slowly enough that he wont be flooded with it either.
This video shows you how to sponge feed a puppy:
Bottle fed puppies are at risk of Fading Puppy Syndrome, which can be fatal. Its important to know how to recognize this and what to do about it. Check out my page on taking care of newborn puppies to learn more about this .
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When Can A Puppy Eat Adult Dog Food
When to shift your pup over to adult dog food will depend partly on their size and growth rate. Many toy- and small-breed dogs and mixed breeds reach their full size by 10 to 12 months of age. While a very active small dog may benefit from an extra snack during the day, they can start the change to an adult diet. Large- and giant-breed dogs may not reach full growth until 18 months or older.
Consult your veterinarian for guidance about switching to adult dog food.
Symptoms Of Aspiration Pneumonia In Dogs
If a puppy is suffering from aspiration pneumonia, one or more of the following symptoms may be evident. One of the most common signs of aspiration pneumonia in newborn puppies is milk or other aspirated fluid coming out of the puppys nose.
Other signs include trouble breathing, choking, vomiting, refusal to feed, weight loss, fever, pale gums, weakness. If your puppy is struggling, there are several things you can do to help a puppy who has trouble breathing, but veterinary care is important as aspiration pneumonia is a serious condition that requires prompt aggressive veterinary assistance.
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Puppy Bottle Feeding Chart
As per the bottle feeding chart, a puppy gets roughly 15 mL of milk for every 2 oz of body weight. The amount per feeding and number of feedings depends on age and weight.
| Puppy Weight |
| 145 mL |
Please be aware that this chart is just for informational purposes. Consult your vet or the label of your milk replacer to avoid under- or overfeeding your pup.
Newborn pups have very small stomach capacity so its important to strictly adhere to your milk replacers label for the amount per feeding.
Its normal for puppies to gain 5% or even 10% per day for the first 4 weeks.
However, your pup might gain more, especially in the beginning and your pup may weigh double by the end of week 1 or triple by week 3.
Slightly underfeeding is better than overfeeding but to avoid any confusion, consult your vet.
Its essential to avoid overfeeding due to the risk of aspiration, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloat. Underfeeding may stunt growth or lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Water intake for pups is essential and they need around 130-220 mL per kilogram of body weight each day .
When searching for a milk replacer, make sure it has the recommended amount of protein, fat, and so on since many commercial ones are not recommendable.
The bottle should also have the proper flow to ensure the pups dont choke on too much milk and that they dont have to work too hard.
Thats why a bottle made for dogs is extremely helpful.
Health Concerns Of The Mother
Several conditions that can affect a new mother to the detriment of the puppies include eclampsia and mastitis. Both are painful, and eclampsia is life threatening to the mother
Eclampsia
One such life threatening condition is eclampsia. Eclampsia is an emergency medical condition liked to a sudden drop in blood calcium levels.
Eclampsia occurs when the mom is milk production is at the highest point when the puppies are one to four weeks of age. You may have heard it referred to as Milk Fever or hypocalcemia. Poor diet and large litters are often the reason this problem.
This condition causes muscle spasms, abnormal movements, stiff limbs, and difficulty breathing. This disease is severe and can cause death within an hour. Consult a vet if you notice any of the symptoms
Mastitis
Since the mothers milk contains colostrum and nutrients that provide immunity and help the puppies to grow, it is necessary for you to check that the mother is healthy.
Check each mammary gland to ensure that there is no infections, redness, or discharge. These symptoms may indicate mastitis, a painful inflammation of the mammary glands.
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What Should I Track In A Logbook
Maintaining a logbook about the orphaned puppies does not need to be complicated. The intent is to simply keep track of how they are doing so you can identify if there are any potential concerns with their development.
Tracking their weights, milestones, and routines are key, so be sure to record details of when their eyes open, when their teeth begin to erupt, their food intake, and stool consistency.
TIP: Individual puppies must be identified in some way, so consider colored collars or nail polish on a few front toenails.
A Puppys First Food Is Colostrum
Colostrum is the first fluid that is produced by nursing mammals before the milk comes in. It is thick, yellow, and chock full of nutrition. Puppies can not skip this nutritious substance and thrive. It is debatable if a puppy who does not receive colostrum can live. This is because colostrum is the most nutritious substance that a puppy will ever eat, and this nutrition gives it a necessary boost to transition from placental feeding to milk.
When the puppy is separated from the placenta at birth, it loses the constant stream of nutrition and is birthed into a world full of bacteria and germs. It does not have antibodies to these bacteria and germs until it consumes colostrum.
The puppy must be able to consume as much of this nourishing fluid as possible during the first 12 hours and at every opportunity for the first two days after birth.
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How Do I Feed A Newborn Puppy
Brand new puppies receive important protection from germs through antibodies in their motherâs milk during the first few days of nursing. Dog moms produce a milky-textured substance called colostrum that gives puppies’ bodies the ability to fight off infections.
It is essential to let your puppy nurse as long as possible from their mother to receive this substance. If their mother dies or rejects them, youâll need to call your veterinarian to make sure you get the supplements that puppies need to survive.
After the first few weeks, puppies that canât nurse can be fed by you. If youâre unsure how to do it, ask your veterinarian for some tips on getting the puppy to nurse from a bottle or tube. If a puppy is having a problem taking the bottle, you should see your veterinarian immediately â they may need to be fed with a stomach tube.
Youâll need to make sure that you purchase formula made for canines. Work with the pups to ensure that they can nurse from the bottle.
Puppies should be fed while lying on their stomach. Other positions may cause them to choke. Similar to human babies, you should warm the milk to about 100 degrees or body temperature.
However, donât use your microwave to heat the formula â place the bottle in a cup of warm water. If you can touch the warmed milk to your skin and feel slight warmth, the milk is warm enough. After feeding, gently pat your puppy on their back to help them burp up any air that they may have swallowed.
Things You Should Know
- You can use goats milk or commercial canine milk replacement, but do not bottle-feed a puppy cows milk.
- Never refrigerate or chill milk for your puppy.
- Your puppy should consume 25-35 milliliters of formula for every 3.5 ounces of their body weight, and you should feed them once every 2-3 hours.
- Start transitioning to dry food after 4 weeks slowly move to dry food over the course of 3-4 weeks by mixing dry food with water.
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