Caring For Sick Newborn Pups
Although it is easy to tell an emergency, like a newborn puppy gasping for air, some potential problems will not be as easy to spot. Even if everyone looks fine and seems to be doing well in the first few days after birth, any pup can get sick all of a sudden. Crying means a pup is hungry or uncomfortable and that is completely normal. But if the pup has been fed well, kept warm, and still cries, this may indicate a problem.
They might be in pain or might be experiencing some underlying illnesses that can be causes of concern. Take them to the vet immediately and do not ever self-medicate especially when you’re uncertain and doubtful of what the newborn pup is going through.
The things mentioned above are just some of the many instances of what you can do whenever you encounter a particular situation with weak newborn pups
It is true that taking care of a weak newborn pup can be stressful and overwhelming but there are always ways to make things better that will help them grow into happy and healthy dogs. Once you help your weak newborn puppy recover, you can focus on raising your puppies through their fun and exciting development.
Search the topic you are chasing after!
Search or click below on the topic you are chasing after!
What Sort Of Problems Am I Looking For
Check the vulva to see if there is excessive discharge. This discharge is normally a greenish-black color. If she has not expelled all the afterbirths during birthing, it may be quite substantial, especially during the first twenty-four hours after whelping. Vaginal discharge should decrease significantly after twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If not, contact your veterinarian.
“If you find anything abnormal, call your veterinarian.”
Check her teats to make sure that none are swollen, red, hot, hard or tender. The milk should be whitish, not bloody or yellowish . If you find anything abnormal, call your veterinarian.
What Sort Of Problems Are You Looking For
Check the vulva to see if there is much discharge. After twenty-four hours, the vulvar discharge should be minimal. It is normally a greenish-black color and if she has not expelled all her afterbirths during birthing, the discharge may be quite copious. However, it should lessen significantly after twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If not, contact your veterinarian.
Check her teats to make sure that none are swollen, hot, hard or tender. If you find anything abnormal, call your veterinarian.
Don’t Miss: How To Keep Fleas Off Newborn Puppies
Supervising Newborn Puppies Faqs
Have any more questions about supervising a newborn puppy? Our Frequently Asked Questions section further discusses how to supervise newborn puppies, and should have all the answers you need.
Is it okay to leave newborn puppies alone with their mom?
Most responsible breeders do not leave newborn puppies alone with the dam. There are many reasons why its best to supervise the dam and her litter at all times. Inexperienced dams can quickly become overwhelmed by the new litter and not being present might cause you to miss signs of rejection. Your dam can suddenly fall ill and might need veterinary assistance. A puppy could be squashed or suffocated in a few seconds.Raising the litter properly involves huge amounts of effort from the breeder, and you must be prepared to give the litter your full, undivided attention for the next four weeks. You should move your bed into the same room as the whelping box and sleep beside it during this time.
Do newborn puppies need supervision?
Newborn puppies need constant supervision. Not only can they not hear, see, or walk, but they also cant defend themselves if anything happens to them. Supervising a newborn puppy is the only way to prevent life-threatening accidents and injuries. Puppies can be easily squashed or suffocated if they become trapped under the dam. You will also need to monitor the litter closely to make sure that the individual pups arent being rejected by the dam. The dam may single out one pup and reject it entirely.
Dont Panic: Newborn Puppies Look Ugly
We say things how they are here at Breeding Business and most puppies, after birth, look dirty and ugly. It is normal. You need to leave their belly button alone even if you feel like cleaning and disinfecting it. There is also no need to cut the puppies placenta to avoid risking haemorrhage: leave the placenta how it is and it will dry up by itself.
You May Like: When Should I Start Sleep Training My Newborn
Is My Baby Getting Enough
It can be difficult to know if your baby is getting enough to eat, especially if you are breastfeeding.
You will typically have an appointment with your pediatrician just a few days after birth. During this time, your doctor will check your babys weight, and as long as your baby is gaining weight, the amount they are eating should be just fine.
While its normal for your baby to lose a little weight in the first few days, the doctor will expect them to gain about 0.5 ounces to 1 ounce per day. Your baby should be back to their birth weight by 10 to 14 days.
Editors Note:
If you have any questions regarding feedings, this is also an excellent time for you to receive answers to those.
In general, other signs to help you determine if your breastfed baby is getting enough include:
- Having six to eight wet diapers a day.
- At least three bowel movements per day the size of a U.S. quarter or larger.
- Increasing alertness when awake.
- Gaining weight.
If your baby seems dissatisfied or fussy after a feeding, they may not be getting enough.
For breastfeeding moms, the visual confirmation is out of the picture, making it much more challenging to know just how much your baby is getting. Your breasts should feel fuller before feedings and softer afterward. You should see or hear your baby swallowing throughout much of the feeding. And your baby should be relaxed and satisfied after feeding.
Watch For Warning Signs Of Sickness
Time is of the essence for puppies because they are unable to do anything on their own. If you notice any type of abnormalities in their appearance or behavior, then it is recommended that you contact a veterinarian right away to correct the issue before it is too late. Some things to look out for include vomiting, excessive crying, diarrhea, rejection by the mother, or if the puppy is not nursing with everyone else.
Also Check: How Can I Get Free Stuff For My Newborn Baby
Things To Consider During Their First Week
- Introducing new sounds might sound strange, but your puppy will have very sensitive hearing and so making them comfortable with noises like the doorbell and a hairdryer will pay off. Keep the experience positive with rewards, and start with a low volume, increasing gradually .
- Start exploring when your puppy is young so they grow used to taking the stairs, walking up and down steps and acclimatise to different surfaces.
- Car journeys will likely be essential throughout your dogs life, whether you plan on taking them on holiday with you or taking them to their vet appointments. Introducing car rides now will make for an easier transition as they grow.
Feeding A Newborn Puppy With A Bottle
Don’t Miss: What Do You Need For A Newborn Boy
How Do You Revive A Dying Puppy
If your puppy has no pulse its vital that you give CPR quickly. Have another person You will need to lower the newborn puppys head to assist with fluid drainage. Use a suction bulb to carefully remove any excess fluid from the nose, mouth, and throat. Once the airways are clear, you will need to provide air to your puppy. Close your mouth around their mouth and nose and deliver two to three small breaths. Be careful to not fully exhale as a newborn puppys lungs are very small and prone to damage. You must also be aware that some diseases can be transmitted to humans through contact with a puppys fluids.
Next, check for a heartbeat. Feel the chest walls between your fingers or use a stethoscope. If there is no heartbeat, place the thumbs and forefingers of both of your hands around the puppys chest. Youll need to place them just behind the puppys front legs. From here, compress the puppys chest one to two times per second. This may seem excessive, but a newborn puppys normal heart rate is 120 to 180 beats per minute. Until you receive a response from your puppy, administer small breaths to their nose and mouth every 20 seconds.
Feeding The Nursing Dog
The nutrition of the puppies depends, of course, on the health of their mother. Lactating dogs require more energy than pregnant or non-lactating dogs, especially as the puppies get older. You may need to switch your dog to a complete and balanced diet with a higher fat content while she is nursing. Your veterinarian is an excellent source of nutritional information during this time and can help you find the right food for your nursing female.
You May Like: How Much Does A Newborn Photoshoot Cost
How To Breastfeed During The First 2 Weeks Of Life
The most important piece of advice: Be easy on yourself.
Supported by
-
Send any friend a story
As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.
Give this articleGive this articleGive this article
This guide was originally published on May 5, 2019in NYT Parenting.
Though breastfeeding can be a beautiful experience for many, it isnt always easy. As you hold your newborn for the first time after enduring one of the most physically and emotionally demanding feats of motherhood, its normal to feel a range of emotions: from joy and elation to stress and anxiety. These feelings can be compounded during the first two weeks of your babys life, which are the most challenging and important for establishing milk supply especially for first-time mothers.
As a 25-year neonatal intensive care unit and newborn nurse, a board-certified lactation consultant and the mother of three exclusively breastfed boys, I know firsthand what basic information is most helpful for nursing mothers, from how to achieve a proper latch to how to recognize your babys hunger cues.
Ive also reviewed the most current scientific research and clinical guidelines, and spoken with a neonatologist, a pediatrician and a neonatal nurse practitioner, to help you recognize what is and isnt working so you can breastfeed with confidence during the first two weeks after birth.
You May Like: How To Tell If Newborn Has Gas
Nutrition For The Dam
Particularly during the first few weeks of the puppies life, the mother/dam should take the lead in caring for them. This includes feeding them, keeping them warm, and even stimulating them to pass urine and defecate.
For these reasons, in the first few weeks, much of the owners focus needs to be on the health of the mother and its imperative that her nutritional requirements are met properly.
Bear in mind, while a dams calorie requirement is elevated by around 15-25% during the last trimester of pregnancy, overfeeding can easily cause a pregnant to become overweight, which can cause complications during the birth itself.
Following the birth, it is recommended to free feed the dam using nutrient-rich dry food such as puppy food. Having unlimited access to food will allow her to eat little and often as she pleases.
Just be aware that puppy food for larger breeds often has less fat, and protein content than puppy food for regular and smaller sized breeds. Try to get a puppy food that is suitable for your specific breed of dog.
When nursing her pups, the dam will also need a lot of water to keep the milk flowing.
Recommended Reading: Should I Get Life Insurance For My Newborn
Signs For Telling If A Newborn Puppy Is Dying
Puppies who die soon after birth are frequently called fading puppies. There may be a known cause, but approximately 55% of puppies who are lost to this condition have no identifiable cause, so telling if a newborn puppy is dying is not always straightforward. There are four main causes of newborn puppy death.
These four factors are all intertwined without managing one factor correctly, you will struggle to manage the others. The four problems to be aware of are low body temperature, dehydration, hypoglycemia , and missing the golden window of colostrum intake.
Colostrum Substitutes For A Puppy
There are many reasons why a puppy may not be able to drink colostrum as quickly as it should. Sometimes the mothers colostrum supply has failed to build up like it should in the final weeks of pregnancy, and she runs dry before she can feed all of her puppies.
Sometimes the mother is too weak to nurse, or may even die during birthing. Sometimes smaller puppies are unable to compete for available teats and breeders do not realize that one puppy has been unable to eat until it is too late and the puppy is weakening. Usually, by the time it is clear that a puppy is dehydrated and fading it is too late to save its life.
In the case of a puppy who is abandoned, orphaned, or for some other reason deprived of natural canine care, a human must step in immediately to give similar care to save the puppy. This care must immediately start with colostrum supplementation and keeping the puppy warm.
You May Like: When Do Newborns Get On A Sleep Schedule
What To Do If The Mother Refuses To Stay With The Puppies
This is not uncommon with pets that are closely attached to their owners. If the mother will not stay with her puppies, try relocating her and her family so she can be nearer to you. Make sure the puppies are not cold. Remember they cannot maintain their own body heat for a week or two after birth.
During the first four days of life the environmental temperature where the puppies are kept should be maintained at 29.5-32°C. The temperature may then be gradually decreased to approximately 26.7°C by the seventh to tenth day and to about 22.2°C by the end of the fourth week.
It is not necessary to heat the whole room to these temperatures. Heating over the whelping box with the aid of a heat lamp is usually all that is necessary.The larger the litter the lower the environmental temperature needs to be, since the puppies huddle together and keep each other warm.The puppies’ behavior and condition gives an indication whether they are comfortable and healthy. If they are warm and content they will be quiet and gaining weight, otherwise they will be restless and vocalizing.
When Do Puppies Need Vaccinations
When it comes to vaccinating puppies, follow a general vaccine schedule. It also helps to consult your personal veterinarian for vaccine instructions specific to your unique situation and geographic area. Remember to boost every two weeks until they are nine weeks old. Keeping vaccines two weeks apart helps prevent vaccine interference.
This is a sample vaccine protocol that begins with a parvo-only vaccine early. Parvo can strike early and it is deadly. The exact timing of first shots will vary depending on your breed, puppy size, exposure threats and other factors. For most breeds, this will be when puppies start weaning from mom and weigh around a pound. Five weeks is a general guideline but remember we vaccinate the puppy, not the calendar! The Solo-Jec 5® is a 5-way puppy vaccine that is recommended when the puppy is around six and eight weeks old.
You May Like: Do You Warm Up Formula For Newborns
Puppy Development From Newborn To One Week Old
Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Dr. Harrison is part of The Spruce Pets veterinary review board.
The birth of puppies is an exciting time. It’s beautiful to watch a mother care for her newborns, especially in the early stages of life.
A newborn puppy is completely helpless and dependent upon its mother. The first week of a puppy’s life is mainly about sleeping and eating so it will grow.
Puppies should remain with their mother and littermates until about age eight to 12 weeks. However, it is most crucial to have a mother during the first few weeks of life. A puppy that has been separated from its mother will need human intervention. Raising a newborn puppy takes a lot of time and intensive care. This is not quite the same thing as caring for a young puppy.