Nothing in raising puppies is more exciting than the first few minutes after birth, when you finally get to meet the new litter. It’s a sweet moment as the mother dog develops a bond with her new puppies. How many puppies are there? What colors are they? How many are males or females?
Even if your mother dog is in good health and devoted to her pups, you will still be involved in their care on a weekly basis. The following is a list of some considerations you should make.
If the smaller puppies still dont show signs of healthy growth or weight gain, talk to your vet. It might be necessary to take over and bottle-feed them. Its also important to watch the mother for signs of mastitis, says Wag!, an infection of the mammary glands that can interfere with milk production. Signs of mastitis include red and swollen nipples and reluctance to nurse. The mother may even snap at the puppies when they try to eat. If you notice these signs, contact your vet right away.
Newborn puppies will spend their first few weeks in the box or pen in which they were born, so its important to choose wisely when preparing for their arrival. The space should offer enough room for the mother to lie down and stretch out comfortably without crushing the puppies, and she should be able to come and go freely while keeping the puppies contained. It should also be easy to access so that you can change out the bedding each day.
Although taking care of a newborn puppy requires a lot of work, the first few weeks pass by quickly. If your puppies are adopted, you’ll soon have to say goodbye, which is always difficult to do. Enjoy the puppies while you have them so that when the time comes to let them go, you can do so knowing that you gave them the best start possible.
Mom will clean up her pups’ waste in the early going, but if there is a large litter, she might need assistance. The puppies will open their eyes and become more active at the end of the second or the start of the third week. When they can stand up on their own, you can move them to a larger pen with more space to play. At that point, bathroom cleanup will demand more of your time.
The lamp should be placed high enough above the box to prevent any risk of burning the mother or her pups, and there should also be a cooler corner that the pups can crawl to if they get too warm. For the first five days, the temperature inside the pen should be kept at about 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. From days five through ten, gradually dial back the heat to 80 degrees, and then continue to reduce the heat little by little until it reaches 75 degrees by the end of their fourth week, suggests PetPlace.
What do I do to care for the newborn puppies?
During the first few days after birth, the mother should spend the majority of her time with the puppies. Puppies need very little care from their owners during their first month because their mother will feed and look after them. In fact, the owner of a pet should refrain from interfering with the mother’s care in the vast majority of instances.
The puppies should be kept warm and should nurse frequently. Every few hours, you should check on them to make sure they’re warm and fed. The mother should be examined to make sure she is producing enough milk that looks normal.
Puppies’ body temperatures must be closely watched if the mother does not spend the majority of her time in the whelping box. Supplemental heating should be provided if the puppies are cold, but care must be taken to prevent burns because young dogs don’t react to heat the same way adult dogs do. The newborn puppy’s box and surrounding environment should be kept at 85° to 90°F for the first four days of life (29). 4° to 32. 2°C). The temperature may gradually be decreased to 80°F (26. By the seventh to tenth day, it will rise to 72°F (22. 2°C) by the end of the fourth week. The need to maintain a warm exterior temperature decreases with increased litter size. As puppies huddle together, their body heat provides additional warmth.
The mother may become fearful and produce insufficient milk if she believes the puppies are in danger or if it is too bright outside. The issue might be solved by covering the top of the box with a sheet or piece of cloth to block out most of the light. An enclosed box is also an excellent solution. Some dogs, especially first-time mothers, are more nervous than others. These dogs might try to conceal their puppies, even from the owner. If the puppies are moved from one location to another and are left in a chilly or drafty environment, they may be in danger. Dogs who exhibit this behavior ought to be crated or segregated in a safe place. This kind of mother has also been known to accidentally or purposefully kill her puppies, probably to keep them safe.
I have heard of milk fever. What exactly is it?
Eclampsia, or milk fever, is a calcium deficiency in the mother brought on by excessive milk production. It typically happens to mothers with large litters when the puppies are three to five weeks old (just before weaning). The mother frequently experiences muscle spasms that cause rigid legs, jerky movements, and panting heavily. A veterinarian should be contacted right away because this condition has a 30-minute to 60-minute death time frame.
FAQ
Do newborn puppies need to be watched 24 7?
In order to ensure that their new puppy learns where to go potty and what to chew (and what not to chew), first-time puppy owners must be on duty around-the-clock for the first few months.
Should I stay up all night with newborn puppies?
While your puppy adjusts to their new environment, routine, and learning how to contain their bodily functions so that there are no nighttime accidents, you should prepare for a few sleepless nights. You might be surprised by how much sleep these furry babies actually require.
How long do you have to monitor newborn puppies?
Caring for Newborn Puppies and Dams. When puppies are whelped, it’s critical to keep track of their weight at birth, at 12 hours, and at 24 hours to make sure they’re developing normally.
Are you supposed to handle newborn puppies?
Start handling the puppies. You can, and should, start gently handling the puppies1 for brief periods of time by about three weeks old for purposes other than basic health care. You can try carefully picking up the puppies once their eyes are open, holding them for a while, and putting them back in the box.