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How to Care For Very Young Puppies
Raising a puppie into a dog can be a very rewarding experience.
It is like seeing a family member grow up, but in fast motion.
Of course, I am talking about dogs not people. My wife, Barbara,
and I raise Yorkies and Maltese and tend to think of them
sometimes as family members. Except, these guys never need to
borrow the car keys or stay out too late.
This morning, we had a litter of six Yorkies born. Both of us
were on hand to help the mother. Most of the time, a mother dog
doesn't really need any help, but sometimes there are problems.
I cut the umbilical cords and tie them with dental floss. The
mother dog would ordinarily chew the umbilical cords into by
herself. With some breeds, such as Yorkies, sometimes the mother
has too much trouble turning around to reach the cord, so I am
there to help.
After the puppies are born, we put them in a warm room in our
house. They get a dry, clean, warm bed consisting of a wooden
frame about 24 inches square made of 1 by 12 boards. There is no
bottom. This square just sets upon a cloth pallet on the floor.
For the first week, we insert a small heating pad beneath the
pallet. If you buy the disposable bed pads made for human use,
they are great for the mama and her babies to lay on.
We keep a close eye on the little family evey day. Make sure the
puppies are warm and dry. You can tell when the puppies are
warm...they will tend to spread out on their bedding. Cold
puppies tend to bunch up tight to conserve body heat. Make sure
the mother dog is clean and that all the puppies are nursing.
The mother's udder should be checked every day for milk
production and infection. She will not go far from her puppies
during the first few days, so bring her food and water very near
to her.
For a mother dog to do well, she needs a quiet, secure place to
be with her puppies. Stress can have a negative effect on the
mother dog and her puppies. Keep other dogs away from her.
Strange people can cause undue stress. Don't bring in all your
freinds and their children for the first several weeks.
A lactating mother dog uses a lot of calcium and should be given
calcium pills each day. If she suddenly goes into shock, she may
be too low on calcium and will need immediate attention from
your vet.
For about a month, the mother will take care of most things.
After a few weeks, the puppies will open their eyes and start
trying to stand up and walk. Playing comes soon after. In about
4 to 5 weeks, the puppies will be ready to start eating solid
food. A mixture of canned and dry food with a little water to
soften it is a good first food. Then, slowly reduce the moisture
content until the puppies and eating canned or dry food only.
About the author:
Alton Hargrave offers advice and resources for those interested
in a business online. His website, http://bigthicketonline.com
contains honest information regarding website software and
low-cost solutions for your business.
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