Keep your nest warm, quiet, clean and dry. Make sure you are raising puppies properly; if one or more are being neglected, they may need to be raised by hand. Also keep an eye on puppies, looking for any weaknesses or for littermates to push them away from the teats. New puppies cannot regulate their body temperature and must be protected from drafts, warns the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Although puppies cuddle with their mother and each other for warmth, it's best to use a heat lamp during their first month of life. Use clean wrapping paper (newspaper without printing) or newspaper in layers on a flat towel for about the first week. Newborn puppies can get trapped in a soft cloth and can die if they can't breathe. After they can lift their heads and move a little, you can use a towel, sheet, or blanket.
When puppies start crawling and then walking, they will use the fabric for traction. You should supervise a dog mother with her newborn puppies to make sure she is not negligent or aggressive towards them. You should also watch so that no puppies are accidentally trapped under it, which could suffocate them. Puppies should be fed while lying on their stomach.
Other positions can cause them to choke. Just like in human babies, you should heat milk to about 100 degrees or body temperature. After all puppies have eaten, the breeder should conduct an inspection to make sure they are healthy and normal. If this is your first time breeding, talk to your veterinarian about what to expect and look for.
Healthy newborns should have a healthy sucking reflex, a normal and functional urethra and anus, no cleft palate, pink, moist gums and mucous membranes, and a healthy coat. To ensure that both mother and puppies receive adequate nutrition during breastfeeding, the mother should receive several servings of quality puppy food throughout the day. If you have newborn puppies in your house or on the way, you're probably nesting, getting ready for the squeaky little hairballs. Studies have shown that in their first week of life puppies should lose part of their birth weight and then double it.
Puppies begin to lose this immunity between six and eight weeks of age, around the time they receive their first vaccines. Expecting newborn puppies in your home can be exciting, but it's important to take good care of the mother and puppies. Try to limit the handling of puppies in the early days and always wash and dry your hands before touching them. Poorly socialized puppies tend to turn into anxious dogs that may have behavioral problems, so if you plan to stay with puppies or send them to good homes, it's important to cuddle and play with them, allow them to explore and play, and expose them to as many new experiences as possible.
The AKC advises that, as puppies grow, owners keep track of their weight, especially during the first few weeks. The best way to determine if your puppies are receiving the right amount of food is consistent weight gain and normal, well-formed stools. Once you notice puppies starting to taste mom's food, it's time to provide them with their own bowl of puppy food. After you've taken care of helping the mother clean the puppies and making sure all the puppies breathe, you should help your dog move on to the important task of breastfeeding.
Mothers also groom their puppies throughout the day, and the AKC believes this massage is important for the health and development of puppies. Investigating ahead of time can take some of the stress off your shoulders, allowing you to devote all your attention to caring for your new litter. Make sure you and everyone in the family wash your hands thoroughly before interacting with these puppies to help reduce the risk of getting sick from any bacteria that may be lurking on their hands. Once the anticipation and waiting are over, and your pregnant dog has successfully delivered her new litter of puppies to the world, it's time to roll up her sleeves and get into the business of caring for your newborn puppies.
You should limit the number of visitors and the number of people handling puppies until the puppies are a few weeks old. . .
