Weight loss in a puppy is a cause for concern. Therefore, keep a careful record of the weight of your newborn puppies. If all the puppies look similar, you can identify the puppies using non-toxic permanent markers to mark each one on the abdomen (you can use multi-colored permanent markers). You can also tie different colors of ribbon or coat rack loosely around each puppy's neck to identify them.
Companies now sell identification collars for puppies made of soft velcro for this purpose. If you are concerned about any of the puppies, see your veterinarian as soon as possible. The recommended age to separate puppies from their litter is 6 to 8 weeks, according to Dr. Reinhard, a consulting veterinarian for Nationwide's pet insurance.
By then, puppies should have been socialized with their human counterparts, a process that takes place between 3 and 12 weeks of age, Reinhard says. If you're taking care of two puppies, you need to make sure that each dog spends enough time alone. This applies to both time spent away from home and at home. Sometimes you'll have to walk the dogs separately.
It's important for dogs to become individuals and to join you. Keep dogs in separate cages when confined and cages should not be placed close to each other. You should play with each dog separately and feed it at different times. It's called littermate syndrome or sibling rivalry.
Regardless of what it's called, it's something that denotes problems. Why is that? The following are some disadvantages to consider. Puppies are simply adorable, so there is always a temptation to take more than one from a litter. If any of the puppies are pushed out of the litter, lift them up and put them back with the rest of the group to keep them warm.
To care for a large litter of puppies, check puppies every few hours after birth to make sure they are warm, well-fed, and not crying, which can be a sign that something is wrong. A happy litter of chubby puppies is the best indication that the mother is producing adequate milk. The larger the litter, the lower the ambient temperature, as the puppies will cuddle and stay warm. When visiting a breeder, prospective puppy owners may find it difficult to choose a puppy from the litter.
To care for a litter of puppies, it is necessary to monitor them immediately after birth, check for any defects, make sure that no puppies end up being expelled from the litter, and keep them together until they are at least eight weeks old. Even though they were littermates and you can assume that there is some element of familiarity, it would be best to work with them as if they weren't and take every precaution. Even two puppies from different litters could be problematic for you, as they could also bond with each other instead of you. It is in their first two months of life that puppies receive the nutrition they need and learn social skills from their mother and litter mates.
