It is recommended, especially with a first-time mother, to check puppies every few hours to make sure they are all breastfeeding and are warm and happy. Young puppies are susceptible to diseases and infections, so you'll need to keep a close eye on them. Care for newborn puppies should include regular inspections for signs of infection or ill health. Tell the vet anything unusual, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or if a puppy won't stand up or eat.
Newborn puppies spend about 90% of their time sleeping during the first few weeks of life. That's more than 22 hours a day, but sleep doesn't happen all at once. Puppies sleep over and over again during the day and night, keeping warm with litter mates and mother's body heat. Between naps, they spend the rest of their time eating and being groomed by mom.
Newborn puppies eat approximately every two hours or more. When they wake up, puppies should look for a nipple vigorously. This is known as a “rooting reflex”. It is normal for puppies to vocalize when they do so in a series of squeals and whines.
Once full, the puppies cuddle up with the litter again and go back to sleep. This happens every two hours for the first week. It is vital that puppies suck frequently; breast milk meets all nutritional needs, providing antibodies, proteins and minerals that are necessary for puppies to grow. Since puppies are delicate creatures that need a lot of care, keep in close contact with your veterinarian to ensure their good health.
Although puppies are cute and cuddly, there is a lot of care in their development in the first few weeks. If you notice that any of the puppies are being underfed, you may need to keep an eye on them when it's time to breastfeed and make sure that smaller puppies hook onto fuller nipples to feed them, says The Nest. Puppies cannot hear, see, or even defecate on their own when they are born for the first time and can also get sick due to a number of diseases and health problems. A newborn puppy is too small to undergo any type of training, but there may be some things you can do to get them used to people and their environment.
Puppies will continue to eat until they are full, so there is no need to remove the bottle unless they start coughing or milk comes out of their nose. When your puppies are around three or four weeks old, you can start removing them from breast milk. With adequate food intake and mother care, a newborn puppy should double its weight in the first 10 days of its life. Make sure that you and all family members wash their 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.
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. Although puppies cuddle with their mother and each other for warmth, it is best to use a heat lamp during their first month of life. To do this accurately, you will first need to recognize the breed's proper birth weights and find a way to differentiate puppies. This means that leaving your puppies alone to get more supplies from the store is out of the question.
Try to start slowly, giving puppies solid food that has been heated and moistened with a little water. The mother normally spends most of her time with the puppies, so make sure to see the puppies breastfeeding at least once a day. Always supervise newborn puppies when feeding and continue to supervise them even when eating puppy food to avoid choking accidents. .
