For the first two weeks of life, before their eyes open, puppies should feed and sleep for at least 90% of the time. If you weigh puppies regularly (once a day), there should be a steady increase in weight. If any of the puppies seem restless or noisy, this may indicate lack of food or infection. Mother and puppies need to have a study area that is for themselves.
A studio with a small heating pad, blankets and pillows will provide warmth and comfort. There may be some drainage and debris in the area for the next two weeks, so bed linen needs to be changed daily. Cleanliness is key to maintaining a healthy environment for both puppies and mothers. Heat the formula to body temperature (around 100 degrees) and position the bottle at an angle to prevent air bubbles from forming.
You may need to enlarge the hole in the nipple, which is best done with a hot needle while inverting the bottle. Always feed a puppy on his stomach, never on his back or on his back, as this could cause him to choke. Puppies should nurse enthusiastically, but not too quickly, as this can cause indigestion. Puppies should burp during and after each feeding.
Newborn puppies should breastfeed at least every 2 hours during the first or second week of life. After this, they can stretch feeding times to 3-4 hours, as long as they continue to gain weight and do well. Mom's health should be a top priority, so check regularly that she is still giving milk, has no smelly discharge from her back, and is active. If something isn't quite right, it's essential that you talk to your veterinarian right away, as postpartum illnesses progress quickly and can be very dangerous.
She should be given food and water, and taken outside regularly to go to the bathroom; she may not want to leave her puppies for a long time. 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. 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. Weigh puppies regularly to track their growth; a puppy should grow a little every day after birth.
During the first two weeks of life, puppies are stimulated by their mother to encourage urination and defecation. You should limit the number of visitors and the number of people handling puppies until the puppies are a few weeks old. If you notice that one of your puppies is smaller, doesn't gain weight, or has less energy than the others, consult your veterinarian. Puppies younger than 38 days old have a reduced ability to regulate their body temperature and will need a temperature-controlled environment.
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. As puppies grow and become more active, your dog will want more and more time to get away and sleep, exercise, or socialize with family members. Take care to protect puppies from harm, keeping in mind that not all other animals like puppies. Veterinarian supervision is recommended to provide puppies with a healthy start because there are many dangers that laymen are unaware of.
Or, consider placing the heat lamp in the corner of the birthing box so that puppies can crawl to another corner if they are too hot. A happy litter of chubby puppies is the best indication that the mother is producing adequate milk. Therefore, for the first 4 weeks of life, you should provide a warm and clean box or bedding for mother and puppies to share. Try to limit the handling of puppies in the early days and always wash and dry your hands before touching them.
The Merck Veterinary Manual recommends using a heat lamp to keep the new litter warm, as long as a slightly cooler place is provided inside the farrowing pen to prevent puppies from overheating, and place the lamp far enough above the head so that it does not burn the puppies puppies or the mother. The AKC advises that, as puppies grow, owners keep track of their weight, especially during the first few weeks. . .
