Already know how to care for newborn puppies? Basically, the mother dog will provide all the necessary care for her puppies. However, if the puppies have been separated from their mother, or if the mother dog has “rejected” the puppies, or is unable to produce enough milk, that is another story. Well, this is where you will play an important role.
For those of you who still don't know how to care for newborn puppies, here are some tips you need to know.
1. Choose the Right Place
How to care for newborn puppies begins with setting up a clean, safe and comfortable place to live. Newborn puppies spend their first few weeks in the box or crate they were born in. So, it is important to choose the place where he lives (cage) wisely.
Puppy housing should provide enough space for the mother to lie down comfortably, without disturbing the comfort of her puppies. The place must be able to provide access for the mother dog to go in and out freely while still 'locking up' her puppies.
Around the end of the second week or the beginning of the third week, the puppies will open their eyes and become more active. Once they start to get active, you can move them to a bigger dog crate with a play area.
2. Warmth
How to care for newborn puppies also needs to pay attention to the condition of their body warmth. Puppies cannot regulate their body temperature and must be protected from drafts or cold air.
Although puppies will snuggle with their mother for warmth, you need to provide other alternatives. For example, using a heat lamp during its first month of life.
The light should be placed high enough above the box or crate, to prevent the risk of the mother or puppies touching the light.
On the other hand, there should be a corner or cooler area that the puppy can walk into if the crate gets too hot. During the first five days, the temperature in the cage should be maintained at around 29.4 to 32.2 degrees Celsius.
3. Ensure Nutritional Intake is Fulfilled
A mother dog's milk provides everything a puppy needs for the first four weeks of life. If you are raising a motherless puppy, talk to your vet for guidance on how to bottle feed newborn puppies.
Be sure to use milk specially formulated for puppies, as cow's milk and other milk substitutes can cause diarrhea.
4. Watch the Time
Another way to care for newborn puppies is to pay attention to the time when giving them food. Puppies generally nurse at least every two hours in their first week of life. As they develop and grow, the intervals between feedings increase. At around four weeks of age, puppies can begin to transition from nursing to eating solid food.
5. Teach Socialization
By the fourth week puppies are ready to begin socializing with humans and other dogs. Weeks four through twelve is a "critical" period in which puppies need to learn about the environment they will be living in. That way, they will be happy dogs and adapt to their environment.
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