Care of new born puppies
For the breeder whether experienced or not and for the pet owner who
is rather not a professional breeder raising puppies is always a worry
.One always wanted to know more regarding raising the puppies. One ask
hundred of questions to the vet and still not satisfied as worry and
anxiety always remain.
If somebody says nature will take care of whelping and newborn he is
absolutely wrong.
Everybody hates puppy loss and as far as my opinion is concerned most
of the time manual help is needed for whelping and the puppy raising.
I am writing this on the basis of my experience still there is lot of
done and to be learned.I would love to hear comments and add on for
the article.
What a breeder want A bitch who is easy whelper ,produces good milk
and a good nursing mother, but everybody is not lucky enough to find
all three character in a single bitch there is every possibility to
have one or two characteristics.
There are the occasions where the mother dies and leave her pups in
your hands for raising ,sometimes the live mother is not producing enough
milk and some may not produce good milk.
Following the birth the puppy appear lifeless ,pic up the puppy and
clean nostril and mouth with hand and with the hand held small sucking
device ,swing the puppy and rub vigorously with the course towel .Puppies
suffer from hypothermia a lot so try doing all maneuver under the heating
lamp ,they should not get very cold .If it does not work and the puppy
is still not breathing and you are feeling the heart beats on your finger
tips near the lower chest area of the front legs then put a drop of
brandy over the tongue ( if vet is not there and in case of emergency
as your vet surely put respiratory stimulant) .You can also try immersing
the fading puppy in water bowels. Take two bowls filled with puppy hot
and cold water .Immerse the puppy first in hot water ( except the neck
) and then in the cold water .You can do it ten times and if puppy starts
breathing rub vigorously until he is breathing normally .
If it works put the puppy with the mother for the colostrum feeding.
If not you can try artificial respiration by putting the puppy on his
back pull the puppy tongue forward and blow gently into his mouth while
alternatively applying the pressure on his chest. Continue rubbing the
puppy and keep on doing till the color of puppy is good sometime a puppy
may take up to 20 minutes to revive.
Tying the umbilical cord of puppies with sterilized cotton thread is
very important sterilization can be done by boiling the thread in water
for half an hour and /or dipping it in betadine solution for 30 minutes
.Depending on time one can disinfect the thread by using either one
or both method simultaneously .Dip the cord in betadine solution and
tie it with the thread .This is to be done to the puppies just after
birth breaking the cord.
After birth the bitch produces a special kind of milk called colostrum
a special kind of first milk with special quality which are not there
in the next milk . The intestinal tract of puppies is made in such a
way that it is capable of absorbing nutrients and other present in colostrum.It
not only gives essential nutrients and energy but the very important
immunity which is very necessary for the tiny to fight with the infectious
diseases during thefist few weeks of life.The intestinal tract of adults
and older is not capable of utilizing everything in colostrum .The colostrums
is produced by the mother for the shorter time approx. for 24 hrs or
so after 72 hrs the entire composition of colostrum start changing to
the mature milk. Pay close attention to the puppies that they are getting
colostrum.
Having an heating area in the whelping room with the whelping box is
great idea as puppies are susceptible to cold ( as well as heat ) hypothermia
( lower body temp than normal ) causes death in puppies for that a 60
watt bulb is hanged near the whelping box .Beware of overeating also.
The temperatuture near the whelping box should be around 85 degree farenheit.The
relative humidity should be around 50%.
Puppies rectal temperature ranges from 94 -97 degrees Fahrenheit and
they spent 90% of the time sleeping and rest 10% feeding .They can crawl
,seek warmth ,nurse .They need stimulation for urination and defecation.They
need constant attension from bitch and they loses around 10% weight
after birth but should start gaining,They should be double by the day
7.
The rate of loss of puppies is more till 12weeks of age. Maintaining
hygiene is important,cleaning and mopping the puppies on regular basis
reduces the risk.
Bloat /flatualence , diarrohea , abdominal pain and dehaydration are
few important signs of a sick puppy.Infectious dieases involving respiratory
and gastrointestinal system where in gram negative bacteria are usually
involved are more common.
However canine herpes virus in puppies is also a common killer. Dewormers
also to be given to puppies at around two weeks of age. If the mother
was properly vaccinated the vaccination of puppies start at around 6weeks
of age.