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POSTNATAL CARE OF PUPPIES
Very little care is required of the owner for the puppies during the
first few weeks after birth. Natural instinct causes the mother to provide
for most needs of the offspring. The best advice is leave the new family
alone as much as possible and simply watch for anything you feel might
be abnormal. Don't hesitate to call us for advice.
NOTES ON PROPER CARE:
1. Be sure puppies nurse within the first six hours following birth.
This provides the antibodies which fight disease in the pup for the first
6-8 weeks of life. These antibodies are only absorbed during the first
few hours after birth.
2. Maintain a warm environment.
Room temperature should be maintained at a minimum of 72° F. Remember
that it's about 10 degrees colder on the floor (since heat rises) than
at eye level. Avoid drafts and keep warm. Dampness and chilling can be
FATAL to young pups and kittens.
3. A properly nourished pup sleeps most of the time, staying quiet,
and has a full stomach.
Notify us if the puppies cry frequently. Extended crying may be a sign
of problems: such as no milk available in the breasts or mastitis (infected
milk). If the pups must be hand- fed, use Havolac, Esbilac, or Puppy Lac
which is made to most closely resemble milk of the bitch. Human pediatric
formulations are not at all satisfactory. An emergency substitute can
be made by adding an egg yolk to 8 ounces of 2% milk.
4. Tail Docking and Dewclaw Removal is routinely done at 2-5 days
of age at our hospital.
5. Eyes usually open at 10-14 days of age.
Swollen eyes or discharges should be reported to us when observed.
6. Begin feeding puppies as soon as eyes are opened.
We recommend using Gerber High Protein or Rice Baby Cereal mixed with
4% milk diluted 1/2 with water. Place food in a flat saucer to be sure
the pups can get to it. After one week, switch to a Premium Puppy Food
in place of the baby cereal.
7. The female should be allowed to nurse the puppies until six weeks
of age.
Smaller breeds often do better if allowed to nurse for eight weeks, even
though you begin the solid food feeding at four weeks of age.
8. Pups should be treated for internal parasites at 3-4 weeks of
age.
9. Start immunizations at six weeks of age.
The major disease which is our major concern at this age is Parvovirus.
10. Pups may be bathed whenever necessary, but DRY THOROUGHLY!
11. Discuss flea control with us before using ANY product on young
pups.
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