You need to keep a watchful eye on your pup at all times. His environment, food, and social factors can affect him in different ways. Most importantly, he can become deathly ill with some of the illnesses that befall puppies. When you need to identify a problem, be sure to include your vet in the process. He will know the appropriate action to take.
Symptoms to watch for in your new pup are diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, lethargy, pain of any kind, no appetite, and a fever. Dogs cannot tell us what they are feeling so we have to watch for these symptoms and call the vet to see if they need to be seen. Make sure their vaccinations are all up to date. Also monitor his contact with other dogs as they may be sick and the owners may not know it.
Once you see the vet and decide on a course of action, he may decide some medicine would help the animal feel better. There are several ways to get the puppy to take the medicine whether it is liquid or tablet. Some dogs may spit it out. You have to keep trying until they get it down or call the vet and see if something else can be done.
For liquid medicines, some dogs will lick it right off a spoon or out of the dropper. You can pour it in some food and mix it up. If the dog is uncooperative, you can hold him by the back of the head. Pull one side of the mouth up and shoot the medicine toward the back of the mouth and they will swallow it.
For tablets, the same thing applies. Most people will disguise the food in a piece of bread or in the dog’’s food. Some dogs will take it right out of your hand. If the dog is uncooperative, tilt your dog’’s head back and place the pill as far back on the tongue as you can get it. At no time should you hurt the animal while giving medicine to him.
A puppy progresses almost like children do. They need to eat, sleep, and learn new things along the way. Always interact and play with your puppy to give him exercise and keep him mentally and physically fit.
The first two to three weeks are usually the hardest. The puppy will begin to move around and open his eyes. He will know his Mom and her smell.
At three to four weeks, the pup will begin to recognize you. Any kind of negative happening like immediate changes can impact his personality. So try to keep things calm during this time. Mom is beginning to teach the litter how to be a dog, so they need to stay with her now.
During the four to eight week stage, he begins to interact with his siblings. He will also learn how to play. Weaning happens around this time and Mom will teach her mischievous brood a few manners. They are not ready to be separated from Mom as she has a few more things to teach them. This is also the time to start them on puppy food.
Once they get to eight weeks, some puppies hit a fearful time. Things they used to be accustomed to now terrify them. Do not yell or scream at the puppy or isolate him during this time. This is the time to teach simple behaviors such as sit and stay.
At three months, the puppy will be more independent every day. He will challenge you by not doing the simple commands he already knows. He will wait to play wrestle and even if you win, the puppy will still think it is alright to fight with you which can lead to other bad behaviors down the road.
Four months brings the teenage stage. He will go through hormonal changes and have an even lesser desire to do what you say. He will also go through teething. Always have something cold, if possible, for the pup to chew on. This stage ends at six months which is the perfect time to spay or neuter.
Puppies need exercise and lots of attention. Otherwise, they may start to entertain themselves doing things that will annoy you. Play with the pup and interact by giving praise or a scratch between the ears. Take him for a short ride down the road.
Bored puppies can pick up some really bad habits. Some of these are really hard to break. Start showing correct behavior when you see the puppy doing the wrong one. Give a treat and praise him when he performs the right behavior.
Licking is a big one. Excessive licking may mean a problem for the vet, or the puppy could just be bored. A bath may help to calm and soothe. Praise the puppy for staying still in the bath.
Whining is hard to deal with at times. If they have been put to bed, maybe place the crate in your room so they know you are near. But each time you go in to check on them, when they whine, reinforces the behavior.
Whining can mean several different things. Some good and some bad. A dog who is housetrained may need to go outside. A sudden yelping whine may mean he is in pain and a trip to the vet is needed.
Some dogs whine when you are eating because they want your food. Some whine to be let in the house. The most important thing is not to give in. Teach them by praising during the quiet times. Then they learn when they are quiet, they will get praise and attention.
Puppies will chew everything in sight from shoes, books, or papers. He may be teething, and like his human counterpart, his gums are sore or itching. Sometimes he is just trying to entertain himself. Make sure he has toys that he can chew and praise him for chewing the right ones. Say NO in a low voice so he will know you disapprove of his actons.
Puppies usually become orphaned when Mom doesn”t make enough milk to feed them, has a physical problem that prevents her from caring for the pups, or has died during the birthing process. These puppies can be raised by you if you are willing to work hard at keeping them healthy. They will need to be seen by the vet after birth so he can start them on their feeding schedule.
You must follow a regular schedule of feedings, bathroom breaks, playing, and sleeping. It is quite time consuming but can be a rewarding venture. You must consider the nurturing and socialization of the pups, how to prevent diseases from arising since they are not starting out with Mom’’s milk, what to feed them and how to get them weaned in several weeks, and the sanitation of the area you will be keeping them. Take all of this into consideration and decide if you will be able to give the puppies the time they require.
You will have to bottle feed or tube feed. Bottle feeding is better for most people, because the tube could be passed into the lungs and choke the pup. Feed the pup while on its belly not on its back. Puppy formulas are available and are nutritionally balanced to meet your puppy’’s needs. Most people use Esbilac or Puppylac. Do not use cow or goat milk. Do not give raw egg whites as there is an enzyme in the egg that will cause a biotin deficiency in the puppy. Don”t give the puppy honey either, it can be fatal.
Caloric intake should be as follows in calories per pound per day:
Week One, they should receive 60-69.
Week Two, they should receive 70-79.
Week Three, they should receive 80-89
Week Four, they should receive 90-100.
When you bring the new puppy home, the first thing you will want to do is feed him. What kind of food do you use? What are his nutritional requirements? Will he like what you give him? Make sure your vet is involved in his diet planning.
Make sure the dog’’s food is healthy and tasty. Try to find something for the stage of life he is in. For example, if he is a puppy, buy him puppy food. Decide on what you are going to feed him before you bring him home. This prevents last minute decisions that might not be healthy for your pet.
Dry food is quite popular. It is easy to store and usually tastes great. It is also good for helping keep the teeth clean.
Soft and moist food are great for your dog to eat because he will eat most of the food and get the added nutrition.
Canned food have the highest water content. These also contain less nutrition, so you may need to feed your dog more than usual to equal out the nutrition they may need.
Look at the levels of vitamins and crude materials on the label. Is there enough fat, protein, calories and other nutrients? Is the food tasty and is the price too expensive? These are things to consider when buying puppy food.
If your dog becomes finicky and will only eat certain things, this is sometimes due to change in diet. Allow the dog time to adjust. If he still won”t eat, try a new food. If he still doesn”t cooperate, you may need to take him to the vet for a checkup to make sure nothing is wrong.
Some people feed their dogs from the table. This is like in between meal snacking and kills th dog’’s appetite for when it is time for him to eat his food. Avoid feeding the dog off the table.
Taking care of the newborn puppy if you are midwifing the Mom can be quite exciting. Watching a new life come into the world is a miracle in itself. Observe the birth in awe, but be ready to help Mom if she is having trouble.
You will need several items when whelping (birth) starts. Have these ready beforehand so you don”t have to leave Mom during the birth. You will need plenty of towels, a heating lamp, scissors, betadine, alcohol, dental floss, paper and pencil, and lots of patience until the big event happens.
When the first pup is born, let it start to nurse immediately. This helps to stimulate contractions for the next pup. Place the new pup under a heat lamp for warmth. After each new pup is born, you can place all the puppies back until the next contractions start.
If a pup is lifeless after birth, rub him down with a coarse towel to help him take that first breath. Some people also try placing the pup in water, alternating between hot and cold to get them to breathe. You can also try CPR by placing the pup on his back and blowing into his mouth. Then apply pressure to the chest. DO NOT GIVE UP! Some people have revived pups for up to thirty minutes after birth.
Encourage the new pups to start nursing right away. They need the colostrum that is in the mother’’s milk. This nourishing fluid contains antibodies and special vitamins that help protect the newborn pup from sickness. Make sure all the puppies are able to latch on and get the colostrum. Some of the bigger puppies will push off the smaller ones.
After each pup is born, look for any problems that may be present. Obvious ones like a cleft palate or a shortened limb are easy to spot. Sometimes there are internal problems like organs that are not fully developed. Call the vet immediately if you spot a problem.
