It is not easy to take care of a newborn puppy. It is just like raising a newborn child. You should pay special attention to them in their early stages. So, it is crucial to know how a puppy eats, how to take care of a puppy, and how much a puppy sleeps so that you can be ready for their first few months and raise a healthy, happy dog. After knowing all the facts, you will realize how hard is it to take care of a newborn puppy.
How Do I Feed A Newborn Puppy?
During the first few days of nursing, antibodies in the mother’s milk give brand-new puppies important protection against germs. Colostrum is a milky substance dog moms make for puppies that helps their bodies fight off infections.
To get this substance, your puppy needs to nurse from its mother for as long as possible. Calling your veterinarian is necessary to ensure you get the nutrition required to survive if their mother passes away or rejects them.
If a puppy can’t nurse after a few weeks, you can feed it yourself. If you don’t know how to get the puppy to drink from a bottle or tube, ask your vet for some tips. You should consult your nearest vet immediately if a puppy has trouble swallowing the bottle; they may require stomach tube feeding.
Make sure that you are feeding your puppy with specific formula made for them. Puppies should be fed while they are lying down. Other positions may make them choke. You should warm the milk to 100 degrees, the same temperature as a baby’s body.
But don’t heat the formula in the microwave; instead, put the bottle in a warm cup of water. Your milk is properly heated if you can feel a slight warmth when you touch it to your skin. Letting them rest after feeding them would be helpful for good digestion.
When Should A Puppy Eat?
It’s good to feed newborn puppies three times a day. You’ll be just as busy with them as with a human baby. If you are mixing dog-special milk formula for them, follow the mixing guides on the package. You may find that your puppy needs more or less than what is written on the package. Then you can adjust it as you need.
Puppies need a warm place to sleep and eat. There is no regulation of their body temperature for the first few weeks of their life. If they are cold, it makes it hard for them to eat and digest their food.
You’ll have to put a heat source under a towel or bed sheet in their nesting box. Put it next to an area that isn’t heated so they can step away if it gets too hot.
Around 3 or 4 weeks old, your puppy might start biting or chewing on their bottle. This signifies they may be ready to start eating food. You might need to mix their formula with canned dog food when they start eating. Discuss with your vet about what to do if you see your puppy chewing on the bottle.
Between 4 and 6 weeks old, your puppy should be able to eat solid food on its own from a bowl. Follow the amount of recommendations on dog food packages. When your puppies turn 6 and 12 weeks, you can usually feed them four times a day.
What Weight Should A Newborn Puppy Have?
The right weight for your new puppy depends on the breed. They can be as light as 2.5 ounces or as heavy as 2.25 pounds.
You should weigh them every day for the first two weeks and then at least once every three days for the rest of their first year. Make a note of their weight when you weigh them. Depending on the breed, they should gain about 10% of their body weight daily.
During their first year of life, puppies should gain weight too fast. Contact your veterinarian if you experience unusual weight loss of your puppy. Studies have shown that puppies may lose a bit of their birth weight in the first week and then double it in the second week. Depending on the breed and size of the dog, a puppy can gain up to six times its birth weight in just three weeks.
How Can I Help My Puppy Go To The Bathroom?
Puppies can’t go to the bathroom alone when they’re very young. As a result of their mother licking genitalia and anals, the pups pass waste by being stimulated by the muscles and nerves. If your puppy’s mother passed away or rejected it, you can use a warm washcloth or cotton ball and gently stroke these areas to make it feel like its mother is licking it.
When Should I Carry My Puppy To A Vet Checkup?
Most vets recommend bringing in your new puppy when it is about six weeks old. This is because the mother’s antibodies wear off over time. The risk of infection and illness increases for puppies this time. During their first clinical examination, your vet will give your puppy its first medicine to eliminate worms. And also, your vet may advise you on vaccines for your puppy.
Prepare For The Caring Of Newborn Puppies
If you wish to buy a healthy puppy from a breeder or store, look for one that doesn’t separate puppies from their mothers too early. Generally, between 7 and 8 weeks is enough time for their mother to teach them all.
You’ll need to train your puppy to pee in specific places and puppy-proof your home.
A nesting box with a less-heated area must have soft, warm blankets on top of a warming pad, also called a whelping pad. If you know they are still nursing; you’ll also need puppy formula and bottles to feed them. Food and water bowls for your puppy should also be ready. The food you give your puppy will depend on its size and breed.
Summary
Taking care of a newborn puppy is not an easy task. You must follow many steps to ensure the healthy growth of your puppy.
