Caring For Newborn Puppies

Is there anything more cuddly than a newborn puppy? Probably not. Therefore, we must be involved in your care when you are most vulnerable. In this article we show you some important guidelines.

It has always been said that domesticated animals go through four traumatic periods. This includes birth, weaning, transportation, and slaughter. In the case of pets, the first three are more common. Perhaps the first is the most important.

The care of newborn puppies requires great attention on the part of the owner to ensure their survival. In case of difficulties, you should consider going to a vet.

Tips for home births

The care provided to the puppies will differ depending on the time of their life. Here are a series of general tips.

Care to provide as soon as you are born

As the puppies are born, it is important to:

• Cut the umbilical cord three centimeters from the abdomen.

• Clean the nostrils and pharynx of amniotic fluid, for example with a cotton swab.
• Vigorously dry your body, thus stimulating the respiratory drive.

Once this is done, the puppies should be thoroughly examined, noting their body weight as well. Neonates typically gain 5-10% weight each day. Failure to meet this index may indicate your poor health.

Immediate aftercare

Other aspects to take into account will be:

• Breathing, which must be regular and without strange noises. The normal respiratory rate in puppies at birth is 15 – 40 breaths per minute.

• The newborn should be examined for congenital diseases.
• Your rectal temperature should be 32 – 34 ° C in the first week of life. In fact, hypothermia is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality.
• Puppies will not be able to stand upright at birth, but they should be active and use their legs to crawl.
• These are born with the eyes closed and the separation of the eyelids does not occur until 10 – 14 days of life. The cornea at this stage may appear slightly cloudy.

The dog will take care of all the care of her newborn litter, as long as we provide her with a clean and dry environment.

For example, he will lick each puppy’s perineal region for the first two to three weeks to stimulate urination and defecation. Therefore, during this first period, the bedding will have to be changed more frequently.

Artificial feeding: the real care of newborn puppies

Artificial feeding has been shown to be helpful for perinatal survival. When considering this option, formulating a suitable dairy substitute is essential. Although cow’s milk preparations have been advocated, experts prefer to use a commercially available substitute.

Despite this, the litter must remain in contact with the bitch (whenever possible) to ensure normal social development. In the same way, it is essential that everyone receives colostrum from the mother during the first hours after birth. In this colostrum are the first antibodies that will activate the animal’s immune system.

Neonates normally feed every 2-4 hours for the first five days of life. It is better to imitate this also with artificial feeding. After each feeding, it is convenient to stimulate the perineal area as the female would do with a damp towel.

Perinatal mortality, is it due to poor care of newborn puppies?

Asphyxia is the most common cause of perinatal mortality. This is related to the fact that the oxygenation of the puppy is poorer during delivery because:

• There is a reduction in blood flow to the uterus and, consequently, to the umbilical cord.
• The fetal placenta separates from the uterine wall some time before delivery.

In other cases, neonatal death is caused by congenital anomalies, nutritional diseases, trauma, and even infectious diseases.

Sudden death syndrome

In addition to the losses described, many perinatal deaths occur for no apparent reason. This is the case of sudden death. It is true that it has been shown that puppies that “fade” at birth have a lower concentration of pulmonary surfactant.

Death can be due to poor care of newborn puppies

Numerous reproductive disorders that affect females contribute to perinatal mortality of newborn pups. Similarly, there are many management factors responsible for this perinatal mortality. All of them are our responsibility as guardians.

Today, there have been substantial advances in the study and approach of these disorders. This, combined with prompt diagnosis and intervention, can greatly improve litter survival.