Newborn Puppy Care Guide: From Environment Control to Daily Care, Creating a Healthy and Happy Puppy Growth

Newborn Puppy Care Guide: From Environment Control to Daily Care, Creating a Healthy and Happy Puppy Growth

Newborn puppies transition from receiving nourishment through the mother's placenta to independently consuming nutrients, experiencing a drastic change in their living conditions and demonstrating limited adaptability to the outside world. Therefore, it's crucial to pay extra attention to the following aspects when caring for newborn puppies to ensure their healthy development:

1. Preventing Umbilical Cord Injury to Puppies

Avoid pulling the puppy's umbilical cord too long to prevent tearing. The umbilical cord will naturally fall off over time. During this period, observe changes in the puppy's umbilical cord and prevent puppies from sucking on each other to avoid infection and inflammation. If the puppy's umbilical cord isn't fully closed and there is blood flowing out, or if the urinary tract isn't fully closed and urine is leaking, promptly tie it off.

2. Maintaining the Living Environment Temperature for Newborn Puppies

Newborn puppies have low body temperatures and poor temperature regulation abilities, making the environment temperature significantly impact their vital activities. Especially in cold seasons, the whelping room should have heating facilities and be kept dry. Generally, the living environment temperature for puppies under 1 week old should be 30~32℃; for puppies 2~3 weeks old, the temperature should be around 27℃; and for puppies over 4 weeks old, the temperature should be around 23℃.

Note: Pay extra attention to the living environment temperature for puppies with low vitality or those rescued from near-death situations. The room temperature should be slightly lower than that for healthy puppies. These puppies usually lack sufficient milk intake, and a high room temperature can lead to excessive water excretion, causing dehydration.

3. Whelping Boxes Should be Spacious and Comfortable

Whelping boxes should be spacious and comfortable, allowing the mother dog to turn around and lie down without squeezing the puppies. The owner should be on duty day and night, strengthening supervision, especially for mothers with weak maternal instincts, first-time mothers, or mothers with neurotic tendencies. Maintain a quiet environment in the whelping room and surrounding areas, and discourage strangers from visiting to prevent the mother dog from being startled and causing accidental stepping on the puppies while rushing to bite.

Within the first 7 days after the puppies are born, it's best to use a whelping box to separate the puppies from the mother dog and allow them to nurse regularly to prevent the mother dog from stepping on the puppies.

4. Utilizing Sunlight for Disinfection

About a week after the puppies are born, you can use sunny and warm weather to take the puppies outside with the mother dog for sunbathing, typically twice a day, for half an hour each time. Utilize the ultraviolet rays in sunlight to kill bacteria on the puppies, promote bone development, and prevent rickets.

Generally, around 2 weeks old, puppies can open their eyes. At this time, avoid strong light stimulation to prevent eye damage. After 3 weeks, the mother dog can take the puppies outside for activities in the yard, without time limits. Around 3 weeks old, you can trim the puppies' nails once to prevent them from scratching the mother dog's mammary glands during nursing.

5. Regular Deworming and Vaccination

Newborn puppies have weak immune systems and are susceptible to parasitic and infectious diseases. Therefore, regular deworming and vaccination are necessary to prevent diseases.

Deworming:

First Deworming: Around 2 weeks old, you can perform the first deworming, using deworming medication that targets roundworms and tapeworms.
Subsequent Deworming: Follow the instructions on the deworming medication for subsequent deworming, typically once every 3-4 months.

Vaccination:

First Vaccination: Around 6-8 weeks old, you can administer the first vaccination, choosing multivalent vaccines that include protection against canine distemper, parvovirus, canine infectious hepatitis, and other common canine diseases.
Subsequent Vaccination: Follow the instructions on the vaccine for subsequent vaccination, typically once every 1-2 years.

6. Proper Nutrition

Puppy diets should primarily consist of milk, either specially formulated puppy milk powder or mother's milk. If the mother's milk is insufficient, you can supplement with puppy milk powder. As puppies grow older, you can gradually add supplementary foods, such as meat and vegetables.

Note:

Avoid feeding human food, as it contains many ingredients harmful to puppies.
Avoid feeding bones, as they can easily injure the puppy's digestive tract.
Avoid feeding excessively salty food, as it can burden the puppy's kidneys.

7. Monitoring the Puppy's Health Condition

Owners should closely monitor the puppy's health condition, take their temperature regularly, and observe their appetite, bowel movements, and mental state. If you notice any abnormalities in the puppy, take them to the veterinary clinic for examination.

8. Interaction and Training

Newborn puppies require sufficient interaction and training to promote their social skills and intellectual development. You can play with the puppies, teach them simple commands like "sit" and "shake hands."

9. Maintaining Cleanliness

Puppy hygiene is also important. Regularly clean the puppy's ears, eyes, and anal area. If the puppy develops skin problems, seek prompt treatment.

10. Patient Companionship

Newborn puppies need companionship and care from their owners. Patiently accompany the puppies, making them feel warmth and security.

Summary of Experience

Caring for newborn puppies requires a significant investment of time and effort from the owner. However, with attentive care, you can help the puppy grow up healthy and become your loyal companion.

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