Friday, October 1, 2010

Looking After Your Newborn Puppies

By David Freytag

What happens when a mother dog can't care for her pups, died during childbirth, or can't produce enough milk for them all? Often these puppies be become orphaned and are picked up by humane organizations.

These puppies will need good, loving homes. Keeping them healthy can be hard work at times, but if you are up for the challenge, start at the vet's office. Ask him to recommend a feeding schedule and to ensure that your new friend receives all of the proper shots.

A good schedule will help your puppy learn the rules in his new home. Establish feeding times, bathroom breaks, and be sure to play with and train your new puppy as well. Investing the time now will make for a much better experience when the puppy is a full-grown dog.

Remember that most puppies have the benefit of mother's milk. Your orphaned puppy will not have had this advantage, so it is critical to take the advice of a qualified professional vet on what to feed them. Your new friend will need both nurturing and socialization.

Before you actually adopt a puppy, be sure to consider all of these special needs. Adopting an orphan puppy is a big commitment.

You'll need to decide how to feed your baby orphan, as it won't have its' mother to feed him. Some people tube feed, however this can be riskier. If the tube passes into the lungs, your puppy will choke. Bottle feeding is a good choice, so long as you keep the puppy on its' stomach, not on its' back.

Remember not to give your puppy cow milk or goat milk. They must have a special formula, such as Esbilac or Puppylac. Also, do not ever give your puppy egg whites. Raw egg whites contain an enzyme that causes a deficiency of biotin in puppies. Honey must also be avoided as it is fatal to puppies.

So how many calories should a puppy have each day? This is determined by pound and age. In week one, you puppy will need 60-69 calories per pound. You can increase calories to 70-79 per pound in week two, 80-89 in week three, and move up to 90-100 calories per pound in week four.

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