How to feed baby dogs

Orphaned Newborn Puppy Care | Best Friends Animal Society

Raising orphaned puppies can be very rewarding. It is, however, a serious responsibility that requires some time, money and work on your part if you want to help the little ones grow up healthy and happy. Close observation and prompt attention if any problems develop are especially important. If you have not raised orphans before, you should have a veterinarian examine the pups before you get started. Don’t be disappointed if you are unable to save all the orphan puppies; you can only give it your best effort.

Learn more about puppy development

Basic medical care for newborn puppies

What are the medical concerns when raising orphaned puppies? Here’s some basic information about what’s normal and what’s not.

Temperature. A normal rectal temperature for a newborn puppy is 95 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week, and 97 to 100 for the second week. By the fourth week, the puppy’s temperature should reach the normal temperature of an adult dog: 100 to 102 degrees. Puppies under the age of about 38 days have a reduced ability to regulate their body temperature and will need a temperature-controlled environment. (See the section on warmth below.)

Weight. Weighing the puppies daily to check for weight gain can reassure you that they are doing well. If a puppy is failing to gain weight or losing weight, you should consult with your veterinarian.

Vision. Puppies’ eyes open when they are 10 to 14 days old. Because their eyes are very sensitive to light, they should be kept out of direct sunlight until approximately four weeks of age.

Hearing. The ear canals of puppies open between five and eight days.

Warmth. A puppy burns far more body heat per pound of body weight than an adult dog. To stay warm, puppies depend on radiant heat from their mother. In her absence, they need constant temperature control. So, you’ll have to provide your puppies with a draft-free nesting area. Heat lamps or hot water bottles can be used to keep the temperature controlled.

During the first four or five days of life, puppies should be kept in an environment that is between 85 and 90 degrees. The temperature may gradually be decreased to 80 degrees by the seventh to tenth day, and may be reduced to 70-75 degrees by the end of the fourth week.

Provide necessary warmth or cooling to the puppies gradually. If you have a large litter, they will huddle together, which means they won’t require as much help with external heat from you. Take care not to overheat the puppies; newborns cannot move away from the heat on their own.

Stimulation for elimination. For the first two weeks of life, puppies are stimulated by their mother to encourage urination and defecation. In the absence of their mother, you will have to provide the stimulation. Massage your puppies’ genital area with a moist cloth to stimulate bladder and bowel action. After two weeks, puppies should urinate and defecate on their own. Watch them carefully to make sure that happens.

Diarrhea. Diarrhea is common in puppies and may be caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria, food changes (e.g., formula that is too concentrated, a new brand of formula), stress, overfeeding and other causes. If the diarrhea is mild and the puppy is otherwise alert and vigorous, you can try giving less food more often and monitor the pup closely.

Also, make sure that the puppy gets a lot of fluid, as they are prone to dehydration if they don’t get enough. This can be done by diluting the formula with extra water, or giving the puppy clean warm water in a bottle or syringe. If the diarrhea is severe, lasts more than three or four feedings, or contains blood or obvious parasites, you should call a veterinarian (and also bring a sample of feces).

Dehydration. The lack of normal parental care may mean that you receive puppies who are dehydrated. They may also become dehydrated from other causes, such as diarrhea, vomiting or by being chilled. Newborns can’t nurse if they are too cold, because their energy is spent trying to stay warm.

One sign of dehydration is loss of elasticity in the skin. If you pick up the pup’s scruff with two fingers, it will stay up, looking pinched. Another way to test for dehydration is to look at the puppy’s gums (mucous membranes). The gums should be moist and shiny; if you touch them, they should not be sticky.

Hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia, an abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood, can also happen to orphaned puppies. The signs to look for are lack of strength, lethargy (lack of movement), and muscle twitching (sometimes with convulsions). If a puppy shows signs of hypoglycemia, place a few drops of corn syrup under his tongue and on the gums, and call your veterinarian immediately for further assistance.

Internal parasites. If a puppy is developing very slowly, has an extremely large bloated belly or has blood in his stool, he may have internal parasites. A stool sample should be taken to your veterinarian for examination.

Puppy living space, feeding, disease prevention

Living space. If the puppies were being cared for by their mother, she would choose a place that is soft, warm and away from full sunlight. In the absence of their mother, you must provide this type of environment. A box may be large enough for a first home for the family. Put the box in a warm, sheltered space. (See the section above on temperature.) If the litter is a big one, you may need to buy a child-size plastic pool. As the puppies grow, watch to see whether they can climb out of the box or pool. Once puppies start to move, they can climb well within a surprisingly short period of time.

Bedding. Use clean packing paper (newspaper without print) or newspaper layered on top of a flat towel for the first week or so. Newborn puppies can get caught up in soft cloth and can die if they can’t breathe. After they are able to lift their heads and move around a bit, you can use a towel, sheet or blanket. When the puppies start crawling, and then walking, they’ll use the cloth for traction.

Feeding. Newborns will need food every two to three hours, around the clock. Six or eight meals, equally spaced over 24 hours, are sufficient for most puppies; small or weak puppies may need more feedings.

You can give your orphans complete nutrition by buying a commercial puppy milk replacer (such as Esbilac), which can be purchased through your veterinarian or a pet supply store. Commercial milk replacers have feeding directions on the label and should be given at the puppy's body temperature (about 100 degrees). Once the can is opened or the powder reconstituted, unused formula should be kept refrigerated and discarded after 24 hours. When the puppies are 3-4 weeks old, you can start feeding them milk replacer at room temperature.

When feeding orphaned puppies, it’s best to use commercial animal baby bottles; you can use an eyedropper in an emergency, but it does not allow normal sucking as well as a nipple. The size of the hole in the nipple is crucial. If you turn the bottle upside down and the milk drips freely, the hole is too large. The bottle should require a light squeeze (simulating a puppy suckling) for milk to drip out. If you need to make the hole bigger, you can heat a needle with a lighter and use it to enlarge the hole.

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Here are the steps for feeding:

Position the puppy on his stomach with his head level, as though he is nursing from mom. Puppies do not have a well-developed gag reflex, so you must be very careful that fluid does not go down the windpipe into the pup’s lungs. For this reason, do not feed the puppy on his back.
Open the puppy's mouth gently with one finger and place the tip of the nipple on his tongue. If he won't eat, try stroking him.
Tilt the bottle up slightly to prevent the puppy from inhaling too much air. Do not force the puppy to nurse, or allow him to nurse too fast.
After each feeding, the puppy should be burped. Hold him against your shoulder and gently pat his back.

Tube-feeding may be necessary if a puppy refuses to nurse well with the bottle method. You will need to work with your veterinarian to make certain that you understand the technique and can safely perform tube feeding. (If done improperly, it can result in life-threatening aspiration pneumonia from formula accidentally entering the lungs.)

Disease prevention. Puppies are very vulnerable to disease, so disease prevention is really important. Always wash your hands before touching the puppies. If you work with other animals or visit shelters or dog parks (anyplace where you come into contact with other dogs), always change your clothes and shoes before entering the area where the puppies are kept and before handling the puppies.

Nail trimming. The puppies will need nail trims often, so if you have not trimmed toenails on dogs, ask someone to show you how to do it safely. Human nail clippers work well on small puppies.

Visitors. You should limit the number of visitors and the number of people who handle the pups until the puppies are a few weeks old. Hand-washing before handling the puppies is always recommended. Limit interaction if the visitors have been in contact with sick animals or have been to a shelter just before visiting. Use caution: Gentle handling and disease control will continue to be concerns for many weeks.

Veterinary checkup and weaning

Visits to the vet. During the puppies’ third week, a visit to your veterinarian for a checkup is a good idea. The puppies’ eyes are still sensitive at this stage, so don’t expose them to direct sunlight on this first outing. Ask your veterinarian about diet, deworming and vaccinations. Puppies in a foster or sheltering situation should start receiving vaccinations at 4-6 weeks of age and every two weeks thereafter until 18 weeks of age.

You should also talk to the vet about spay/neuter, since this procedure should be done before the puppies leave your care. (Spay/neuter can be done as early as eight weeks; the puppies must weigh at least two pounds.) The vet may want to evaluate each puppy and start individual records for their future human families.

Weaning puppies to gruel. During the third week, begin offering the puppies a dish of water. The dish should be one that isn’t too large and cannot be tipped over, since the pups may attempt to climb into it instead of drinking from it.

Then, introduce the puppies to gruel. Make a gruel by blending a good-quality dry puppy food with commercial milk replacer. Put the gruel (warmed up and not too thick) in a low pan. As the puppies discover how to lap up the gruel, you can gradually thicken the mixture. Feed gruel four times a day. By week six, most puppies can eat a diet of dry puppy food. Don’t forget to give them a constant supply of fresh water.

Socializing puppies

In your role of dog parent, you will have the challenge of safely socializing the pups to other canines and the rest of the world. They have much to learn — things that mom would normally teach them. Invite fully vaccinated friendly dog guests over to visit, and introduce the puppies to dog-friendly cats as well. Be careful to protect the puppies from any harm, keeping in mind that not all other animals like puppies.

When children visit, supervision is absolutely necessary. Puppies can scratch and bite; children sometimes get too rough in their handling of them. Both children and puppies can benefit from learning the proper manners required for human-animal relationships to be safe and harmonious. The puppies should also encounter a variety of people, objects, sounds and smells — anything you can think of that is commonplace out in the world. To prevent them from becoming fearful of noises, for instance, you can play thunderstorm sounds, run the vacuum and turn on the TV.

When it’s time to find homes for the puppies, please try to place them in homes where they will be considered valued family members. Emphasize the social needs of dogs and recommend to each puppy’s new family that they invest in some relationship-based training as the puppy gets older.

Learn more about socializing puppies

Feeding Orphaned Puppies | VCA Animal Hospital

Newborn puppies are relatively immature at birth compared to many other mammals, and large breed puppies are less mature than small breed puppies. The period of time they spend being nursed by their mother (bitch) helps the newborn puppy transition from in utero nutrition to solid food.

When puppies are raised on their mother's milk, their growth and health is influenced by:

the nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and early lactation,
the mother’s overall physical health and behavior, and
good neonatal care.

The first few days of a mother's milk is known as colostrum. Colostrum is very high in protein and transfers important immune system elements. Whenever possible, newborn puppies should receive their mother's milk as it sets the stage for normal immune system function and protection from disease.

If the mother is incapable of raising her puppies herself, the puppies are considered orphans and some important needs must be met in order to ensure their survival. These needs include appropriate heat, humidity, nutrition, elimination, sanitation, and social stimulation.

"If the mother is incapable of raising her puppies herself, the puppies are considered orphans and some important needs must be met in order to ensure their survival."

Fortunately, most orphaned puppies can be raised successfully with a bit of care and attention to detail. Using a logbook to track their development is a good place to start.

What should I track in a logbook?

Maintaining a logbook about the orphaned puppies does not need to be complicated. The intent is to simply keep track of how they are doing so you can identify if there are any potential concerns with their development.

Tracking their weights, milestones, and routines are key, so be sure to record details of when their eyes open, when their teeth begin to erupt, their food intake, and stool consistency.

TIP: Individual puppies must be identified in some way, so consider colored collars or nail polish on a few front toenails.

How often should puppies be weighed, and how much should they weigh?

The birth weight of each puppy should be recorded, and weight should be taken every day or two for the first four weeks of life. Starting in their fifth week, you can switch to weekly weigh-ins. A digital food scale with capacity up to 5 pounds works best for these measurements.

Puppies should gain about 5% of their current body weight per day during the first 4 weeks. This means that body weight may double by 8-10 days after birth and triple by the third week of life.

What do orphaned puppies need for proper nutrition?

Water is a critical nutrient for orphaned puppies, just as it is for all other stages of their life. Normal water intake is relatively high for puppies, needing 130-220 milliliters (mL) of fluid per kilogram (kg) of body weight each day.

On average, the total fluid volume fed per day (including milk replacers) should be approximately 180mL/kg of puppy body weight. Mother's milk is highly digestible and very calorie dense. Compared to cow's milk, milk from a puppy's mother contains more than twice as much protein, which helps to explain why cow's milk is not ideal for feeding orphaned puppies.

Commercial puppy milk replacers are recommended as they are superior to cow's milk and home-made mixtures. The milk replacer you choose should meet several key nutritional factors. For every 100g of milk replacer fed (on a dry matter basis), there should be:

33g crude protein
42g fat
14.5g lactose

How do I feed orphaned puppies?

Most puppies will suckle on small pet nursing bottles, also known as pet nursers. When bottle fed, puppies will nurse until they are full and then reject the bottle.

Be sure the opening in the nipple restricts the outflow of fluid to one drop at a time in order to avoid a flow rate that is too rapid for the puppy. When the flow rate is too rapid, it can lead to aspiration, pneumonia, and/or death; and when the flow is too slow they have to work too hard to nurse.

When feeding, hold the puppy in a horizontal, head-neutral position as it would be when feeding from its mother. If the puppy is too weak to suckle, your veterinarian can show you alternative feeding methods and assist in tube feeding if needed.

TIP: Handling puppies during feeding contributes to critical socialization.

How much and how often should I feed orphaned puppies?

Orphaned puppies should be fed on a strict schedule, preferably every 2-4 hours. Puppies up to two weeks old can generally consume their daily intake in 4-5 meals per day. Small breed puppies should be limited to 10-15mL per feeding during the first week of life in order to prevent diarrhea.

Commercial milk replacers are labeled to help you calculate the total volume to be fed per day. To calculate the amount for each feeding:

dilute the total daily volume of milk replacer to a final volume of about 180mL/kg of puppy body weight, and
divide that total into the desired number of meals per day.

It is recommended that you warm puppy milk replacer to approximately 100°F (38°C) before feeding, but be careful not to overheat it. Cold formula, overly rapid feeding rates, and overfeeding can lead to regurgitation, aspiration, bloating, and diarrhea.

If the orphaned puppy develops diarrhea, reduce the formula volume. It is better to slightly underfeed than to overfeed neonatal orphaned puppies. Puppy milk replacer should be the sole source of nutrition until 3-4 weeks of age at which time the weaning process may begin.

The transition from formula to solid food is a gradual process, so be patient. Use a high-quality food formulated to support growth and reproduction. Introduce small amounts of semi-solid or solid food to supplement formula, and transition to solid food by 5-6 weeks of age.

What’s my role in helping a puppy to eliminate?

Puppies cannot eliminate (urinate or defecate) on their own until about 3 weeks of age. They rely on their mother to stimulate their reflex to initiate elimination. Orphaned puppies, on the other hand, rely on their caretakers to stimulate them to eliminate.

After feeding, you can stimulate their reflex to eliminate by gently stroking the area between the anus and vulva or penis with a warm, moistened cotton ball or soft cloth. Your veterinarian can help teach you this technique.

What are some best practices for proper puppy hygiene?

Orphaned puppies require you to pay strict attention to their hygiene for optimal health and development. Follow these best practices for proper puppy hygiene:

Bottles and nipples should be cleaned and then boiled in water to sterilize them between uses.
Never prepare more milk replacer than can be used within 24 hours and always keep it refrigerated.
Discard formula after 1 hour if left at room temperature.
Once or twice each week, gently wash the puppies with a moist cloth.

By paying attention to the details of feeding and hygiene, you can help orphaned puppies thrive.

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Feed Rating: - Any - "Elite in a bowl" (from 41 to 55 points) "Four with a plus" (from 31 to 40 points) "Solid average" (21 to 30 points) "Could be better" (from 11 to 20 points ) “Everything is sad” (from 1 to 10 points)

Animal size:

for miniature dogsfor small breed dogsfor medium breed dogsfor large dogsfor giant dogsfor large cats

Animal age: nine0003

Feed type:

drysemi-moistmoist- in sauce- in jelly- pate- mousse- soufflé- sublimated soupAir-drieddrysemi-moistmoist- in sauce- in jelly- pate- mousse- soufflé - sublimated soupAir-dried

Specialization:

Prevention- Allergies- Plaque- Kidney Stones- Overweight- Skin Problems- Gastrointestinal Problems Feed-free...- Bean-free- Gluten-free- Potato-free- Corn-free- Chicken-free- Rice-free- Soy-free- Egg-free- Grain-freeFeed for.. .− for inactive cats− for lactating− for fastidious− for neutered− for pregnant− for pregnant and lactating− for living indoors− for longhair− for active− for neutered Feeds with...− with calcium− with fiber− with cranberry − with probiotics − with marigold extractPrevention − of allergies − dental plaque − skin problems − excess weight − gastrointestinal problems Food for... − food for pregnant dogs − for service dogs − for neutered − for picky − for pregnant and lactating − for longhaired − for lactating − for neutered − for activeFood without...− bean free− gluten free− potato free− corn free− chicken free− rice free− soy free− egg free− grain freeFeed with...− with calcium− with fiber − with cranberry − with probiotics − with e marigold extract

Taste:

with beans − with soy meat − with buffalo meat − with elk − with wild boar meat − with lamb − with pork − with veal − with horse meat − with beef − with rabbit − with venison − with meat goat offal − with stomach − with lungs − with liver − with heart with poultry − with ostrich meat − with quail − with chicken − with duck − with chicken − with turkey − with partridge − with pheasant − with goose with seafood − with squid − with crab − with shrimps − with lobster with fish − with white fish − with flounder − with cod − with sea fish − with pike − with trout − with tuna − with pike perch − with mackerel (mackerel) − with saithe − with sardine − with whitefish − with herring − with salmon with legumes − with soy meat - with buffalo meat - with hare meat - with elk meat - with wild boar meat - with lamb - with veal - with venison - with pork - with horse meat - with beef - with rabbit - with goat meat by-products - with stomach - with lungs - with liver − with heart with poultry − with ostrich meat − with quail − with chicken − with duck − with chicken − with turkey − with pheasant − with goose with seafood − with crab − with squid − with shrimps − with lobster with fish − with white fish − with flounder − with salmon − with sea fish − with pike − with trout − with cod − with sardine − with pollock − with herring − with whitefish − with tuna − with pike perch − with mackerel (mackerel) nine0003

How to feed your dog properly

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The definitive guide to dog nutrition in questions and answers

February 12, 2016

How much food should you give your dog per day?

The right amount of food is established empirically for each dog, but there are also general recommendations. If you are feeding food, the package will always indicate what size portion should be, depending on the size of the dog. This is important because food is a balanced set of elements that a dog needs. nine0003

If the dog is very active, the recommended serving can be slightly increased. If the dog is very, very lazy, on the contrary, reduce it. The main thing is that the weight of the dog remains constant. In the heat, the portion can be reduced, because dogs are usually lethargic, and they do not need an extra load. In winter, a dog needs more energy and nutrients.

How many times a day should you feed your dog?

Puppies eat constantly and as much as they want. This is probably why, even growing up, they require the same regularity of feeding. But you can’t succumb to persuasion and cute eyes. The older the dog, the less often it needs to be fed:

2 months - 3-4 times a day
3-6 months - 3 times a day
6-12 months - 2 times a day
From a year - 1-2 times a day

You can feed the average dog twice a day in equal portions. If there are no problems with weight and activity, everything is fine.

How to understand that the dog is full?

The dog itself will never say this. Yes, she won't understand. Dogs practically do not feel full and will eat like pigeons on the street - until the food is over. nine0003

You can navigate like this. If after eating the dog asks for a supplement, this is normal, but you should not give the dog as much as he wants. If the dog looked at you offendedly and went to sleep, then everything is in order. If the dog goes to the kitchen all day to rattle his bowl, it's quite different. Either the dog is really not eating enough, and you need to increase the portion, or it's time to go to the veterinarian.

The dog is constantly begging for food. Is she hungry?

Begging in dogs is a matter of education. Unlike cats, dogs do not feel full at all and can eat as long as the food fits in the stomach. If the dog constantly demands food, it is worth going to the veterinarian, because the problem may be related to health. If the dog got tired and went to sleep without receiving supplements, everything is in order. nine0003

I think the dog is skinny. Need more food?

First, find out if she is really thin. People have their own ideas about how a beautiful dog should look. And far from always these ideas correspond to the physiology of a healthy animal. A dog in good shape has a visible waist. The ribs do not stick out, but they are easily felt by hand when stroking.

How to calculate the amount of natural feed?

The amount of food for the whole day is considered as follows:

Puppies up to 6 months - 6% of the dog's weight
Dogs over 6 months - 3-4% of the dog's weight

That is, if you have a two-year-old Jack Russell weighing 8 kg, he is entitled to 250-300 grams of food. But since this breed is known for its hyperactivity, the portion can be increased.

What should be in a dog's diet?

If you feed with food, then nothing else is needed. Natural nutrition should contain approximately 40-50% meat, 30% dairy products and the rest - fiber. For example, it can be cottage cheese and kefir with bran in the morning and meat in the evening. Periodically treat with vegetables and fruits. nine0003

Why can't you give your dog pork?

It is generally believed that dogs should not eat pork due to its fat content. This is only partly true. Pork takes longer to digest, raises cholesterol levels, and is more likely to harbor parasites. Beef is leaner, yes, but not all parts of it. There are also thick layers of fat in beef that can end up in a dog's bowl.

What can you feed a dog to be useful?

You can feed vegetables and unsweetened fruits. Cucumbers, apples, grated carrots, celery. nine0003

Can dry and wet food be mixed?

You can't mix. And it's not just that one is dry and the other is wet. Feed is an accurate calculation of useful elements, first of all. The portion of dry food has exactly calculated size for a certain size of dog. The same goes for wet food. If you mix both types of feed, it will no longer be possible to calculate the balance. The dog will either receive less of the necessary elements, or receive them in excess. As a result, the dog is threatened with malnutrition or obesity. nine0003

Secondly, a dog's stomach digests dry and wet food differently. This requires different times and different enzymes. If all this is in the stomach at the same time, it threatens to disrupt the microflora and the stable functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The dog eats food. Is it possible to give ordinary food if it is over?

Dogs should absolutely not be given mixed food, no matter what you mix. Feed dry food - only feed it. The same goes for natural food. If you forgot to go to the store, the dog can be patient. Trust me, nothing bad will happen to her. A missed meal is not as bad as some indigestion or worse. nine0003

Can I give my dog food from the table?

Usually on the table we have something salty, fried and peppered. All this can not be eaten by a dog. You can give a cucumber or unsweetened fruit. Vegetables are good for dogs.

Do not give sweets to dogs at all. Especially cakes and chocolates. Chocolate is a form of poison for dogs. Of course, a little candy won't hurt. But if you recklessly forgot a chocolate bar on the nightstand and went to work, there may be problems. Chocolate contains theobromine, which affects the heart and central nervous system of dogs. Dark chocolate with a high content of theobromine is the most dangerous. If a dog eats a large amount of chocolate, this can lead to sad consequences. The main symptoms of poisoning are nausea, diarrhea, hyperactivity, heart palpitations, impaired coordination. nine0003

Why can't you give bones to a dog?

Many dogs eat bones, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. A dog gnaws a bone into thousands, thousands of small sharp fragments! All of them enter the stomach. Something is digested, the rest is compressed and goes through the intestines, turning into a huge prickly hedgehog, with sharp fragments sticking out in all directions. This is the main danger. A rare dog spits out fragments when it gnaws something, usually everything is swallowed with excitement. If you're not prepared to keep an eye on every bit of chewed bone, it's best not to give dogs bones at all. nine0003

What bones should not be given to a dog?

The correct answer is none. There are no fundamentally important substances in the bones; a dog can get all the most useful from food and vitamins. Another thing is the training of teeth and jaws. A dog needs something to chew on in order to develop harmoniously in puppyhood and have a good time in adolescence. And bones from the pet store will help here. They are made from veins that the dog will chew for a long time and with rapture. If you really want to, you can give a mosol - this is a hard hip bone that not every dog can gnaw. It is strictly forbidden to give bird and boiled bones. nine0003