What do you feed baby dogs

Feeding Orphaned Puppies | VCA Animal Hospitals

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.

Raising Puppies | VCA Animal Hospitals

Raising puppies can be an extremely gratifying experience or it may produce disappointment and letdown. The following information is provided in order to increase your chances of success when caring for young puppies.

What do I do to care for the newborn puppies?

The mother should spend most of her time with her puppies during the first few days after birth. For the first month of life, puppies require very little care from the owner because their mother will feed and care for them. In fact, in the vast majority of cases, the pet owner should not interfere with the mother's care.

The puppies should be kept warm and should nurse frequently. They should be checked every few hours to ensure they are warm and well fed. The mother should be checked to make certain that she is producing adequate and normal-appearing milk.

"The puppies should be kept warm and should nurse frequently."

If the mother does not stay in the whelping box the majority of the time, the puppies' body temperatures must be closely monitored. If the puppies are cold, supplemental heating should be provided but caution needs to be taken to avoid burns as puppies do not have the same reactions to heat as adult dogs do. During the first four days of life, the newborn puppies' box and external environment should be maintained at 85° to 90°F (29.4° to 32.2°C). The temperature may gradually be decreased to 80°F (26.7°C) by the seventh to tenth day and to 72°F (22.2°C) by the end of the fourth week. If the litter is large, the external temperature does not have to be kept as warm. As puppies huddle together, their body heat provides additional warmth.

If the mother feels the puppies are in danger or if there is too much light, she may become anxious and not produce adequate milk. Placing a sheet or cloth over the top of the box to obscure much of the light may resolve the problem. An enclosed box is also an excellent solution. Some dogs, especially first-time mothers, are more nervous than others. Such dogs may attempt to hide their young, even from the owner. Moving the puppies from place to place may endanger the puppies if they are placed in a cold or drafty location. Dogs with this behavior should be caged or confined in a secure, secluded area. This type of mother has also been known to kill her puppies, intentionally or inadvertently, presumably as a means of 'protecting' them from danger.

What are the signs that the puppies are not doing well and what do I do?

Puppies should eat or sleep 90% of the time during the first two weeks of life.

"If they are crying during or after eating, they are usually becoming ill, are not receiving adequate milk, or the mother's milk has become infected (mastitis)."

If they are crying during or after eating, they are usually becoming ill, are not receiving adequate milk, or the mother's milk has become infected (mastitis). A newborn puppy is very susceptible to infections and can die within a few hours of becoming ill. If excessive crying occurs, the mother and entire litter should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Puppies should gain 5-10% of their body weight daily. When the mother's milk supply is inadequate to support this, supplemental feeding one to six times per day is recommended and should be performed routinely on any litter with greater than five puppies. There are several excellent commercial milk replacers available. They require no preparation other than warming. These milk replacers should be warmed to 95°to 100° (35° to 37.8°C) before feeding. Its temperature can easily be tested on your forearm: it should be about the same temperature as your skin.

Any milk replacer that is used should contain optimal levels of the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a nutrient that is important for the development of the puppies' brains and eyes. Goat milk is not recommended as it is far too low in protein and fat. Supplemental feeding may be continued until the puppies are old enough to eat puppy food on their own.

If the mother does not produce milk or her milk becomes infected, the puppies will cry. If this occurs, an entire litter can die within 24 to 48 hours. Total milk replacement feeding using the mentioned products or adopting the puppies to another nursing mother is usually required. If replacement feeding is chosen, the feeding amounts listed on the product should be used. Puppies less than two weeks of age should be fed every 3-4 hours. Puppies two to four weeks of age do well with feedings every 6-8 hours. Weaning, as described below, should begin at three to four weeks of age.

What should I expect from the puppies during the first few weeks of life?

Puppies are born with their eyes closed. Most puppies will begin to open their eyes within seven to fourteen days of birth. If there is swelling, bulging, or discharge underneath the eyelids, they should be opened gently. A cotton ball dampened with warm water may be used to assist opening the lids. If the swelling is due to infection, pus will exit the open eyelids and should be examined by a veterinarian immediately. If the eyes have not opened within fourteen days of age, the puppy should be examined by a veterinarian.

Puppies should be observed for their rate of growth. They should double their birth weight in about one week. Careful and routine daily to weekly weighing should be performed to ensure the puppies are growing normally. Failure to gain weight may indicate a problem and the need for veterinary care.

At about two weeks of age, puppies should be alert and trying to stand on their own. At three weeks, they generally try to climb out of their box. At four weeks, all of the puppies should be able to walk, run, and play.

"At four weeks, all of the puppies should be able to walk, run, and play."

Puppies should begin eating solid food about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 weeks of age. Initially, make gruel by mixing a milk replacer in puppy food soaked in water and place this mixture in a flat saucer. The puppies' noses should be carefully dipped into the mixture two or three times per day until they begin to lap; this usually takes one to three days. Next, canned or dry puppy food should be placed in the milk replacer or water until it is soggy. As the puppies lap, they will also ingest the food. The amount of moisture should be decreased daily until they are eating the canned or dry food with little or no moisture added (usually by four to six weeks of age).

I have heard of milk fever. What exactly is it?

Eclampsia, or milk fever, is a depletion of calcium from the mother due to heavy milk production. It generally occurs when the puppies are three to five weeks old (just before weaning) and most often to mothers with large litters. The mother typically has muscle spasms resulting in rigid legs, spastic movements, and heavy panting. This condition can be fatal in 30-60 minutes, so a veterinarian should be consulted immediately.

Do puppies need to be fed a special diet?

Diet is extremely important for a growing puppy. There are many commercial foods specially formulated for puppies. These foods meet their unique nutritional requirements and should be fed until twelve to eighteen months of age depending on the breed of puppy and body condition. To minimize developmental problems, large breed dogs should eat a large-breed puppy food and then transition to an adolescent formula until they stop growing. Puppy foods are available in dry and canned formulations.

"Diet is extremely important for a growing puppy."

You should buy FOOD FORMULATED FOR PUPPIES. Adult formulations are not recommended since they do not provide optimal nutrition required for a puppy. Advertisements tend to promote taste, color, and shape rather than nutrition, so it is important not be influenced by these ads. Generic dog foods should be avoided. Table or human food is not recommended for growing puppies. Although the puppy may show a preference for table food, unless you follow a properly-balanced recipe developed by a veterinary nutritionist, the puppy's long term health will be compromised.

Discuss diet choices with your veterinarian. The diet should contain optimal levels of the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a nutrient that is important for the development of the puppies' brains and eyes. It is generally a good idea to avoid generic brands of food. It is recommended that only food with the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) certification is purchased. Usually, this information is very easily seen on the food label. AAFCO is an organization that oversees the entire pet food industry. It does not endorse any particular food, but it indicates if the food has met the minimum requirements for nutrition, which are set by the industry. Most of the commercial pet foods have the AAFCO label. An ideal diet will have completed feeding trials prior to marketing their food (see handout “Feeding Growing Puppies” for more information).

When should my puppies receive vaccinations?

Puppies are protected against many canine diseases before and shortly after birth by passive antibody transfer from their mother. Some antibodies cross the placenta and enter the puppies' circulation. However, the majority of antibodies are provided in the mother's first milk known as colostrum. These maternal antibodies protect the puppies against the diseases to which the mother is immune during the first few weeks of life. This explains why it is often recommended to booster the mother's vaccinations within a few months prior to breeding.

Although very protective, maternal antibodies last for only a few weeks; after this time, the puppy becomes susceptible to disease. The vaccination program should be started at about six to eight weeks of age. This is the age when many maternal antibodies are beginning to die and the puppy becomes susceptible to infectious disease. Puppies should be vaccinated against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza virus, and rabies. Other vaccines are also available for certain situations, and will be discussed at the time of the first visit for vaccinations.

Maternal antibodies are passed in the mother's milk only during the first one to three days after delivery. If, for any reason, the puppies do not nurse during this important period of time, their vaccinations should begin earlier than six weeks of age, depending on likely disease exposure. A veterinarian can make specific recommendations for each particular situation.

Do all puppies have worms?

Intestinal parasites (worms) are very common in puppies. Symptoms of intestinal parasites include poor overall condition, chronic soft or bloody stools, loss of appetite, a pot-bellied appearance, a dull, dry haircoat, and weight loss. Some parasites are transmitted from the mother to her offspring either in utero (while in the womb) or in the milk and others are carried by fleas or other insects. Some are transmitted through the stool of an infected dog. Very few of these parasites are visible in the stool, so their eggs must be detected by the veterinarian with a microscope.

"Intestinal parasites are very common in puppies."

A microscopic examination of the feces will reveal the eggs of most of these parasites. Generally this test should be performed at the time of the first vaccinations. However, it may be performed as early as two to three weeks of age if an intestinal parasite problem is suspected. The Companion Animal Parasite council recommends deworming puppies for roundworms and hookworms every two weeks starting at two weeks of age. Other treatment may be needed based on the results of a fecal examination. Your veterinarian should be consulted for specific recommendations for your puppies. You should not administer any over-the-counter deworming compounds without first consulting your veterinary hospital.

How to feed your dog the right way

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What foods should not be given to a dog?

Everything sweet, salty, spicy should not be given. Alcohol, caffeine, sugar in all forms are prohibited. The acid in citrus fruits can cause gastrointestinal upset. Onions, garlic and, for some reason, grapes should also not be given to dogs.

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