The first week of a puppy's life is quite a vulnerable time. When new born, puppies should be able to suckle from its mother. The puppy's body temperature must also be maintained at all times. In addition, the need to urinate puppies must always be taken care of by the mother. Puppies are also quite susceptible to illness and injury. It can be quite difficult to take care of a puppy, but generally a mother dog can provide for her puppies on her own. However, you may need to help care for a weak puppy to keep his needs met.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Identifying Puppies Needing Help
Step 1. Make sure the mother dog takes care of all the puppies
If the mother dog walks away from one of her puppies instead of caring for her, you need to be wary. Puppies who are shunned by their mother and siblings may not be getting enough food and warmth to grow and develop.
Step 2. Observe the dog for symptoms of health problems
Puppies can weaken quickly. There are several symptoms that indicate serious problems in puppies such as:
- Cold to the touch or cold mouth
- Weak suckling reflex when bringing the index finger to the dog's mouth.
- Lethargy or weak muscle tone: The dog's head is lowered and its legs are weak when pulled.
- Difficulty breastfeeding
- Stool stuck to the dog's bottom: one of the symptoms of diarrhea (a serious issue)
- Discharge from the dog's belly button
- Don't stop crying
Step 3. Check the puppy regularly
Check your puppy's weight twice a day with a scale. You can use a food scale to weigh your dog. However, make sure the scales are cleaned immediately after use. Keep a consistent record of your puppy's weight in grams. A healthy puppy should not lose weight. Each time a puppy is weighed, it should gain 10% of its weight at birth. If the weight continues to increase, the puppy is getting enough food intake.
Record your dog's weight in a notebook or table so you can track his progress during the first 2 weeks of his life
Part 2 of 2: Caring for Weak and Abandoned Puppies
Step 1. Keep the puppy warm
After confirming that the puppy needs special care, keep the puppy warm and not cold. A cold puppy will have a hard time suckling. In addition, he may also be dehydrated or suffering from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- You can warm the puppy using a bottle filled with warm water. Place the bottle in a cardboard box or shoe box, then cover it with a towel. After that, place the puppy on the towel and cover it with a light cloth or towel. You can also slightly seal the top of a cardboard box or shoe box.
- Alternatively, you can cuddle the puppy under his clothes until his body temperature returns to normal. You may need to wrap your puppy's bottom with a clean cloth to prevent him from pooping on your chest. A puppy's nails are sharp enough that he may scratch your skin when he is cuddled.
- A heating pad is not a good option as it can overheat the puppy. Even on the lowest temperature setting, a heating pad can still produce enough heat for a puppy. If you still want to use a heating pad, use it for 1-3 hours. If it's too long, the puppy may overheat. You can buy a heating pad that is specially designed for animals. These heating pads are generally not very hot. Remember, do not place the puppy directly on the heating pad. Lay a clean towel or cloth on a heating pad to avoid scalding the puppy.
- If the puppy opens his mouth while panting, this is a sign that he is hot.
Step 2. Check the puppy's temperature
After warming up the puppy, use a baby thermometer to take the puppy's temperature through his rectum. Grease the tip of the thermometer with lubricating oil, then gently insert the thermometer into the puppy's rectum.
- If a puppy's body temperature is below 34.5°C, his digestive tract is not working properly. However, do not allow the puppy's body temperature to rise above 37.2 °C for the first 7 days. This is done so that the puppy does not overheat or have a fever.
- Record your puppy's temperature in a notebook or weight chart.
Step 3. Help the puppy to suckle
After helping the puppy to stay warm, you can start feeding him. Try to observe whether the mother dog is willing to breastfeed her child or not. Puppies need milk from their mother because dog milk contains immune substances that are needed by puppies to be able to build their immune system.
You will need to leave the puppy and mother alone for a while. You can leave the other puppies in the same room as the mother, but keep them away from the mother when the weak puppy is trying to suckle
Step 4. Increase the pup's weak blood sugar level
If your puppy's body temperature is normal but he seems lethargic and unable to nurse, his blood sugar may be low. Give the puppy 2-3 drops of corn syrup to treat this problem. Some of the symptoms of low blood sugar in puppies are as follows:
- Weak and lethargic.
- Body shaking or twitching. (Normal puppies will still twitch. Therefore, combine this with other symptoms of low blood sugar to distinguish between normal and unnatural twitches.)
- Seizures.
- Unresponsive or coma.
Step 5. Complete the puppy's milk intake
If your puppy is warm and wants to feed, you may need to give him formula. Remember, this is best done if the mother dog refuses to breastfeed the puppy or she is having difficulty feeding. Purchase a special formula for puppies at a trusted veterinary clinic or pet store. You can breastfeed your puppy using a bottle or syringe.
Mix the formula as recommended. Make sure the temperature is warm but not hot, like formula for human babies
Step 6. Feed the puppy regularly
Weak puppies should be fed every 3-4 hours. At night, puppies also need to be breastfed. Divide your puppy's total daily formula intake (found on the puppy formula label) by the amount of daily formula intake.
- For example, if your puppy is being fed every 3 hours, you should feed it 8 times a day. If your puppy is being fed every 4 hours, you will need to feed him 6 times per day.
- Give the puppy a warm, fresh formula every time he feeds it.
Step 7. Stimulate the puppy to urinate
Puppies need to be stimulated in order to defecate and urinate properly. Generally, the mother dog will do this on its own. However, you may need to do this if the puppy has been abandoned by its mother.
- Take a clean cotton ball and wet it with warm water. Gently rub the puppy's genitals and anus with the cotton ball. The puppy will urinate or defecate once this is done.
- Wipe the puppy's genitals and rectum with a clean tissue. Throw the cotton ball and tissue in the trash. After that, wash your hands with soap until clean.
Step 8. Take the puppy to the veterinary clinic
If your puppy's temperature doesn't improve or he doesn't want to nurse, you'll need to take him to the vet's clinic. Dehydration is very dangerous for puppies. Many puppies die of dehydration if they are unable to breastfeed.
Take your puppy to the vet if he has diarrhea, has a runny nose, or if you want to check his health. Weak puppies should receive prompt treatment. If you wait too long, the puppy may die
Tips
- Observe the puppy closely, but covertly so that the mother doesn't get angry. Puppies should be observed at least 3 times a day.
- Make sure the mother dog's health is maintained while she is pregnant. Feed the mother dog properly. Give the mother dog vaccines and deworming regularly.
- The mother dog should give birth in a warm, clean and free from cold air. This is done so that the child can be born in a prime situation.
