A Guide to Rearing Orphaned Puppies - Week One
Useful Tips for the Hand Rearing of Pups During Their First Week
There are several reasons for having to hand rear puppies. The dam may be unable to nurse the litter due to illness, or death, or the litter is too large for her to manage on her own. If the litter is too large, the dam may not be able to produce enough milk. It is essential that neonates receive colostrum, which is rich in maternal antibodies, from the dam during the first few hours of birth; if the dam is unable to produce enough, a supplementary feeding formula can be used.
Ideal bedding could simply be a basket with plenty of blankets and a hot water bottle, carefully wrapped in blanket, so as not to rest directly on the skin. The puppy should be kept in a well-heated room, at around 25 degrees Celsius.
First Week
At birth, eyes and ears of the puppy will be closed, but the suck reflex is present. Movement is very limited. Slight crawling and lots of rolling over can be expected. The umbilical cord normally drops off by 2-3 days of age.
Feeding of orphans should be with a supplementary feeding formula, available form veterinary clinics. These are correctly formulated with enough lactose, fat, calcium and protein. The supplement should be warmed to body temperature before feeding, and then fed to the manufacturers instructions.
It is best to feed the puppy every 2-4 hours for the first 5 days of life. This can be reduced to every 4 hours after the 5th day. A small syringe may be needed for the first 2-5 days, after this, a small bottle with a nipple/teat may be used. Ensure the hole in the nipple/teat is not too big.
A good indication of whether the puppy has had enough to eat is its behaviour after feeding. A content pup will sleep after it has been fed and toileted. A pup that is not receiving enough milk will show signs such as, constant crying, extreme inactivity, and/or failure to gain appropriate weight. Neonates increase body weight by 5-10% (approximately 2-4 kg/day/kg), of anticipated adult body weight. Failure to achieve this could mean ill health in the pup.
The puppy should be stimulated to urinate and defecate after feeding for up to 3 weeks. This is done manually by using a moistened soft cloth or cotton wool, and gently touching the private parts. After this time, the pup should urinate and defecate voluntarily.
If it is necessary to treat fleas, certain products are safe to use on puppies from 2 days of age. Consult your veterinarian or pet health professional about which product is best.
Once you get through the first week, congratulations are in order. Read A Guide to Rearing Orphaned Puppies: Weeks 2 - 8 after your first week. This information is to be used as a guide. Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
Puppies with Mother
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