ShopDreamUp AI ArtDreamUp
Deviation Actions
Hand rearing puppies
This was a two page insert I formulated for an assignment at college when I studied Animal Management. It is by far the most detailed but offers a brief overview.
merkitten
Reasons for hand-rearing
Sometimes female animals of all types do not take to their young through various reasons and you may find you have to take over the caring of the young. Some breeders have noted that hand-rearing puppies themselves helps to build up their strength and means they can wean them earlier, although this may have its benefits it can also hinder socialisation for the puppies and deprive them of valuable nutrients and life lessons.
Some other reasons you may find yourself hand rearing include:
This was a two page insert I formulated for an assignment at college when I studied Animal Management. It is by far the most detailed but offers a brief overview.
merkitten
Reasons for hand-rearing
Sometimes female animals of all types do not take to their young through various reasons and you may find you have to take over the caring of the young. Some breeders have noted that hand-rearing puppies themselves helps to build up their strength and means they can wean them earlier, although this may have its benefits it can also hinder socialisation for the puppies and deprive them of valuable nutrients and life lessons.
Some other reasons you may find yourself hand rearing include:
Mother dies during birth
Mother rejects the puppies once they are born
Interference from humans during the birthing
Mother not producing enough milk
Runts – often pushed out in favour of bigger, healthier pups
Mother is ill and cannot care for puppies
Helping an inexperienced mother
Incubator or box that is small and warm
A heat mat to keep the pups at the right temperature
Newspaper or paper towels to line the box
Notebook and pen for recordings
Bottles and teats - various sizes
Cotton wool or tissue for toileting
A bin to discard rubbish
Puppy food
Goats milk or puppy formula/colostrums
Vitamin and mineral supplements
Steriliser
Blender
Puppy bowls – food and water
Puppy toys
Teddy for solitary pups
Blankets or towels. Non snag material
Coloured ribbons for identification purposes
Thermometer
Ingalinn
Accommodating the newborns
The puppies can be kept in either a lined box or incubator. With the box a heat mat should be placed under a towel at one end, this allows the puppies to be comfortable at all times. If they are bundled together this is usually a sign they are too cold whilst sleeping far apart they may be too warm.
An incubator is expensive but can be set to an exact temperature with only the need of some towels or lining.
Puppies under the age of two weeks are unable to stabilise their own body heat and require the heat of their mother’s body. If kept in an incubator the temperature should be at 29-32c with at least 55% humidity but not over 65%.
At one week of age their rectal temperature should be at 37.8c so remember to regularly check their temperatures, if it drops it could indicate illness or feeding issues.
After a week the temperature can be dropped slightly to 27C then to 22C when they reach four weeks of age. At this point they will be growing fast and can be moved to a small room where they can move around. Ensure there is always water provided in a stable, shallow bowl.
3thehardway
Feeding and Weaning
When possible puppies should always feed from their mother in the first 24 hours of birth. The mother releases a milk called Colostrum which is rich in antibodies that help them fight against bacteria and illness. Puppies that do not receive their colostrums tend to get sick more often and more quickly than those that did and it can be fatal. It is now possible to buy colostrum in pet store.
From then one it is possible to buy puppy replacement milk much like baby milk they would need to be fed to them every three to four hours depending on the size of the pups, a runt may need a bit more help than the bigger ones. By four weeks this can be reduced to every six to eight hours.
There are a range of bottles and teats available in stores that can be used to feed puppies. Make sure to hold the bottle upside down at an angle so that there is no air bubbles in the formula and it’s a more natural position for the pups.
When your pups reach three weeks you can start weaning them off onto solid food. A general good first meal would be goat milk and baby rice mashed up. This has a lovely creamy taste and is nice a squishy.
Another suggestion is to blend dry puppy food and adding 12.5oz of puppy milk replacer, topping the remainder of the blender with hot water and blending to a mush. Over time you can reduce the amount of fluid until they are ready for wet puppy food or dry puppy mix.
NastyCondom
Hygiene and Health
Newborn puppies are unable to excrete by themselves and require their mother’s tongues to stimulate them. As a substitute you can use cotton wool or tissue dipped in a little warm water which should be brushed over their genitals and anus. This should be done before and after every meal and the excrement should be checked for colour and consistency.
Puppy urine should be pale yellow or clear, if it is dark yellow or orange they may not be getting enough fluids.
Faeces should be yellowish brown with a jam-like consistency. If any strange colouring or diarrhoea occur then the puppy should be taken to the vet in case of illness or dehydration.
At three weeks of age puppies should be able to pass urine and stools on their own and should have an area they can go to relieve themselves as they do not like pooping where they sleep.
Make sure this space is cleaned regularly and daily (at least 3-4 times) to prevent bacteria and flies.
DreamEyce
What should the next article be about?
Accommodating the newborns
The puppies can be kept in either a lined box or incubator. With the box a heat mat should be placed under a towel at one end, this allows the puppies to be comfortable at all times. If they are bundled together this is usually a sign they are too cold whilst sleeping far apart they may be too warm.
An incubator is expensive but can be set to an exact temperature with only the need of some towels or lining.
Puppies under the age of two weeks are unable to stabilise their own body heat and require the heat of their mother’s body. If kept in an incubator the temperature should be at 29-32c with at least 55% humidity but not over 65%.
At one week of age their rectal temperature should be at 37.8c so remember to regularly check their temperatures, if it drops it could indicate illness or feeding issues.
After a week the temperature can be dropped slightly to 27C then to 22C when they reach four weeks of age. At this point they will be growing fast and can be moved to a small room where they can move around. Ensure there is always water provided in a stable, shallow bowl.
3thehardway
Feeding and Weaning
When possible puppies should always feed from their mother in the first 24 hours of birth. The mother releases a milk called Colostrum which is rich in antibodies that help them fight against bacteria and illness. Puppies that do not receive their colostrums tend to get sick more often and more quickly than those that did and it can be fatal. It is now possible to buy colostrum in pet store.
From then one it is possible to buy puppy replacement milk much like baby milk they would need to be fed to them every three to four hours depending on the size of the pups, a runt may need a bit more help than the bigger ones. By four weeks this can be reduced to every six to eight hours.
There are a range of bottles and teats available in stores that can be used to feed puppies. Make sure to hold the bottle upside down at an angle so that there is no air bubbles in the formula and it’s a more natural position for the pups.
When your pups reach three weeks you can start weaning them off onto solid food. A general good first meal would be goat milk and baby rice mashed up. This has a lovely creamy taste and is nice a squishy.
Another suggestion is to blend dry puppy food and adding 12.5oz of puppy milk replacer, topping the remainder of the blender with hot water and blending to a mush. Over time you can reduce the amount of fluid until they are ready for wet puppy food or dry puppy mix.
NastyCondom
Hygiene and Health
Newborn puppies are unable to excrete by themselves and require their mother’s tongues to stimulate them. As a substitute you can use cotton wool or tissue dipped in a little warm water which should be brushed over their genitals and anus. This should be done before and after every meal and the excrement should be checked for colour and consistency.
Puppy urine should be pale yellow or clear, if it is dark yellow or orange they may not be getting enough fluids.
Faeces should be yellowish brown with a jam-like consistency. If any strange colouring or diarrhoea occur then the puppy should be taken to the vet in case of illness or dehydration.
At three weeks of age puppies should be able to pass urine and stools on their own and should have an area they can go to relieve themselves as they do not like pooping where they sleep.
Make sure this space is cleaned regularly and daily (at least 3-4 times) to prevent bacteria and flies.
DreamEyce
What should the next article be about?
The winners of the Halloween Scavenger Hunt!
Congratulations to the winners of `UszatyArbuz (https://www.deviantart.com/uszatyarbuz) ‘s Halloween Scavenger Hunt!!
1st Place
:iconnoctualis:
:thumb770636672: :thumb744998828: :thumb732956156:
2nd Place
:iconcraftsbyblue:
:thumb762410712: :thumb725661181: :thumb768314785:
3rd Place
:iconendorell-taelos:
:thumb304510981: :thumb279123706: :thumb483112826:
4th Place & 5th Place
:iconslytherclawpadawan:
:thumb765785709: :thumb770177828:
&
:iconamarantheans:
:thumb770894800: :thumb767649925:
Random Winner
:iconkaitlynnnicole:
:thumb771332600: :thumb769309080:
Winner of @rainylake's 1000 point and art giveaway
Leopard-Enya (https://www.deviantart.com/leopard-enya) was the lucky winner of this awesome giveaway!
Give the lovely lady some love!
:thumb427132433:
:thumb470713122: :thumb630273072: :thumb283377434:
:thumb427132433:
:thumb383069840: :thumb402085039: :thumb359122941:
:thumb427132433:
:thumb300007175: :thumb506216973: :thumb278181020:
:thumb427132433:
:thumb552267491: :thumb434855170: :thumb477197168:
:thumb427132433:
:devartisticanimals: Summertime Contest! :)
%ArtisticAnimals (https://www.deviantart.com/artisticanimals) are holding a contest! :)
:thumb370734208:Theme:thumb370734208:
"Summertime"
The sun is shining and everyone is enjoying the warmth that it brings including our furry, feathered, scaly friends! Show us your interpretation of "Summertime!"
:thumb370734208:Deadline:thumb370734208:
:thumb435239142:20th June 15:00GMT - 4th July 15:00GMT (Any submissions after this time will be declined!)
:thumb370734208:Rules:thumb370734208:
:thumb435239142:ONE entry per member.
:thumb435239142:You must be a member of :iconArtisticAnimals: to participate in this contest.
:thumb435239142:All art types are allowed. The animals must be r
To Those Who Care - Personal Journal
Hello all!
Ok, yes I'm very aware I've been absent from DA for quite a few weeks now. Where to even begin!
Some of you may be aware that I am pregnant, I am now at 32 weeks and whilst the baby is healthy there seems to have been a string of problems the process. I have developed Gestational Diabetes, this will go away after the baby is born but means I have to take my own bloods 4 times a day! I have to eat, fast for an hour then stab myself. Trying to do this around work is an absolute nightmare!
My needles and strips required for this process are on a prescription and guess what, they never gave me enough to see me through! My doctors is
Featured in Groups
© 2014 - 2024 DogsOfTheWorld
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In