CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF NEWBORN PUPPIES

Pashu Sandesh, 02 Aug 2024

Mehul Sharma, Sonali Mishra*, Wanere Mangesh Shankar, R.K. Asrani, R.D. Patil and Rakesh Kumar

Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr G.C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSKHPKV, Palampur 176062

*Address for correspondence: Dr Sonali Mishra, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Dr GC Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSKHPKV, Palampur 176062 Himachal Pradesh.

HOW CAN WE PREPARE HOME / DOG FOR WHELPING?

The act of delivering a pup in dogs is called whelping. Dogs will locate a quiet area, typically one that is shaded or dark, to give birth in the wild. Providing an enclosed cage or covering a portion of the box with a blanket could be helpful to comfort the bitch for the act of whelping. The whelping box is a box where the mother dog delivers pups, it prevents the puppies from being crushed if their mother lies on top of them, and it helps keep them warm. Most pet retailers sell whelping boxes for purchase but another option is to use a cardboard box or a box out of plywood or hardboard.

Get two big, rigid boxes—TV or appliance boxes, for example. To create a longer box, cut off one end of each box and push them together. 

• There should be a base and four sides to the box. Select a breadth and length that will enable the mother to lie down on her side with her legs and head fully extended. To make room for the puppies, increase the breadth of the box by half of her height.
• Verify that the sides are tall enough for the puppies to stay within while still allowing the mother to easily leap out.  
• Make room for the puppies. The box will provide the puppies with a secure refuge where the mother cannot sleep on them and suffocate them. Once the extra width in the box has been marked, construct a strong wooden rail that is raised 4–6 inches from the box's bottom.
• Spread a thick layer of towels and lots of newspaper on the floor and change them as and when required, for proper hygiene.

WHAT TO DO WHEN PUP IS BORN?

Puppies are extremely susceptible to illness, and the first week or two of their lives should be spent caring for their mother and offspring, despite the urge to cuddle them all the time, we must approach the puppies with caution. When interacting with the puppies, exercise caution because some moms may become aggressive toward people or other household pets if they feel threatened. Your dog will want more time away from you so that they can sleep, exercise, and relax. Give your dog room to move away from the puppies, but make sure she comes back frequently to nurse them. The following things should be kept in mind while whelping or handling newborns:

• Don't pull the placenta, it will become dry, and separate itself. Injury to the placenta before the blood vessels' elastic walls contract can increase the likelihood of haemorrhaging in the puppy.
• Don't touch the puppy's belly button, it should stay healthy as long as the whelping box is kept clean.
• After the puppies are born, it's critical to keep the whelping box tidy, but you also need to be careful not to agitate the nursing bitch too much.
• Remove filthy towels and newspapers and replace them with clean ones.
• Ensure that the puppies are kept warm as young puppies are unable to regulate their body temperature.
• Heat lamps can be used in winter to warm the space above the whelping box.
• They will be peaceful and putting on weight if they are warm and content; if not, they will be agitated and weeping.
• It is advised to check on the puppies every few hours to make sure they are all suckling, warm, and content, especially if this is a first-time mother. If any pup seems cold, it should be placed on the teats between the rear legs of its mother.
• Puppies should eat and sleep for at least 90% of the time during the first two weeks of life, before their eyes open. When you weigh the puppies daily, you should see a steady increase in weight.
• If all the puppies have the same appearance, you can mark each one on the abdomen with non-toxic, permanent marker pens in different colours. Nowadays, puppy ID collars are available which are composed of soft Velcro to be tied around the neck to identify them.
• Insufficient milk intake will cause puppies to howl all the time and prevent them from gaining weight.
• The appropriate Food and feeders (special puppy nursing bottles) can be obtained from your nearby store for a few little extra feedings for hungry pups/ weak pups/orphan pups who need extra care.
• Feeding supplemental food at the proper temperature is crucial. Test a small amount of the warmed fluid on your arm before feeding; it should feel roughly the same as your body temperature.
• The mother's mammary glands should be routinely examined for any unusual discharge, irritation, discomfort, or hardness and should be reported to the veterinarian if found.
• A litter may perish in as little as 24 to 48 hours if mastitis is there, if this happens, full replacement feeding with milk replacer or through a foster mother is required. For advice, speak with your veterinarian.
• Proper deworming (from time to time) and vaccination (for core and non-core vaccines) should be carried out after speaking to a veterinarian and records should be maintained for inpidual pups.