Helping a dog take care of her puppies is the most obvious concern of any animal lover. During the dog's pregnancy we have been concerned with caring for the mother day after day with the best food and the most comfortable surfaces. We have also seen her effort in childbirth. For this reason, and before the arrival of small puppies at home, we must provide the mother with some extra care that gives her strength and encouragement to get them ahead.
In this ExpertoAnima article we are going to give you the best tipsso you can help a female dog take care of her puppies since the first day.
Don't forget that in addition to the care we provide her and the little ones, a visit from a veterinarianwould be ideal to make sure that everything is going well and that all the animals are he althy and strong.
First, a place of comfort
Before the birth of the puppies, the owner must prepare in his home a farrowing house, that is, a space in an isolated area, quiet and well equipped so that the mother can take refuge, give birth and take care of her little ones there.
There are farrowing crates on the market that we can buy, highly recommended due to certain structures that prevent the puppies from being crushed, but it is also possible to make our own farrowing crates, the most important thing is that it looks like a "cave " or refuge. It is also recommended to prepare a steady temperature and warm.
It will also be essential to take walks into account. The first few days the mother will not want to leave the nest under any circumstances, so we can leave near the farrowing pen pads or newspapers, so that she relieves herself. If we can offer you an exit to the garden, it will also be well received.
As the days go by we will try to encourage our dog to take first walks. She probably doesn't want time out, so we'll just go out for her to urinate and come back in.
Feeding the lactating bitch
The bitch that has just given birth will be reluctant to go far from her puppies, however it is very important that she hydrate and eat plenty to feed the newcomers well, so it is ideal have close to it fresh water and food.
We must know that the milk production process requires a lot of energy, so the mother must have a special diet to help her in this decisive stage.
Some people bet on specific foods for sporting dogs or hunting dogs, since they contain much more energy, however the ideal would be to buy food for lactating dogsfollowing the doses and advice recommended by the veterinarian.
If you are temporarily unable to purchase any of the commercial foods we have mentioned, we recommend you increase the amount of food progressively and parallel to the growth of the puppies. It is advisable to divide the food into different daily intakes.
In any case, the diet of the lactating bitch must always be supervised by the specialist, who will determine whether or not it is necessary to use supplements, increase the quantity or modify the diet to a more appropriate one.
For their part, puppies must suckle from their mother and receive mother's milk, which contains a large number of nutrients. During the first days, it also provides with colostrum, a secreted liquid made up of immunoglobulins, fat, proteins, water and carbohydrates that protects the puppy from certain diseases and nourishes you completely.
You must be aware of the bitch's mammary glands at all times to make sure that none of them have become infected and that she is suffering from mastitis, an infection of the nipple. If so, you should call a veterinarian to consult the treatment to follow and also find out about feeding premature puppies.
Take a good look at the puppies
Regardless of whether or not your dog allows you to approach them, it is vitally important that you observe them for any problemsIt could happen that the dog rejected one of them, that one of them did not know how to feed himself or that he was born with a significant physical disability. If so, it will be essential to call or go to the vet.
Don't forget that newborn dogs are very susceptible to getting sick if they are not given the warmth and care they require. A young puppy cannot be abandoned to her fate and may even die if we do not act quickly enough
In addition to feeding from their mother and appearing he althy, puppies need to urinate and defecate on a regular basis. In principle, the mother should lick the genital area of the little ones after each meal to help them to have a bowel movementIf you notice that she does not do this, you can help yourself by using a small gauze soaked in warm water
The time of lactation
As we discussed, after colostrum, the bitch will produce plenty of breast milk for approximately two months (between 6 and 8 weeks) while we will take care of her and the little ones.
During this time, the puppies will continue to develop thanks to their mother's milk. Do not forget that quality will have an impact on he althy and strong little ones. Typically, their mother feeds them approximately every three hours. After that they will urinate and defecate. It is very important that you provide a quiet place to rest.
The puppies will begin to imitate their mother in the act of drinking and will eventually want to start eating on their own. Helping a female dog take care of her puppies also means helping little ones get started on solid foodYou can get cans of wet puppy food and spread a small amount on the snouts of it. By instinct, dogs will start eating. Follow this ritual 2-3 times a day to help them. The transition from milk to solid food usually occurs around 7 weeks of age and by 8 they should be eating on their own.
During this entire process you should go to the vet if you notice any anomaly or problem related to the mother and the puppies. Providing them with a stable and he althy environment is the best way for both of them to experience a good development.
Don't forget that between a month and a half and two months the puppy should receive its first vaccinations, thus starting it on its routine vaccination schedule. This is essential because it is an animal that is very vulnerable to suffering from any disease due to its young age.
Our relationship with the mother
Below we will explain in a general way what you should expect from the mother during this unique stage. It is important that our relationship with her be as positive as possible, for the sake of her puppies:
- Neonatal Period (puppies from 0 to 15 days): during this stage the mother will be very aware of the little ones. We will observe that she hardly vocalizes, since the puppies cannot hear her. We can approach the mother only if she wishes. It may happen that she is overprotective and even aggressive, the most important thing is not to disturb her and allow her privacy as much as possible.
- Transition period (puppies from 15 to 20 days): the little ones will start to be active and the mother will dedicate a lot of time to clean them, feed them and give them warmth. Probably the parent will start to be more tolerant.
- Socialization period(puppies from 21 days to 4 months): this stage is fundamental for the dog since he learns to recognize his own kind. The little ones will begin to gain mobility and the mother will teach them positive habits, canine language, she will look for the disoriented puppies, etc. She will also be much more receptive to us. From 7-8 weeks the mother will begin to progressively reject them, an optimal moment for the possible adoption of the little ones.
Our relationship with the mother should be affectionate to the extent that she allows it. We will also avoid excessively exciting, overstimulating or manipulating the puppies, as well as yelling or disturbing their rest.
When should we separate the puppies from the mother?
It is very important to know the optimum time of separation of the puppies and the mother, as it can greatly influence the behavior of the puppies. dogs in their adult stage.
As we have explained, from approximately 21 days to 12 weeks, the puppy is in her socialization period. At this stage it is essential that the puppy can relate to other dogs, people, animals, environments, sounds… It is also an essential stage for him to learn canine language, his mother's hygiene habits, play behaviors or to control his bite, for instance.
Although overstimulation is not recommended, it is important that you be able to know everything that you are going to find in your adult stage to prevent it from developing fears or other behavior problems.
If we separate a puppy from its mother and siblings too soon, it is very likely that in the future it will not know how to relatewith other dogs or is afraid of them. The same will happen if we never teach him what a car is. In his adult stage, when we teach him to walk, he will feel frightened and scared.
If, on the other hand, we offer our puppy positive encounters, it is very likely that he will not have any problems when he grows up. We should not be afraid to let our dog interact with others, even if they are larger, as long as we know that they are good and well socialized dogs.
The optimal adoption time is within 2 monthsof life, moment in which the puppy has already been weaned. Even so, if we give him up for adoption, it will be important to explain to the owners that they should continue to socialize him as soon as he has his vaccinations so that he does not get scared. The ideal adoption time is around 3 or 4 months of life, since the puppy will be fully weaned, perfectly socialized and will have adequate behavior habits.
