Ultimate Guide to Raising a Puppy: Tips & Care

Caring for and Raising Puppies: A Comprehensive Guide

When puppies are born, their eyes and ears are shut tight, and for the first two weeks of their lives, they spend most of their time eating and sleeping. The primary focus during this early stage is to ensure that they receive the mother's colostrum as soon as possible. Before the mother starts nursing, it's essential to clean and disinfect her nipples. This first milk provides all the necessary nutrients and energy for the puppies, so no additional food is needed at this stage. However, if the mother's milk is insufficient, the litter is large, or the mother is unavailable, you'll need to consider artificial feeding, though finding a foster mother is ideal.

When the puppies are being nursed by their mother, it's crucial to prevent the mother from accidentally crushing them. Additionally, pet owners should focus on maintaining an appropriate environment and encouraging elimination. Puppies have little fur and minimal subcutaneous fat, and their body temperature regulation is not fully developed, making them prone to getting cold. Therefore, it's important to keep the environment warm, ideally around 30°C, using a heated box and possibly heating pads, infrared lamps, or heaters as needed.

Before the 10th day of life, puppies are unable to eliminate waste on their own. The mother usually stimulates this process by licking their bottoms. If she doesn't, or if the puppies are not nursing from her, the owner should gently massage the puppies' genitals after feeding to encourage reflexive elimination. Most puppies will begin to eliminate independently around 16 to 21 days old, with some as early as 10 days.

By the 28th day, puppies can regulate their body temperature and start exploring their surroundings, showing more independence. Growth is rapid at this stage, so their nutritional needs increase. If the mother's milk isn't sufficient, consider using puppy milk replacer or goat's milk as supplements. Feeding can be done with a small syringe or a puppyspecific bottle. If using goat's milk, dilute it with warm water, cool it to 38°C before feeding.

At around 4 weeks of age, it's time to start planning for weaning, as puppies' nutritional demands rise and their digestive systems can handle new types of food. Gradually introduce soft, wet foods like puppyspecific milk replacer or softened puppy kibble. Once fully weaned, puppies can be fed puppy food directly. Most puppies are weaned around 6 weeks old and should be kept separate from the mother to foster independence. Feed them puppy food in small, frequent portions, about four times a day, and avoid freefeeding. Also, ensure they get some sun exposure, about 2 to 3 times a day, and regularly groom them to strengthen their skin's resistance.

We hope this guide to puppy care and management is helpful and contributes to the healthy growth of your little companions.