Essential Puppy Care & Management Tips for Beginners

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Key Points for Raising and Caring for Puppies

Newborn puppies open their eyes around two weeks of age. During the first two weeks, their eyes and ears are not fully functional, so puppies spend most of their time eating and sleeping. It's crucial for puppies to consume their mother's colostrum as soon as possible after birth, as this is vital for their survival. Before nursing, ensure the mother's nipples are cleaned and disinfected. During this period, puppies derive all their energy from their mother's milk, and there's no need for additional food from the pet owner. If the mother's milk is insufficient or if the puppy cannot be breastfed, you should consider artificial feeding or finding a foster mother for the puppy.

After addressing the puppy's food source, pet owners must focus on two critical aspects: maintaining the right environmental temperature and ensuring proper elimination.

Newborn puppies, with sparse fur and minimal subcutaneous fat, and an unstable body temperature regulation, are highly sensitive to temperature. It's essential to keep them warm, especially during winter. Consider placing the puppies in a heated crate, maintaining a temperature of around 30°C, or using heating pads, infrared lamps, or heaters in their sleeping area to provide warmth.

In cases where puppies lack a mother's care or the mother isn't able to stimulate defecation by licking the puppy's anal area, pet owners should gently mimic this action with their fingers to encourage elimination. Typically, by 16 to 21 days of age, puppies should be able to eliminate on their own without further stimulation.

As puppies grow, pet owners should also pay attention to the following aspects of care:

At around 28 days, puppies can regulate their body temperature independently and start exploring their surroundings. Growth is rapid during this stage, and their nutritional needs increase rapidly, making breast milk insufficient. Generally, puppies should be weaned between 20 to 45 days old and transitioned to puppy formula to meet their nutritional requirements and allow the mother to recover.

One week before weaning, introduce puppy formula gradually to help the puppy adapt to new nutrients. During this time, offer soft, wet foods like puppy porridge or softened puppy kibble. After complete weaning, separate the puppy from the mother to encourage independence. In the initial stages of weaning, feeding with goat's milk can be beneficial, gradually introducing puppyspecific solid food to prevent hypoglycemia and help the puppy adapt to puppy kibble. Note that goat's milk is the most suitable substitute for puppy milk; cow's milk or goat's milk should not be used. Since puppies' digestive systems are still developing, feed them small, frequent meals, ideally four times a day, to prevent digestive issues. Expose puppies to sunlight daily, especially in winter, for 2 to 3 sessions to promote hair growth and strengthen their skin's resistance.

For more comprehensive information on puppy care and raising, stay tuned for future content.

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