Over the last two weeks we spent some time discussing the care of orphaned pups. Let’s now look at the general management and care of the litter that has just arrived into this hostile world of dogdom. We must know some facts about these newborns, so that we can recognize any abnormalities.
First of all, do not panic because the puppies can’t see. Their eyes will remain closed until they are10-14 days old. By the way, the ears are also sealed and the pups won’t react to sound until they are about three weeks old. Don’t feel badly if they sleep more than they eat. Pups, like babies, sleep a lot. In fact, puppies only nurse for about 10 per cent of the time. Of course, the more puppies in the litter the more the fight for the milk will be; the more energy they expend, the more tired they become and therefore will sleep even more. You might notice that the puppies’ limbs, every now and then, jerk as if they are having ‘fits.’ This is the pups’ way of ‘exercising.’ It is normal movement.
If they cry in their sleep or when they are searching for the nipple, that too is normal. The stool of the newborn is soft (not watery). The act of stooling is uncontrolled.
Mom will help with their defecation by massaging their abdomen with her tongue. Later on – at about three weeks of age – the excretion will take place under the puppies’ own volition. The function of the kidneys of the newborn pup is not very developed. The urine therefore is not very concentrated, and relatively copious quantities of dilute fluid are discharged as urine. Obviously, since the pup is excreting much liquid in the soft stool and urination, it must replace the fluid by drinking a compensatory quantum of its mother’s milk.
Keeping the puppy warm is a paramount consideration relative to the newborn’s well-being. The newborn pup’s body temperature is pretty low (92
