Continued
Caring for the newborn
Newborn puppies are born without the capacity to adapt to environmental stress. With proper care and attention to the special needs of these infants, undoubtedly many unnecessary neonatal deaths can be avoided.
Since neonatal puppies do not respond in the same way to environmental stress and illness as do adult dogs, a special approach is needed to monitor the well-being of the newborn – beginning as soon as they are born. The two crucial aspects to watch closely are the puppy’s body temperature and his weight. His general appearance, heart rate, breathing rate, skin turgor, muscle tone, mobility and body position, sound of his cry, and suck reflex also can provide useful information as to his overall health and vitality. These parameters are discussed below.
General appearance and vitality
Healthy puppies are “round, firm and fully packed.” They nurse vigorously and compete for nipples with their littermates. If you insert a finger into their mouths they have a strong, vigorous suckle reflex. They are warm and plump. The mouth and tongue are wet; the skin has a pink appearance. When pinched, it springs back in a resilient fashion. Pick them up and they stretch and wiggle energetically in your hand. When removed from the dam, they crawl back to her.
Newborn puppies ‘pile,’ or crawl together for warmth. They seldom cry. Crying indicates that a puppy is cold, hungry, or in pain.
A sick puppy presents a dramatically different picture. This puppy, when picked up, is limp and cold. He hangs like a dishcloth. When you put a finger into his mouth he pushes it out. He shows the same lack of interest in nursing.
Distressed puppies are hyperactive. They crawl about looking for help and fall asleep away from the life-sustaining warmth of their dam and littermates. They rest with their legs splayed apart and their necks bent to the side. Their cry is plaintive and piercing. It sometimes goes on for more than twenty minutes.
Body temperature is lower than it should be, often 94 degrees F, or below. The breathing rate is often less than ten per minute. Signs of dehydration are lack of moisture in the mouth, a bright pink colour to the tongue and mucus membranes of the mouth, loss of muscle tone, and weakness. When the skin is pinched, it stays up in a fold instead of springing back.
Viral and bacterial infections may produce a diarrhoea which becomes profuse as the condition deteriorates. As the pup grows weaker, so do his heart rate and respirations. Such a puppy often is rejected by the dam who senses that he is not going to survive and pushes him out of the pile rather than waste her energies on him. This can be reversed if the puppy is treated and his body temperature is brought to normal. The bitch will accept him back.
The overriding consideration in all of this is to recognize that newborn puppies/kittens are especially fragile and vulnerable. The mother dog naturally is the expert to deal with any difficulties as she encounters them. In fact, if she thinks a puppy is deformed, say, or she feels that he is not capable of making it, she will either disassociate herself (and the other pups) from him, or in the worst case scenario, she will kill the disadvantaged pup and even eat it. This is not abnormal behaviour; do not chastise her in any way. If she has abandoned any of the pups, you may have to intervene and feed the neglected pup(s) using the formula that will be documented in this column on October 20, 2013.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
