We’ve had folks availing themselves our stud service who are first timers at having pups. This is not a complete treatise on raising pups by any stretch. Inasmuch, I will merely touch on some of the nitty gritty for your edification and consideration.
Assuming all went well with delivery (whelping) we give moms extra ‘potty’ runs – supervised at least first day as we have seen one last pup delivered up to a day later. Not the usual nor out of the realm of possibility.
Mom will not want to leave pups so we provide ‘room service’ food and water close but not where pups could possibly get into a water bowl. Another reason we like ‘rabbit water bottles – available in a dog version that has a heftier tube ‘
Expect extra clean up of mom’s nest as she will leak fluids for a while during and after delivery.
About day three most breeds should have dew claws removed. You do not need a vet for this.small pair of dull scissors (sharp leaves a clean cut which takes longer to heal – think paper cut on you) some styptic powder – blood clot. Like a man’s shaving stick except in powder form. I.E. Styptic Blood Stopper Powder for Dogs & Cats - amazon has it for one
I prefer two people for this – myself and a helper to hold the pup on its side with one leg pro-offered to me at a time. One person can remove dewclaws if a 2nd is unavailable or unwilling…lol, it just takes a little more finesse with your grip. I grasp the dewclaw with my fingers or forceps if small pups, lifting enough to cut close to the leg. With gentle pressure the scissors will ‘slip’ into the joint between bones. Remove dewclaw and apply styptic powder. Don’t return pups to mom immediately so she will not lick and cause further bleeding. 10 to 15 minutes is adequate. Just keep pups warm – a box with some towels is fine.
We don’t dock tails on our usual breeds – if you need instructions email me…. This can be needed for a deformed tail which is rare but can happen.
At about 3 weeks old we give the pups their first de-worming. I prefer Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension, 50mg / ml – follow dosing instructions on bottle. Adjust accordingly for pup’s weight. Worming schedule can be every 2 to 3 weeks until pups leave home. Usually, at 7 to 9 weeks old as they are well weaned and socially ready to go be the boss (err – provide puppy love) in a new home.
Give the pups a chance to eat without mom. Pups will usually start eating real food at about 4 weeks of age even though they are still wanting to nurse. Mom will he happy to finish off what they don’t eat as a treat. Some youngsters are more precocious than others. All should be eating well by 6 weeks old. Most moms will be drying up milk production by then as well as being tired of teeth and toenails.
– which brings me to the nail trimming part, we start trimming nails by 4 weeks old as part of protecting mom and getting pups used to being handled for this procedure.
we soak puppy food ahead of time for perhaps 15 minutes with hot water to soften and make a gruel of sorts. Options are adding a few spoonsful of canned food for the ‘taste’ as well as being soft for little teeth. For the initial weaning a little puppy milk powder mixed in. NEVER cows milk. Goat milk is fine if you have a willing goat to donate some. Milk as pups grow older is not a good idea as dogs are basically lactose intolerant. Another option we like is cooked chicken livers – so nutritious… and since we raise chickens a nice farm fresh egg mixed in. there are many ways to make soft food, you’ll need to choose your preference.
As pups get older mom will clean up after them less so there is point at which you’ll need to decide what to do with the excrement and what surface you want to clean. Here it is newspapers many times a day as we set them out of their crate / playpen area onto newspapers as the beginning of crate to paper for the transition to outside house breaking. Other breeders we’ve seen you towels – pine chips – tiled surface and a lot clean up - play pen with special wire floor allowing debris to fall through to a pan below without hurting little feet. Many options here.
Vaccinations – you can do or see your vet. This is at 8 to 9 weeks old. Not 6 weeks as some older vets had learned and still do. We go by the latest protocol and veterinary school recommendations. Giving the shots yourself is up to you. Mostly I will recommend NOT getting leptospirosis on the first shot as younger or smaller pups could have a negative reaction. You can order shots online or acquire them at your local farm store should you choose this option. Your veterinarian can do a well puppy checkup and listen to their hearts, evaluate a stool sample for parasites – etc. something I can do although not everyone is versed in this. As such I am not discounting the vet’s role in a pup’s life just giving some basic into for your consideration.
Assuming all went well with delivery (whelping) we give moms extra ‘potty’ runs – supervised at least first day as we have seen one last pup delivered up to a day later. Not the usual nor out of the realm of possibility.
Mom will not want to leave pups so we provide ‘room service’ food and water close but not where pups could possibly get into a water bowl. Another reason we like ‘rabbit water bottles – available in a dog version that has a heftier tube ‘
Expect extra clean up of mom’s nest as she will leak fluids for a while during and after delivery.
About day three most breeds should have dew claws removed. You do not need a vet for this.small pair of dull scissors (sharp leaves a clean cut which takes longer to heal – think paper cut on you) some styptic powder – blood clot. Like a man’s shaving stick except in powder form. I.E. Styptic Blood Stopper Powder for Dogs & Cats - amazon has it for one
I prefer two people for this – myself and a helper to hold the pup on its side with one leg pro-offered to me at a time. One person can remove dewclaws if a 2nd is unavailable or unwilling…lol, it just takes a little more finesse with your grip. I grasp the dewclaw with my fingers or forceps if small pups, lifting enough to cut close to the leg. With gentle pressure the scissors will ‘slip’ into the joint between bones. Remove dewclaw and apply styptic powder. Don’t return pups to mom immediately so she will not lick and cause further bleeding. 10 to 15 minutes is adequate. Just keep pups warm – a box with some towels is fine.
We don’t dock tails on our usual breeds – if you need instructions email me…. This can be needed for a deformed tail which is rare but can happen.
At about 3 weeks old we give the pups their first de-worming. I prefer Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension, 50mg / ml – follow dosing instructions on bottle. Adjust accordingly for pup’s weight. Worming schedule can be every 2 to 3 weeks until pups leave home. Usually, at 7 to 9 weeks old as they are well weaned and socially ready to go be the boss (err – provide puppy love) in a new home.
Give the pups a chance to eat without mom. Pups will usually start eating real food at about 4 weeks of age even though they are still wanting to nurse. Mom will he happy to finish off what they don’t eat as a treat. Some youngsters are more precocious than others. All should be eating well by 6 weeks old. Most moms will be drying up milk production by then as well as being tired of teeth and toenails.
– which brings me to the nail trimming part, we start trimming nails by 4 weeks old as part of protecting mom and getting pups used to being handled for this procedure.
we soak puppy food ahead of time for perhaps 15 minutes with hot water to soften and make a gruel of sorts. Options are adding a few spoonsful of canned food for the ‘taste’ as well as being soft for little teeth. For the initial weaning a little puppy milk powder mixed in. NEVER cows milk. Goat milk is fine if you have a willing goat to donate some. Milk as pups grow older is not a good idea as dogs are basically lactose intolerant. Another option we like is cooked chicken livers – so nutritious… and since we raise chickens a nice farm fresh egg mixed in. there are many ways to make soft food, you’ll need to choose your preference.
As pups get older mom will clean up after them less so there is point at which you’ll need to decide what to do with the excrement and what surface you want to clean. Here it is newspapers many times a day as we set them out of their crate / playpen area onto newspapers as the beginning of crate to paper for the transition to outside house breaking. Other breeders we’ve seen you towels – pine chips – tiled surface and a lot clean up - play pen with special wire floor allowing debris to fall through to a pan below without hurting little feet. Many options here.
Vaccinations – you can do or see your vet. This is at 8 to 9 weeks old. Not 6 weeks as some older vets had learned and still do. We go by the latest protocol and veterinary school recommendations. Giving the shots yourself is up to you. Mostly I will recommend NOT getting leptospirosis on the first shot as younger or smaller pups could have a negative reaction. You can order shots online or acquire them at your local farm store should you choose this option. Your veterinarian can do a well puppy checkup and listen to their hearts, evaluate a stool sample for parasites – etc. something I can do although not everyone is versed in this. As such I am not discounting the vet’s role in a pup’s life just giving some basic into for your consideration.
