| CARE OF THE NEWBORN |
submitted with permission by Marj Brookswith thanks to Kevin & Donna Frizzell of DeSaix St. Bernards for generously allowing us to use many of their superb array of articlesGROWTH & DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE
Week One (Days 1-7)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
- 90% of time spent sleeping
- 10% eating
- Susceptible to heat/cold
- Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse
- They can right themselves if placed upside down
- Needs stimulation for urination/defecation
- Rapid development of central nervous system
- Need constant care from bitch
- Rectal temperatures 94-97°
- Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again
- Weight should double by end of week
CARE OF THE PUPPIES
- Examine puppies daily
- Trim nails weekly
- Keep whelping box around 85° if it's hotter than that, put a fan in the room or turn on the air conditioning, if it's colder than that get a heat lamp to put above the whelping box)
- When you handle the puppies, it's a good idea use a towel when you hold them.
- The puppies urinate upon stimulation and will inevitably find your attention stimulating!
- If your breed requires tail, ear, or dew claw docking, schedule this with your vet.
CARE OF THE BITCH
- Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth, etc.)
- Feed three full meals a day after that
- Supplement with 250 mg Vitamin C twice daily
- If puppies are fussy, supplement bitch with Vitamin B complex
- Check mammary glands twice daily (looking for signs of mastitis -- swelling, hardness, pus, etc.)
- Keep an eye on vaginal discharge (looking for signs of infection)
- Make sure bitch eats, drinks, and relieves herself
TO DO LIST
- Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
- Keep charting bitch's temperature
- Call puppy buyers with results of whelping
Week Two (Days 8-14)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
- Eyes should open around days 8-10
- Ears should open around days 13-17
- Temperatures should be around 97-99°
CARE OF THE PUPPIES
- Keep whelping box around 80°
- Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress)
- Trim nails weekly
CARE OF THE BITCH
- Bitch should get three times her normal amount of food
TO DO LIST
- Continue as above
Week Three (Days 15-21)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
- Teeth begin to erupt
- Puppies stand up and start walking
- Begin to lap liquids
- Defecate/urinate without stimulation
- Start becoming aware of environment
- Start playing with littermates
- Develop sense of smell
- Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves
CARE OF THE PUPPIES
- Start giving specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch an ear or toe gently)
Weigh puppies every 2 days - Give puppies a dirty shirt of yours to play with
- Start weekly grooming sessions (brush, trim nails, look at teeth, etc.)
CARE OF THE BITCH
- Continue as above
TO DO LIST
- Purchase milk replacer to feed puppies
Week Four (Days 22-28)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
- Begin to eat food
- Begin to bark, wag tails, bite, paw, bare teeth, growl and chase
- Uses legs well
- Tires easily
- Depth perception starts
CARE OF THE PUPPIES
- Keep mom with them a lot! Things can get overwhelming at this age and Mom will add stability for them
- Each pup needs individual attention
- Offer food that is the consistency of cooked oatmeal
CARE OF THE BITCH
- Continue as above
TO DO LIST
- Start limiting bitch's access to pups before offering them food
Week Five (Days 29-35)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
- Group activities and sexual play will begin
- Dominance order starts
- Rapid growth/development
CARE OF THE PUPPIES
- Reduce fluids in puppies' food
- Make sure other people start coming to see pups
- Begin weaning
- Play radio at normal volume near pups for 5 minutes at a time
CARE OF THE BITCH
- Start reducing amount of food to discourage milk development
- Keep a careful eye on mammary glands
TO DO LIST
- Discuss vaccination schedule with veterinarian
Week Six (Days 26-42)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
- Growth and development continue
CARE OF THE PUPPIES
- Offer soft, damp food
- Chart weekly weight
- Individual attention is crucial give each puppy time with you away from litter
CARE OF THE BITCH
- To prepare bitch for weaning: Day 1 -- no food
- Day 2 -- 1/4 normal maintenance meal
- Day 3 -- 1/2 normal maintenance meal
- Day 4 -- 3/4 normal maintenance meal
- Day 5 -- full amount of normal maintenance meal
- Keep bitch on puppy food for several weeks to help her recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising puppies
- keep a careful eye on mammary glands
TO DO LIST
- Continue as above
Week Seven (Days 43-49)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
- Total hearing/visual capacity
- Will investigate anything
- Can't respond yet to name
CARE OF THE PUPPIES
- Pups should be weaned and on regular puppy food
- Pups can go to new homes at the end of this week
CARE OF THE BITCH
- Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up
TO DO LIST
- Continue as above