Things You'll Need
- Whelping box
- Old Sheets
- Heating pad
- Old towels
- Extra puppy food
- Cottage cheese
- Fingernail clippers
- Hair scissors
Instructions
Provide a place for the puppies. This can be a whelping box that is purchased or one you make out of wood. You can also take several large cardboard boxes, cut them and use duct tape to make a whelping box. The size of the box depends upon the breed of dog; it needs to be big enough to keep the puppies in but allow the dam to get out as needed. Place old sheets in the box and switch out clean sheets on at least a daily basis.
Until they are three weeks old, puppies cannot maintain their own body temperature. The best source of warmth for the pups is their mother. Keep the room temperature between 70 to 80 degrees without drafts. You can also place a heating pad set on low in the bottom of the whelping box and cover it with old towels for the puppies to lie on. This is especially good for litters delivered in the winter or an extra large litter.
Take care of the dam. Provide her with as much food and water as she wants. Feed her a quality puppy food-it is higher in calories and nutrients. You can also mix in several spoonfuls of cottage cheese at each feeding. This will help increase the nutrients of her milk. At first you might have to bring the food to her while she is nursing the pups, especially if she has a larger litter or had a difficult delivery.
Puppies tend to pile on each other while sleeping. Watch out for any pups that might be separated from the others. If he is cold, put him next to his mother.
Watch the puppies nursing for the first several days. They might need help getting started or if there is a large litter you need to make sure all the pups have an opportunity to nurse. Feel the puppies’ tummies. They should feel full but not bloated or hard.
Trim the puppies toenails once a week, using a fingernail clipper. Their sharp little claws can hurt the dam. Have someone else hold the puppy while you trim, but be careful not to trim to the quick.
If the dam has long-hair, trim it so that the puppies won’t get tangled in it. Don’t worry, it will grow back.
Don’t bathe the puppies until they are four weeks old. If they really need to be cleaned, you can purchase wipes made specifically for puppies
Look for the following signs of healthy puppies:1. They look and feel lively, energetic and strong.2. They twitch when they are asleep, which is a sign of active sleep.3. They are vigorous nursers.4. Their tongues are pink and warm.5. Their tummies feel full but not bloated or hard.