Breastfeeding is essential for puppies, which is not just because it is a source of food, but also consists of a source of bacteria, which will begin the colonization of your digestive system, so it is also a source of antibodies.
In reality and in the same way that it happens with people, dogs are not born having defensesInstead, you get them directly from your breast milk, which you should consume until your immune system has begun to mature.
The necessary lactation period is usually four weeks, however, the best thing is that breastfeeding lasts up to 8 weeks, since it is not only about feeding the puppies, but also about allowing the mother to start the learning process through small bites, grunts and licks.
In certain cases, breastfeeding cannot be maintained for 4-8 weeks due to different problems that could directly affect the motherThat is why in this post we will talk about the way it has to be the feeding of those puppies that are weaned prematurely.
It is necessary to have a proper nutrition plan when puppies are adopted that were weaned prematurely, due to some medical problem, such as mastitis in female dogs, for example.
Whenever it is possible to avoid it, it is best to do not adopt any puppy that is not older than 2 months, since it can have really negative consequences for the dog, which apart from being deprived of its sense of belonging to a pack, could also develop certain problems during its growth, such as:
- Anxiety due to separation.
- Hyperactivity
- Aggressiveness
What kind of food to use?
For at least 4 weeks, it is essential feeding the puppies with artificial milk, which usually has a composition quite similar to breast milk and can be found in specialized stores.
They should never be given cow's milk, since it turns out to have a high content of lactose and the stomach of dogs is not able to digest it. In case of not getting artificial milk for the puppies, it is best to use pasteurized goat's milk, since its lactose content is usually the most similar to that of mother's milk.
The milk always has to be warm and it is necessary give it to him with a bottle that can be found in pharmacies to feed premature babies, since its outflow turns out to be the most appropriate for a prematurely weaned puppy.
After the first four weeks, it is necessary start giving them solid foods specially manufactured for puppies, such as grain foods or patés. At first they should alternate with milk until progressively, after 8 weeks, the dog's diet is completely solid.
What is the frequency to feed a weaned puppy early?
During the first 3 days it has to be fed every 2 hoursDuring the day and at night, on the fourth day they will begin to feed them every 3 hours. This power frequency must be keep for the first 4 weeks, and then begin to alternate between the bottle and solid foods.
Other care apart from food
Apart from a diet similar to the mother's, the puppy must be given certain care in order to stay healthy, such as:
Give you contact
It's accurate spending time with and stimulating the puppy without ever interrupting their sleep hours.
Stimulate the sphincters
At the beginning the puppies are unable to urinate and defecate on their own, that is why they should be stimulated by gently rubbing a cotton ball against your genital area and anus.