In general, when female dogs give birth to their puppies, they are the ones who take care of all their needs. However, there are many cases in which Being human ends up being responsible for their upbringing.
For this task it is of vital importance that we have the help from a professional, since puppies at this stage are usually quite delicate, especially in the first weeks of life. That is why we bring all the necessary information, to know each of the care that puppies need when they have been orphaned.
Causes of why a puppy is orphaned
In many cases the puppies are abandoned because they suffer from some disease, because la litter is too large or in less common cases, by the mother's rejection. We can also mention that this is something that can happen the other way around, since it is possible that a dog is the one that adopts the orphaned puppies, regardless of whether they themselves have not given birth.
Something that undoubtedly causes a lot of sadness in a person is the fact of finding abandoned puppies regardless of what species they are.
If they have been lucky enough to drink a little breast milk for at least their first 24 hours of life, their chances of survival will be increased, since in this way they will have consumed the colostrum with the protective antibodies.
Urgent care
Veterinarians can offer us guidance about the care a puppy needs that has been orphaned in order to survive, such as: giving us the guidelines of the appropriate dose of milk as well as the intervals, and also the indicated weight that dogs need to gain weight per week, so that everything runs correctly.
The specialists are the ones who will offer us help to verify the state in which they are, and in turn, helps to monitor the behavior of these puppies as well as their growth.
In its first weeks of life, a puppy does not have the necessary capacity to maintain its body temperature, despite the most appropriate temperatures at home. It is necessary that we have a small box with a blanket or a towel on hand, in order to place a safe heat source.
If there are several puppies, by being together they will be able to conserve a little heat. On the other hand, another thing that can also help us is the placement of a stuffed toy.
Artificial breeding
We can find some homemade formulas about the milk with which we should feed a puppy, but it is recommended that let's avoid the use of milk that comes from cows.
On the other hand, use one that does not contain lactose to avoid the presence of problems in the intestine. However, we can also find on the market a special milk for dogs.
The correct way to feed the puppies is using a special bottle that has the appropriate nipple or also using a small syringe.
We will heat the milk in a bain-marie until it has the body temperature, which is about 38 ° C, which we will check, placing a drop on the top of our wrist.
We need to respect the way puppies naturally suckle, which means that we have to place them lying on top of the abdomen with their head a little higher than the tail to avoid choking, at no time do we have to place them on their back.
It is preferable that give the puppies a small amount of milk more often at first, approximately eight times a day, since in this way we will prevent digestive disorders from occurring.
After a few weeks, it's time to give them some solid food, which can be a special feed or any other food indicated by the veterinarian. Then we have to go testing with the weaning at the time they drink and start eating alone from the plate.
Efficient nutrition
It is of great importance for the life of a puppy, to consume in its first hours of life the colostrum that mother's milk offers. After the first twelve hours have passed, we can feed them using the method we have explained above.
Puppies require more than just food. It is recommended that we can offer you an environment with optimal conditions, where a dedication is included that is full time in its first days, in which we have to feed it with a bottle on a regular basis, even at night.
Likewise, we have to simulate the mother's licks, by cleaning your face and the rest of the body from time to time with the help of a cloth that we must moisten with a little warm water.
The hygiene of an orphan puppy
We must keep in mind at all times that puppies do not have the ability to being able to urinate or having your bowel carry out certain movements on its own, since they still do not have the muscle development necessary to fulfill each of these functions.
It is for this reason that the puppy needs a stimulationEither by the mother through licking, or using a manual method such as the use of a little wet cotton with which the anal area should be rubbed gently as well as the genital area.
In many cases, orphaned puppies respond correctly to these stimuli before they eat, and in many others, this occurs after they have eaten.
We have to do this artificial stimulation until about 21 daysAfter this time, the puppies already have the necessary capacity to be able to control their needs.
The temperature indicated for aging
So that the orphaned puppies are completely healthy and have good growth, your body needs to be able to have the proper temperature, since at this young age they do not have the ability to maintain their body heat.
For that and in addition to the option that we have explained above, we can complement it with some others elements that provide heat, such as a lamp, a bag with a little hot water, a thermal blanket or we can also place insulation on the floor.
Using a thermometer can be very helpful to keep a control of the temperature.
When the environment where we have placed the puppy is very dry, we can put a little extra moisture. A damp blanket on the top and also on one side of the box where we have placed the dog, can be a good solution.
Socialization and education
For the cubs found orphaned, it is necessary that they begin to communicate correctly with each of the family members, from the first five or six weeks of life.
We must bear in mind that they are puppies, so it is necessary that we be careful when accustoming them to noise, movements, people and other pets.