How to care for a new born puppy

Those ‘puppy’ eyes can melt even the hardest of hearts. Puppies are freakin cute and no one is immune to their charm. Raising them though can be quite a task. When caring for a new born pup, many people are like a deer caught in the headlights. We offer some tips to help you guys with raising a new born puppy.

1.       Feeding a new born puppy: A new born puppy is as much in need of its mother’s milk as a human infant. If in case your canine has been rescued, or adopted from a dog shelter home, ensure that you consult your vet as to your dog’s milk feed. Some milk replacers and cow milk can cause diarrhea among dogs. Use a bottle to feed the pup at regular intervals of time. Special care needs to be taken for the 1^st 4 weeks. Refrain from overfeeding the dog.

2.       Keeping them warm: A pup cuddles up to his mother to keep itself warm. In the absence of its mother, it may die of hypothermia if not kept warm enough. To prevent the same, the pet parents need to ensure that their canine is well insulated with comfortable rugs and sheets. Avoid covering the dog with layers of blankets coz danger of suffocation always looms large over this little creature.

3.       Helping them go to the bathroom: It’s pee time!! Did you know that the mother dog actually licks her baby’s appropriate areas to help him urinate and defecate! Don’t worry! You do not have do that. All you need to do is to take a wet cloth and rub on their appropriate regions to assist them with their excretory processes. The routine needs to be followed atleast for a month till your pooch is ready to be potty trained.

4.       The 1^st vet appointment: If your pup’s been showing the following signs- vomiting, coughing, crying non-stop and undergoing nasal discharge, he needs to be immediately taken to the vet. On the other hand, if he has been showing progress and gradually climbing up the growth ladder, you can take himto the vet to begin his 1^st round of vaccinations.

5.       Training and socialization: You should not begin training your puppy until he is 7-8 weeks old. Start out by calling out to him, thereby getting him used to your voice. Then gradually get him used to your smell and touch. Introduce him to toys and other fun things and observe his reaction to them. If he takes to these things ‘pawsitively’, it is a good sign. If you’re confident that your puppy will not be overwhelmed, you can take that plunge and introduce him to new faces.

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