Table of Contents
Newborn Puppy Development Week by Week
Newborn puppies mostly eat, sleep and potty. They can wiggle, but they can’t walk. Their eyes and ears are not open. There is a The eyes and ears open, and the pups begin to use their legs a little more to get around the box. There is a The pups become more aware of their surroundings in week three. Around 21 days old, you can almost see their personality change. The first teeth break through the gum. There is a The puppies should be taught how to lap up water and puppy milk formula. Puppies can start eating soft, mushy food such as moistened kibble or soft dog food in weeks five to six. Puppies should be able to eat dry and soft food by the end of week eight.
The Proper Environment for Newborns
Newborn puppies can’t regulate their own body heat, so you need to make sure the whelping box is kept at a temperature of 85 degrees for the first five to seven days after birth. The temperature can be reduced to about 75 degrees over the next four weeks.
If you want to provide extra warmth, you can either use a heated whelping pad beneath the bedding or use a heat lamp above the litter box. If you want to keep track of the temperature in the area, you should have a thermometer near the whelping box, but not within reach of mom or the pups.
Supplemental Feeding
The mother may not be able to feed her puppies. If the litter is large or mom can’t provide enough milk, you may need to supplement one or more pups. You need to know what to feed newborn puppies without mother’s milk.
There is a Buying a puppy milk replacement formula and a nursing kit with a bottle, nipple, and a nipple-cleaning brush is how this is done. The formula has complete mixing and feeding directions. There is a When the time you can spend feeding the pups is limited, tube feeding is an option. Your vet is the best person to set you up with the equipment and teach you how to feed the pups. The method is easy once you get used to it.
When to Begin Weaning
The puppies can start lapping water around three weeks old. They can be taught to lick a little water from your finger as you hold it close to the water by offering a shallow dish of water. The pups start lapping directly from the dish when they get the idea.
Once they can lap easily, you can grind high-quality puppy kibble in a blender and mix in puppy formula to make a loose, wet mixture. You can gradually add less formula so the mix is thicker once they are used to it. Once the milk teeth have been cut through, you can offer the puppies whole puppy kibble until it’s soft. By the time the pups receive their first vaccinations between six and eight weeks old, you’ll be able to offer dry puppy food and fresh water.
Selling Newborn Puppies
Potential owners can leave a deposit on newborn puppies to secure the sale when they are ready to leave their mom. This usually involves an application form, an interview and a money deposit based on a percentage of the total cost of the puppy from the owner. If you sell a puppy before they can be safely weaned, it will lead to a potential lifetime of behavioral problems as well as some potential medical ones. A puppy should be eight weeks old before they can leave for their new home. It’s a good idea to consult your state’s regulations on when a puppy can be sold.
