Frequently asked questions (faqs) about puppy-feeding (continued)

FAQ #7: How can we feed/
hand-rear orphaned puppies?
A: The hand-rearing of puppies is not an easy task, but is optimally done with due consideration to the reasons that they have become orphaned.
Veterinarians are frequently confronted with requests from anxious pet owners whose mother dogs have died while giving birth or shortly thereafter, or have delivered litters which they have abandoned soon after birth.
There are several possible reasons for rejection by the mother, the most common being:
i: She is a first-time mother, and really seems not to know what to do with these puppies. The instinct to nurse the pups just seems to be lacking. She may even begin to eat the pups.
ii: Her milk production is inadequate, or not at all. (Your vet may help with this patho-physiological condition).
iii: She might have a severe case of infection of the breast and/or uterus.
iv: Her life is threatened because of a serious condition known as Milk Fever (low calcium levels in the blood).
Puppies can be successfully hand-reared, with careful attention to some basic principles of nutrition and sanitation, which include:
i: Providing a suitable hygienic environment
ii: Offering a nutritionally adequate formula
iii: Instituting a satisfactory feeding programme
iv: Managing a daily routine

A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT
It is of paramount importance that we provide an environment with an optimal temperature, isolation, and freedom from disturbance.
i: Adequate warmth, uniformly maintained, is basic to life, particularly during the first week of the puppy’s life.
Studies at Cornell University in the USA indicate that a temperature maintained between 85 degrees and 90 degrees (29 degrees to 32 degrees) is most desirable during the period from birth to the fifth day. In our climate, it is not too difficult to maintain these temperatures. In case the temperature gets colder, an electric bulb could be hung over the boxes with the puppies. The room in which the orphaned pups are kept must be draught free.
ii: Many researchers advise that orpaned puppies should not be placed together, because they then tend to suckle or otherwise disturb each other. For this reason, it is argued that each puppy should be placed in a box of its own. In this way, the owner can also evaluate the quality and quantity of each puppy’s stool.
My own empirical observations, however, lead me to believe that pups placed together give each other warmth and a sense of security and comfort. They tend to flourish better when together. Also, when kept separately, they tend to cry more. You may wish to use both methods in order to ascertain which method works better for you and the pups.

iii: In order to minimise disturbance of the puppies by the natural inquisitiveness of children in the home, or by other pets who would, from time to time, want to actively pay their respects to the new arrivals, I would suggest that the puppies be placed in a special room, away from the comings and goings and usual hubbub that is found in any normal home. If no room is available, then they can be placed under the bed, or in a warm, draught-free, secluded place.

THE FORMULA
In mammalian milk, within a species, nature provides a prototype of a nutritive formula to optimally meet the requirements of the young. Bitch’s milk is considerably more concentrated than cow’s milk, and is more easily digestible. It has twice the level of protein, almost double the caloric content, and more than twice the content of calcium and phosphorus.
Evaporated milk (in which more than 50% of the water is removed from cow’s milk) is a good replacement for bitch’s milk.
If cow’s milk is being used, it can be fortified with additional protein (such as egg yolks) and fat (such as vegetable oil) sources. Indiscriminate additions of sugars, particularly sucrose or lactose, to increase the caloric content of cow’s milk is not recommended, as this would most likely lead to digestive disturbances and diarrhoea.
There is also the option of procuring successful commercial formulations of milk replacers. I am, however, not certain if these are available in Guyana.
Next week we shall continue with this important aspect of puppy nutrition, and provide you with some formulas that can be easily produced at home for your orphaned puppies.