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General Information
During the first few weeks of the newborn's life, the mother
provides the necessities of warmth, nutrition and stimulation. The
owner's responsibilities consist of careful observation to detect
problems before they become serious.
Warmth: Room temperature should be at least 70 F. The puppies
should be kept off cold floors because chilling can be fatal to young
puppies.
Nursing: A well-fed healthy puppy has a round stomach and seems
content. Notify a veterinarian if the puppies seem uneasy or cry
frequently.
Crying: Extended crying is usually a sign of trouble and should
be reported to a doctor immediately.
Tail docking/dewclaw removal: Puppies of breeds in which these
procedures are done should be presented at 2-5 days of age.
Eyes: The puppies' eyes should be open at 10-14 days of age.
Weaning: Soon after the puppies' eyes are open, pan feeding of puppy
milk may be started. Other puppy foods may then gradually be added.
Worms: A stool specimen should be brought to a veterinarian's office for
laboratory examination when the puppies are as early as 2-4 weeks old (especially if any puppy in the litter is ill or under developing.
Vaccinations: A series of immunizations should begin at 6-8 weeks of age. Your doctor will recommend a schedule for the appropriate vaccinations.
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