Puppy's Fourth Week
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This is a another fun week, but now your work becomes more intensive! The whelping box and the flooring in the exercise area will need to be washed daily, and the papers changed. I like to use Nature's Answer in the scrub bucket to wash the floor and box with. It has a nice clean scent, has no added chemicals, is made from Valencia Orange Peel, is economical and does not require rinsing. I also put some Nature's Answer into the washing machine with the laundry detergent to wash the bedding. It's safe to add bleach when using Nature's Answer in the traditional 1:32 mixture. I find that if I cover soiled spots with fresh paper in the pen when needed through the day, I can wash and clean the floor just once a day. If there are lots of bowel movements because of a big litter, then change the papers as often as needed. You don't want the puppies playing with or eating the stools. In this week, as well, the dam will begin to stand to nurse them. Until the pups get the hang of it, they latch on and fall off frequently through-out the nursing period. The dam does this new procedure instinctively because she knows she can no longer accomodate the litter in a lying down position. This is also encouraging balance and agility in the puppies. The pups wrestle and play for longer periods and they can be quite noisy with the barking and puppy growling. They are sorting out their social "pecking order". Very often the dominant female and the dominant male are apparent at this age, but the others will continue to jockey for this position. Now the pups need to be introduced to Rice Pablum three times a day. "Pablum" is a Canadian word for baby rice cereal. Mix up about 1 teaspoon of pablum for each puppy, and make it a little 'soupy' with warm water so they can lap it up. "Pablum" is found in grocery stores in the baby food aisle, as 'cereal'. There are different varieties and manufacturers but I have found that Heinz Rice cereal is the best one for the puppies. Add one mashed up meatball for each puppy into the mixture. I put the mixture into a large pieplate and group the pups around it in the whelping box area. You may have to help a slow eater by spooning it into the puppy. They'll slip and slide into the meal in the pie plate and almost need a bath afterwards. I have a supply of wash cloths and a small basin for washing their faces and feet after a meal, but they love it! The dam can be away from them for two or three hours at a time now. The room temperature can be at a normal 72 degrees. The dam has stopped cleaning up the puppy urine and bowel movements. The pups will enjoy some little toys that they can drag around and play tug with. You'll want a good deoderant for the garbage can that you put your soiled papers into. You'll need to clip the hair away from the rectum, and even wash their behinds in lukewarm water to clean away old hardened bowel movement (stool). Cut those nails! |
Copyright 
2001 Marilyn Brotherton
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Disclaimer: The information, techniques and methods described in this web site are based on my experiences over many years.They may not be suitable for you.Nothing that I have written or demonstrated is intended as a substitute for professional advice from your own qualified Veterinarian. I assume no responsibility or liability of any kind regarding the use and application of any of the advice provided or methods and techniques depicted on this web site.