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Did you know that in the world of dog breeding, 1 in 5 newborn puppies won’t even experience the joys of their first month?
This isn’t just a random statistic. Research from various dog breeding communities consistently shows a neonatal mortality rate of 20% for our canine companions.
For those involved in dog breeding, this isn’t just a number; it’s a challenge.
It’s a benchmark against which breeders measure the wellness of their kennel and the effectiveness of their neonatal puppy care practices.
Over the years, I’ve become deeply committed to discovering puppy survival tips that can tilt the scales in favour of these tiny lives.
We owe it to them, to the joy they bring, to fight for their chance to thrive from the very beginning.
Recently, an email landed in my inbox, shedding light on a crucial aspect of neonatal puppy care.
It’s a piece of advice that I believe every dog breeder should internalize when nurturing newborns.
Dog Breeding Tales: A Newborn Puppy Care Dilemma
Meet Maria, a passionate Chihuahua breeder. One sunny afternoon, her cherished Chihuahua mama welcomed a trio of pups. With each birth in her dog breeding journey, her emotions ranged from joy to nervous anticipation.
Maria is experienced in dog breeding. She’s faced midnight emergencies and unexpected vet visits. But that day, everything seemed perfect. The birth was smooth, with no complications.
A few days later, Maria reached out with a concern about neonatal puppy care. “I have a puppy whose umbilical cord isn’t drying out well,” she wrote, asking, “What can I put on it?”
This wasn’t just about a topical solution. Maria’s query hinted at a larger oversight in neonatal puppy care.
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Puppy Survival Tips: Caring for the Newborn Puppies’ Umbilical Cords
Every dog breeder knows the joy of welcoming newborn puppies.
But Maria’s email reminded me of the essential steps in neonatal puppy care that are often overlooked, such as proper umbilical cord care.
An essential step for newborn puppies is to drink the first milk of their mother, the colostrum, as soon as they are born. Find out more on this topic in the following blog:
Colostrum Secrets: Boosting Puppy Immunity and Growth from Day One
Understanding Omphalophlebitis
In simple terms, omphalophlebitis is an inflammation of the umbilical vein.
It’s a significant concern in dog breeding and a leading cause of health issues in newborn puppies.
Think of the umbilical cord as a large blood vessel, a bridge connecting the puppy to the external environment.
If left unattended, this becomes a gateway for harmful germs to invade the puppy’s abdomen, potentially leading to septicemia – a blood infection with a grim outlook, especially in such tender lives.
Umbilical abscesses, or pus-filled swellings, are sadly not rare in mammals.
When I come across a newborn puppy that’s under the weather, the umbilical cord is the first thing I inspect.
Prevention is always better than cure, and here’s how you can do it.
Steps to Ensure Umbilical Cord Health in Neonatal Puppy Care:
- Tie It Right: Use cotton thread or surgical suture thread to tie the cord, ensuring it’s 2-3 cm from the puppy’s belly.
- Cut with Caution: Cut the cord while maintaining the 2-3 cm distance. A too-short cord can invite germs.
- Disinfect the End: This step is vital in neonatal puppy care. Use chlorhexidine or a diluted polyvidone iodine solution. Cleanse the cord’s end 2-3 times daily until it falls off.
Some argue that if the mother bites off the cord, disinfection isn’t needed.
However, a dog’s mouth has bacteria, making disinfection even more crucial.
Bonus Puppy Survival Tip: Wait for about three minutes after birth before attending to the umbilical cord.
Why? It’s filled with oxygen-rich blood.
This short wait allows the puppy to reabsorb this vital blood, preventing hypoxia – or oxygen deficiency – a known factor upping neonatal mortality risks.
These puppy survival tips, while simple, can significantly increase a puppy’s chances of thriving.
They’re straightforward yet impactful.
After our email exchange, Maria applied these neonatal puppy care steps. Her puppies avoided septicemia, a risk no dog breeder should take.
Implementing these puppy survival tips isn’t complex. But their potential impact on dog breeding success? Truly monumental.
If you found these neonatal puppy care insights valuable, please share them with fellow dog breeders and veterinarians.
One of the most common challenge we encounter in breeding kennels is NEONATAL MORTALITY.
It can be very frustrating… even heart-breaking.
Good news though : you can do something about it !
We now have more knowledge than ever in this discipline.
In recent years, new research brought us a much better understanding of what can be done to optimize the health of newborn puppies.
By taking this course, this is what you will learn indeed !
DR. EMMANUEL FONTAINE 