The complete neonatal period lasts approximately four weeks.Due to the rapid developmental changes during this stage,it is typically described in two-week increments.After birth,puppies should be promptly checked for congenital defects such as cleft palate.Additionally,if premature birth is suspected,a preliminary assessment can be made by checking for hair on the insteps of their paws.

During this period,puppies should maintain daily weight gain.Weight changes are crucial indicators for assessing the mother's nursing status and determining if the puppy has any illnesses or other health risks.Low birth weight puppies have a relatively higher mortality rate due to their increased susceptibility to complications such as sepsis and hypoglycemia.

The umbilical cord usually dries and falls off around three days after birth.During this period,the umbilical area should be checked daily for signs of infection or inflammation—umbilical infection is a common cause of sepsis in puppies.When examining the umbilical area,the veterinarian will also check for umbilical hernias,inguinal hernias,and other problems in the abdomen.

Newborn puppies cannot regulate their own body temperature and rely on their mother and littermates to maintain a suitable body temperature.This is primarily because puppies lack the insulating body fat that provides insulation.The rectal temperature of newborn puppies is typically between 95-99°F.In the second week after birth,the rectal temperature can rise to around 97-100°F.

If a puppy experiences hypothermia,it can lead to reduced food intake,and in severe cases,hypoglycemia or even death.Therefore,it's essential to correct the puppy's temperature before encouraging normal eating.Newborn puppies lack the ability to shiver and develop peripheral vasoconstriction—a physiological process where the body reduces blood supply to the limbs to maintain core body temperature.These abilities gradually develop and mature during the first week after birth.

Some breeds of puppies may have a fontanelle,a small opening in their skull.This is more common in small breeds like Chihuahuas and Miniature Dachshunds,and in some puppies,the fontanelle may remain open throughout their lives.Normally,this does not adversely affect the puppy's long-term health.

Newborn puppies are born with a sterile gut that has not yet been colonized by bacteria,but a healthy gut flora will quickly develop.Within 48 hours of birth,puppies will pass meconium,which is soft and yellowish-brown.Normally,puppy stools are pasty and yellow or brownish-yellow.Abnormal changes in stool color may indicate health problems,specifically:

-Overfeeding may cause puppies to pass green or yellow watery stools;

-White stools may indicate lactose intolerance;

-Foamy yellow stools may be a sign of canine herpesvirus infection;

-Bloody stools may indicate sepsis or coccidiosis.

If a puppy has not eaten for 24 hours,its blood sugar level may temporarily remain within the normal range;however,if it has not eaten for more than 24 hours,its blood sugar level will drop sharply,easily leading to hypoglycemia.Dehydration is also a major concern for newborn puppies.Newborn puppies have less than 80%water in their body fluids,and their kidneys are not fully developed in the first two weeks after birth,lacking the ability to concentrate urine.During this period,their urine output can be 2-3 times that of an adult dog.

Newborn puppies have lower blood pressure than older puppies and adult dogs,but a relatively faster heart rate,with a normal heart rate of about 200 beats per minute.At birth,their respiratory rate is typically 10-18 breaths per minute,gradually returning to normal around 30 breaths per minute after one day.

By 5-6 days after birth,puppies should be able to support their bodies with their forelegs;by 14-16 days,they should be able to try supporting their bodies with their hind legs,gradually laying the foundation for standing.

Behavioral Performance

Newborn puppies spend about 90%of their time sleeping,and this stage of sleep is mostly"activation sleep."Activation sleep helps strengthen the puppy's muscles,providing support for later standing and walking.Puppies are born with the ability to roll over independently and react to external stimuli.Their anal and urethral excretion reflexes can also be triggered by external stimuli(such as wiping with a damp cotton swab or licking by the mother dog).In addition,the sucking reflex and rooting reflex(the behavior of puppies searching for nipples and food sources,manifested as nodding or gentle pushing)will also appear at this stage.

Feeding Guidelines

Breast milk or specialized puppy milk replacer is the ideal food for newborn puppies because it plays a crucial role in immune regulation—not only helping puppies resist harmful intestinal bacteria and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria to improve nutrient absorption efficiency,but also providing puppies with necessary hormones and energy.To fully understand the importance of feeding for the development of newborn puppies,it is important to know that the composition of breast milk dynamically adjusts according to the puppy's growth needs.

Colostum is the first milk secreted by the mother dog after giving birth.It has a high dry matter content and a thick,viscous texture.In the first 24 hours of lactation,it can provide newborn puppies with 95%of their immunity.After 24 hours of birth,the composition of breast milk begins to change and continues to adjust during the first week after birth,eventually forming the regular milk required for the subsequent nursing stages of the puppy.

Newborn puppies should be guided to begin nursing within hours of birth.During the first week,puppies need to nurse 8-10 times daily;this frequency can be gradually reduced after the first week.

Various complications may occur during nursing,such as the mother refusing to nurse,the puppy becoming an orphan,or the puppy being too weak to nurse.In such cases,the puppy should first be checked for a cleft palate—a cleft palate can cause nursing difficulties and may require surgery in severe cases.

Smaller or weaker puppies may have difficulty suckling due to the thick consistency of colostrum.These puppies can be supplemented with colostrum through bottle feeding.Nursing complications are usually related to the mother dog's own problems,such as refusal to nurse,illness,or insufficient milk production.If nursing complications occur,it is best to have the puppy nursed by another mother dog of the same age;if a suitable surrogate mother cannot be found,commercially available puppy milk replacers or homemade milk replacers can be used.

If puppies cannot obtain colostrum from their mother or a foster mother,their immunity can be enhanced by injecting sterile serum from dogs that have completed their full vaccination program.During nursing,larger,stronger puppies may push aside smaller,weaker puppies,leading to malnutrition in the weaker puppies,resulting in symptoms such as restlessness,frequent crying,and abdominal swelling.

In such cases,ensure that weaker puppies are given priority for nursing.If the mother dog's milk production is insufficient,supplement with professional puppy formula to ensure all puppies'nutritional needs are met.

If the mother dog is completely unable to nurse(common with puppies in shelters or abandoned puppies),owners can use commercially available puppy milk replacer.Feeding should follow the principle of"less is more,"as overfeeding can easily lead to diarrhea and dehydration.It is particularly important to note that feeding puppies cow's milk or goat's milk is not recommended,as their nutritional composition does not meet their physiological needs.Before starting to feed formula,it is recommended to consult a veterinarian to determine the appropriate feeding amount and frequency.

Health Status

If the mother dog has completed her full vaccination schedule and the puppies ingested sufficient colostrum within 16 hours of birth,the nursing puppies will inherit the mother dog's immunity.However,puppies with nursing complications or congenital defects may still face health problems such as hypothermia,dehydration,and sepsis.Puppies that have not ingested colostrum are more susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases caused by various bacteria;if the mother dog has not been vaccinated,or the puppies have not received any form of immune support,their risk of contracting various viruses will significantly increase.

Vaccination

Newborn puppies do not require any vaccinations at this stage.