All puppies are fragile when they are first born. That includes the tough and stocky pitbull. The puppies are even more vulnerable if their mother is not around to care for them, so if it is at all possible, keep the family together for at least the first six weeks of the puppies' lives. If the puppies are abandoned or the mother does not take to them, you can care for them yourself, but you should also seek the guidance of a licensed veterinarian.
Instructions
Instructions
1. Prepare a whelping box for the puppies that has sides that are at least 4 inches high and has adequate space for the puppies to move around. (A cardboard box is fine. Some choose to use wicker baskets or even plastic tubs.) Also allow room for the mother if she is present. Add a blanket, towel or folded sheet to keep the puppies comfortable.
2. Make sure the puppies stay warm. They are not able to fully regulate their body temperature for the first three to four weeks. Keep their surroundings at approximately 80 degrees if the mother isn't present and 75 degrees if she is. She will provide the additional body heat. If you don't want to keep your thermostat that high, install a heat lamp 6 feet above the whelping box.
3. Create your own formula to feed the puppies if the mother is not there to nurse them. Mix 12 oz. evaporated milk with 12 oz. water. Then add 4 oz. unflavored yogurt, 4 egg yolks and 1 tbsp. puppy vitamins (available at your local pet store). Feed it to the pups with a sterilized eyedropper.
4. Check to see that each pup is eating at least every 2 hours and eliminating shortly after. If you notice that a pup is not eliminating regularly, gently rub its anal glands with a damp washcloth to try to stimulate the process. This is a fairly common problem in the first weeks of life.
5. Clean the box and replace the bedding on a daily basis. You may want to have a second box ready that you can transfer the puppies to while you clean. If you don't, set them on a clean towel on the floor. Never set them on the furniture since they could fall off and injure themselves.
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