A few Quick Tips

Raising puppies is always an time consuming, emotionally draining 6 to 12 weeks.

Many items have helped make this a little easier and perhaps even healthier for our Skye babies. Even keeping them clean and dry is a challenge, especially with large litters.  With our achondroplastic breed, we need to be particularly concerned with the puppy's traction and making sure that, even when they are nursing, they have a surface that they can push against with their feet and not just slide. .  Here are a couple of tips and tricks that we have found work well.

style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Try using a wading pool instead of a whelping box for much easier access to the puppies for you and the mom. Surrounded by an open-ended exercise pen, it is a cozy den area that is easy to keep at a good temperature.  Fashion a top to the half-circle pen with larger exercise pen panels hooked to the surround with bolt snaps (metal clips like on the end of a leash). While the pups are young, you can surround the pen and the top with a blanket to keep in the warmth. In the pen lay a wool or similar blanket and then an old sheet. Queen size seems to work best. You can also use the "egg-crate" foam under the sheet to give even nursing puppies some additional traction.  It is good to take medium and large binder clips that you can get at any office supply store and clip the sheet to the lip of the pool.  This keeps the sheet in place with all the movement and nesting that goes on during these first few weeks.

style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When you have to upsize to a true exercise pen area complete with newspaper area, try using the type of bathroom carpet that is easily washed in the machine. It is wonderful for traction and easy to wash. Purchase 2-3 pieces so that you can have one in use, one in the wash, and one ready to use.

style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When or if you need to supplement a small or weak puppy with a formula, I have found a special trick that really works. Even my smallest puppies are able to suck on my little finger. Get a tomcat catheter and a syringe from your veterinarian. Mix your favorite supplement or purchase one from a pet supply store or vet. Slide the catheter on the end in place of a needle and fill the syringe with warmed formula.  Lay the puppy along your forearm with the head in your hand. Curl your fingers toward your palm, open the puppy's mouth and slip your little finger in.  You will be surprised how quickly they lock onto your finger.  Slide the catheter end along side your finger and as they suck depress the syringe so that they will be sucking in the formula.  Slowly continue to empty the syringe through the catheter along side your finger always watching their little stomachs to make sure they are not over feeding. This has worked with every puppy I have tried it on as long as they are still strong enough to suck.

Make sure you take the time to enjoy the first 2-4 weeks.  It is a special quiet time before the real fun begins. Enjoy.