Page 50 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020

good idea, since it will offer the correct balance of to suckling ability and maternal behaviour in the
nutrients suitable for giants and usually a larger first 12-16 hours because after this the puppies
kibble too. As with diets for smaller breeds, a can no longer benefit from antibodies in their
weaning diet should be soft, and dry kibble should mother’s colostrum. It is never appropriate to use
be soakable. Although soaking of all kinds of either cow’s or goat’s milk to supplement a puppy;
kibbles is common practice for all ages of dog, in neither come close to providing the levels of fat,
many cases this can be detrimental to palatability, protein, calcium, or even the calories needed for
so it’s a good idea to check with the manufacturer puppies.
first.
A 2017 study (Mila et al) found that puppies
The pre-weaning stage – especially the first 21 supplemented with hyperimmune egg powder
days – are critical for puppies of all sizes, with showed increased growth and a lower risk of
around 10% of live-born puppies dying before canine parvovirus infection.
they are three weeks old. According to a 2019
study (Mugniera et al, 2019), this figure jumps to
around 20% total mortality rate if one includes
stillbirths. The same study found that two
important risk factors for neonatal death was low
birth weight for the breed, and a diverse range of
weights within the litter.

Unfortunately, perhaps due to the larger litter
sizes, giant breeds have a slightly higher chance
of having at least one stillborn puppy and of having
a broader range of puppy birth weights (Mugneira
et al, 2019). As the days pass, the gap between
larger, stronger puppies and their smaller siblings
widens as they feed and further endangers the
smaller puppies. It’s advised that newborns are
weighed immediately after birth and smaller pups
identified and supplemented with a milk replacer
as necessary to enable them to keep up with
their litter mates. Earlier intervention gives the This supplement only supports the developing
breeder a much better chance of keeping a puppy immunity if fed within the first 24-48 hours of life,
alive. A general rule of thumb defines low birth so it’s vital to have it ready and available to use
weight as 25% lower than average for the breed. as soon as any puppies show signs of difficulty.
Unfortunately, the average weight per breed
has not been set but a breeder’s experience is PROTEIN, CALCIUM AND
invaluable in knowing what is correct for their
breed. Fluctuating blood sugar levels are also PHOSPHORUS
common in newborns and this also puts them at Two of the key nutrients for growth are calcium
risk of death. (Ca) and phosphorus (P); these minerals are vital
for skeletal growth and interact with each other.
Since the mother’s colostrum (first milk) is vital to This means they must be finely balanced and
produce a good, strong immune system, puppies remain in the correct ratio within the diet, which is
that do not have the opportunity to suckle in the 1:1 - 1.5:1 for large and giant breeds. This is not
first 16 hours are at an increased risk of death and the same ratio as for smaller breeds and another
will have poorer immunity. Pay close attention reason why large and giant breed puppies should

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020