Page 290 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter

VetBooks.ir 16

Feeding Nursing and

Orphaned Puppies from

Birth to Weaning

Jacques Debraekeleer

Kathy L. Gross
Steven C. Zicker

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”
Charles M. Schulz

• A postweaning period that occurs from two to 12 months
INTRODUCTION of age and is a critical time for development. Proper feed-
ing during this period is especially critical for large- and
Compared with the young of other species, newborn puppies giant-breed puppies because nutrition has proved to be the
are relatively immature at birth. For example, their skeletons most important non-genetic factor for healthy bone devel-
have a low degree of mineralization (Meyer and Stadtfeld, opment. Chapter 17 covers postweaning feeding of grow-
1980; Meyer et al, 1985). Large-breed puppies are less mature ing puppies.
than small-breed puppies, which may be one of the reasons why Before weaning, mortality may be as high as 10 to 30%,
they are more susceptible to malnutrition and developmental with two-thirds of the deaths occurring during the first week
orthopedic diseases during the rapid growth phase. of life (Pibot and Jean-Blain, 1989; Lawler and Evans, 1989).
Growing puppies progress through three critical phases in Three factors are critical to successful transition from fetal life
the first 12 months of life, during which nutrition is essential to the nursing period: 1) the bitch’s nutrition during gestation
for survival and healthy development. and early lactation, 2) the bitch’s behavior and physical health
• A nursing period during which the transition is made from and 3) provision of good neonatal care (husbandry practices)
in utero nutrition to postpartum nutrition. This period is by the owner.
largely influenced by the nutrition of the bitch during ges- Puppies are considered orphaned if they lack sufficient
tation and early lactation. This chapter focuses on feeding maternal care for survival from birth to weaning. Several phys-
nursing and orphaned puppies. iologic needs normally provided by the bitch must be met to
• A weaning period, which is very stressful due to changes in ensure survival of neonates: heat, humidity, nutrition, immuni-
food and environment. The transition from bitch’s milk to ty, elimination, sanitation, security and social stimulation. A
solid food for further growth must therefore be handled foster bitch or the caregiver must meet these needs for
properly. Because weaning overlaps with the nursing peri- orphaned puppies. Most orphans can be raised successfully
od, it is also covered in this chapter. with proper care and nutrition.