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Ask The Doc: Orphan Pups

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Last week my lab had pups, she died three days later from what was sited as rat poisoning.  She jumped the fence after she had them. We are now bottle feeding 12 pups.  Any insight on when we can get rid of the pups and how the new families can feed them? You may not like my reply to your questions, but since you asked.......these are MY opinions.

Dr. DeMichael: First of all, you have the responsibility as the breeder of those pups, to provide them with a comfortable home until such time as they can be adopted by their new families. Since the mother has died, those pups are dependent on you alone to raise and feed them. For more detailed information regarding raising orphaned pups and the proper nutrition for them, I would refer you to the IAMS Co. for a more detailed discussion. Call their Customer Service Dept. for further information at (800) 525-4267.

Not knowing where you are located with respect to the climate in your area, one of the most important things to consider for young pups is to maintain a warm environment. This may mean that you will have to use heat lamps as a source of warmth. Just be sure they are raised high enough as to not "burn" the pups. You need the air around them warm, not hot.

There are various milk replacer formulas available. Don't use regular table milk as a substitute. One product that we have used is made for babies and is called Similac. It's not inexpensive, but it is a good source as a supplement. When the pups get several weeks old, you may be able to switch them to a "puppy weaning formula". We use the one manufactured by the Iams Co.

If you are lucky, you might be able to check with your local veterinarians and locate a bitch who may have just lost her pups for some reason or other that would serve as a surrogate mother to yours.

As for when you can "get rid of the pups", and let the next family feed them, I submit that you should not have bred your dog in the first place if you were not willing to accept the responsibility of raising them. And should you be thinking that the mating wasaccidental and not planned, I say to you that your female should have been spayed and this would not be an issue today.

I hope you will take the responsibility of raising these pups untilthey are old enough for you to find a loving family that will feed and care for them.

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