ORPHAN PUPPY AND KITTEN CARE
Hidden Hills Animal Hospital
Small Animals & Exotics
Dr. Paul E. Norwood
4899 Redan Road (404) 296-3400 Stone Mountain, GA 30088
- KEEP THE PET WARM.
- Avoid drafts.
- Use heating pad in box on LOW heat.
1. Cover pad with waterproof material (plastic).
2. Line box with disposable diapers or newspaper.
3. Heating pad should only cover ½ of bottom of box.
Let rest of heating pad go up side of box
This allows the pet to get off heating pad if it gets too hot.
Birth to 5 Days old…………………………………………………….…85-90 Degrees
5-20 Days old………………………………………………………………80 Degrees
20-34 Days old………………………………………………………….…75 Degrees
2. NUTRITION
- Use PUPPY/KITTEN FORMULA ONLY. Milk or human baby formula which causes diarrhea.
- Introduce formula changes SLOWLY.
- Feed at 100 degrees (body temperature).
- Discard reconstituted formula after 24 hours.
- Feed 2 tablespoons/4 oz. Body weight.
- Feed every 3-4 hours for one week, THEN every 6 hours.
- Whining or crying USUALLY indicates hunger.
- Test the feeding bottle for proper flow rate. DO NOT SQUEEZE the bottle.
- Begin feeding in a saucer as soon as eyes are open (usually at about two weeks of age).
- Dip muzzle and tongue in a saucer.
- Put finger in side of mouth to encourage sucking.
- Begin mixing formula with Gerber High Protein Baby Cereal at 3-4 weeks of age. After one week gradually switch the cereal to a high quality puppy food.
- Slowly begin to substitute water for the puppy formula at four weeks of age.
- Any time diarrhea should develop, dilute the food 50% with water and call the clinic for instructions.
3. Sanitation
- Keep area clean! This is MOST IMPORTANT for good health!
- Rub rectum and abdomen with cotton moistened with warm water after each feeding to stimulate bowel functions.
4. DO NOT DISTURB except for feeding and cleaning!
5. TWITCHING is NORMAL during sleep—this exercises the muscles to aid growth.
6. Bring pups/kittens to clinic at four weeks of age for examination and deworming.
7. Substitute High Quality Kitten Food for kittens when switching off Gerber High Protein Baby Cereal.
