what should you do with3 week old orphan puppies?

Answer 1

You should contact your vet and see what they recommend. It depends on why they are orphan's as to how to best handle them. Did mom run away? did she die? and if so what did she die of? At 3 weeks they still could use formula, but begin mixing it with puppy food soaked into a gruel. They get more on them than in that at first and then you have to stimulate them to poop and pee with a wet baby wipe. Its a lot of work so you might need to farm the puppies out to other people to help you care for them. It took 5 people to raise 2 newborn boxer puppies, we took turns with keeping them because they are a ton of work.

Answer 2

I would NOT bring these puppies to a shelter. Shelters have dogs from various places, puppies cannot be vaccinated until they are 6 weeks and bringing them into a shelter magnifies the chance of them picking something up that they cannot fight off at this young age immensely. There are many strains of kennel cough that are not even covered by vaccines and something like that is not good to expose 3 week old puppies to. Further, shelters are not staffed in such a way as to care for puppies on 3-4 hour intervals. A local rescue might have a volunteer foster willing to raise them, another option might be someone who is in the same breed and has a wet nurse, but these puppies almost don't even need that any longer. The second to last place I would take them would be a veterinary clinic unless, they told me that they had someone who could care for them and would not charge me for their care until they could make it on their own. Another thing to consider is that young puppies even if they are of a mixed variety are very adoptable and the two options above are very likely to put them down, unless you are willing to pay for their care which would be better accomplished at home, if you are at home.

At 3 weeks the puppies should have their eyes open, at 4 to 4 1/2 weeks they should be starting to stand and taking their first cute little barks. For the next week they can be fed esblac (a puppy formula) or goat's milk. I like to mix in hard boiled egg yoke that has been strained to give them some extra fat content. It makes them grow and keep weight up. I also like to use a syringe that has an elongated tip which is bent. I depress the end of the syringe into the flesh of my finger and let the puppy nurse from my finger what is really coming out of the syringe. It's very cute, they learn very fast, and it is actually fun. You just have to be there every 3-4 hours and do it. Also they should be kept warm. I like heating pads better than the warming lights they sell. A warm room is good too. Either way these little ones should be up on their feet in no time at all and you'll be weaning them to eat out of a bowl at about 4 and a half weeks. Baby rice cereal mixed with some egg and milk makes a good gruel at that age, but I also tend to start putting in some cooked chicken, (mix it all up in the blender). I wouldn't try those heavier formulas until they start standing though! For now stick to the esblac or goats milk with some strained (or blended) egg yoke. Good luck, once you get the hang of it you will find it is very rewarding. They are so cute when they stand and make the first little woof.

Answer 3

Go to a petstore and get some puppy milk replacer powder and a bottle. You will have to mix it according to the manufactures directions and feed them every 4 hours. You can also try putting a little dry puppy food in the formula, letting the puppy food swell, and then put it in a food processor or blender. It should be smooth and fairly runny, and the puppies may be able to eat it on their own, but it still is a little early so they need to be bottle fed too.

Answer 4

Contact your local animal shelter or humane society chances are the shelters are full but the may be able to put you in touch with foster people they know. If you decide to foster your self do everything you can do to get the puppies sterilized before going into new homes, the over population of pets gets worse every day there are not enough of homes for them all.

Answer 5

why are they orphaned??
you will need to bottle feed them at least 6 times a day,, at age 4-5 weeks they will start to eat puppy food, moistened with warm water.... these pups will need socializing, and lots of extra care.. You will have to go to vet and buy all the bottle feeding stuff,, htis is going to be very expensive.... or you could have them humanely put to sleep at the vets office

Answer 6

Take them to an animal rescue group immediately!!

It takes a lot of care to take care of these puppies. Unless you can feed them every 4 hours evan through the night. Ask for help!!

Go to: http://www.mypetnanny.info/pd/index.htm

Find an animal shelter/rescue group in your area and get immediate help!! FYI: Some animal shelters will put them to sleep if they are owner surrenders. Seek help first.

Answer 7

Bottle feed them every 2 hours you will need some help though hand rearing is very demanding.when you feed them you will need puppy formula, don't feed them laying on their back because they will choke,they must be laying on their tummy.Stimulate their little parts so they do their doo doos.

Answer 8

If you don't want to take them to a shelter do what I did. I bottle fed them carnation milk. If you don't have time try to find someone that does to take them.