luvmypitbull wrote:
Katie - WOW & WOW again !! Thanks bunches for your input !! I have a couple of questions:
1) what is colostrum powder & where do you get it? The recipe I found did not call for it.
2) the pup will live in the house so with the A/C on, how do I know where to maintain the temp?
3) I had already read about the need to stimulate to use the bathroom. How long will I have to do that?
4) 9 or 10????? How did you get so lucky ???
5) I may (or should I say WILL) have other questions as I go !!http://www.pitbulltalk.com/posting.php?mode=quote&f=7&p=382146!!!!!
I am so glad to help...
They say puppies only need the colostrum powder for the first few days if they can't feed off of mom...but I used it the whole time my puppies were bottle feeding, and even used it as I started to wean them...
You can get it right from
amazon.
I definitely wouldn't put her near a vent...but since she is probably mobile by now, she can move away from the heat source if she wants...but that's why you need to give her an area that isn't heated...usually by 2 weeks of age you can worry LESS about their body temperature because they are more mobile...
You may notice that she is going to the bathroom a bit on her own now, but I use the general rule of about 4 weeks of age to stop assisting with that...
Oh, and I forgot to tell you that dry dog shampoo and baby wipes (you can get regular baby wipes) are a must for handraising. In replacement of a cotton ball in warm water, you can use baby wipes that you warm up for about 10 seconds in a microwave...you want them to be warm, not hot...
The wipes (and dry shampoo) will also help as she does start to go to the bathroom on her own and starts laying in it or walking in it!
One thing to consider is do you have an older dog that would be okay with her? I'm asking because handraising single puppies is a lot riskier than raising a litter. Raising 8 or 9 puppies is harder...but not as risky. The problem with a single puppy is that they never have to fight for food nor do they learn doggie manners from other puppies in the litter...I've handraised a single puppy, and one problem with it is that it was INCREDIBLY food aggressive towards us...and very awkward with other dogs...so, the more you can have him around other dogs his age or older (but okay with puppies) the better...
And, yes, I had to raise an entire litter. I was lucky that Kendell (from this board) took half the litter and raised them for me...but that left me with 5...and if you want to read about the ordeal, it's all right here:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=30188