How to Take Care of a Teacup Puppy | Raising Tiny Dogs
Are teacup puppies easy to take care of? The answer is not always. Raising a puppy that weighs less than two pounds requires special skills and dedication. So how do you take care of a teacup Yorkie, Chihuahua, Poodle, or any other teacup pup? Here are some tips for caring for teacup dogs.
Teacup Puppy Care
The less-than-two-pound puppy needs to get on food and stay on food. They wean later in life, often around eight weeks. Although their eating habits are similar to other puppies, tiny puppies have little body mass for backup. They need multiple meals a day, and missing a meal makes them prone to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is best prevented with high-calorie supplements given two or three times a day, along with soft food and granular or crushed vitamins. They should also have small kibble dry food available at all times.
Probiotics for Teacup Puppies
Puppies are born with a sterile gut, and during the first few days, the mother will seed the puppy with good bacteria (probiotics) while cleaning and caring for them. This helps them fight against invading bacteria. It's important to give probiotics to orphans or problem puppies in the first few days and whenever they have gastrointestinal upset. Probiotics are also helpful during weaning to prevent diarrhea.
Avoid Prophylactic Antibiotics
Stay away from prophylactic antibiotics as they interrupt the GI flora and good bacteria that puppies need. Use antibiotics only if absolutely necessary.
Extra Calories for Tiny Dogs and Kittens
Adding extra calories into the diet of a puppy isn’t always easy, especially when it is a small or "micro" breed. Here is a formula recipe that has proven successful:
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup high-calorie supplement
3 tablespoons coconut oil
Chicken baby food (Stage 2)
Baby rice cereal
Enough water to make it flow through a syringe or pump bottle (about 1 cup usually works well)
This formula with coconut oil is generally good for one week. Refrigerate half of it to extend its use, but be sure to warm it up when serving. If canned milk is used instead of water, it will have a shorter shelf life and won’t store well.
Feed 1 ml of this formula to tiny breeds and kittens, even on day one, to give them a boost and get them nursing aggressively. Many people who raise tiny dog breeds give this formula twice a day, first thing in the morning to boost energy and again last thing in the evening to prevent low calories while sleeping. This formula helps prevent hypoglycemia through the night.
This formula is also helpful for weaned puppies or puppies recovering that are a little thin. Adding extra B vitamins and iron can help increase their appetite and red blood cell production. Serve this mix to these puppies several times a day for improved appetite and weight gain.
Summary
Teacup puppies demand special care and attention to thrive. By providing the necessary nutrients and care, you can consistently raise healthy dogs and ensure they’ll provide someone with a new best friend!
For more detailed guidance on raising teacup puppies, visit K9reproduction.com.
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