Orphan rearing of puppies and kittens

The following are some of the key elements to successful rearing of the orphaned puppies and kittens: Do not overfeed, especially during the first several days, to allow for adaptation to the milk replacer. Use a milk replacer with a composition similar to the natural milk. Cleanliness during feeding is essential. Weigh the animals periodically to monitor performance and establish feeding levels. Maintain a warm, draft-free environment with adequate humidity. Keep the animals clean and aid their bowel movements and urination if necessary. Feeding frequency should allow for stomach emptying before feeding. Control diarrhea as soon as possible by the suggested methods. If it becomes necessary to re-establish desirable bacterial populations in the gastrointestinal tract, a suitable live culture such as Bene-Bac may be used. Other supportive therapy may be necessary. Make all formula or ration changes slowly. Start the animals on some solid food as soon as possible and certainly by age 3 to 5 weeks, depending on the species. These 10 guidelines will allow for successful rearing of orphaned puppies and kittens. To follow them requires patience and attention to detail. The goal is the preservation of life and a sound program of nutrition and management throughout the nursing period.