Continued
Why do newborn puppies die?
According to USA textbook figures, thirty per cent of puppies die between birth and weaning. In Guyana the mortality rate is surely higher. Three-fourths of these die in the first two weeks of life. Many puppy deaths undoubtedly are due to lack of advance preparation, for example: providing adequate whelping quarters which should be clean and dry and draft free as well (see column of May 5, 2013). One input which could ensure that the pup does not have an early death is to vaccinate the prospective dam before she gets pregnant. This would result in the newborn puppies obtaining (via the mother’s milk) immunity against some of those diseases which could kill them early in their lives. Note, however, that you cannot vaccinate the bitch when she is pregnant; she will abort all the puppies. Finally, getting her on a sound feeding programme during pregnancy and lactation will work wonders for the well-being of the puppies.
Some deaths are attributable to birth trauma, congenital defects, maternal neglect, compromised milk supply, and infectious diseases.
In Guyana, where so much inbreeding (incest) is going on, congenital defects are a major cause of newborn deaths. And when the