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| Sunday, 18 December 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The right food for your puppies
As we promised last time, today we will discuss the correct methods of feeding puppies. Feeding puppies the correct way is important as the entire future, growth and happiness of puppies largely depend on their early years. There is one golden rule for feeding puppies. "Always feed puppies at regular hours, at the same place and in the same dish". Because, it is the best way to train your pets to have their meals at the same time, at the same place. When puppies are born, the very first milk given by their mother is called colostrum. This is yellowish in colour and has a bad smell. Therefore, most pet owners do not allow the puppies to have colostrum, as they think it's bad for the puppies. But, it is very important for the puppies to have this first milk of their mother, because it increases the immunity of puppies and is also high in proteins. This milk contains many antibodies which help puppies to fight against many illnesses during their early days. You must have noticed that some dogs refuse to feed their puppies. They will not allow the new-born puppies to get near them. There are some instances where the mother-dog has undergone a caesarean surgery, and is unable to feed the puppies due to the wound caused by surgery. Sometimes dogs will have a high acidic content in their milk and puppies will die if they drink such milk. Due to such reasons, innocent puppies will remain hungry without their mother's milk. But as responsible pet owners, it is our duty to make sure such pups get adequate food. If they are not fed their mother's milk, they should be given milk powder which is suitable for children. Such puppies should be fed every two hours. Another option is having a "foster mother" who can feed them. If puppies are fed the normal way, they should be given only their mother's milk, at least till they are three weeks old. After three weeks, they should be introduced to other food, while being fed with milk. By this time their milk teeth starts to appear, therefore, they can be given hard biscuits or bone marrow. This will also strengthen their jaw muscles. Although bones of pigs, cows and goats are suitable for puppies, never give them poultry, fish or rabbit bones. Never separate puppies from their mother until they reach five weeks. During this time, provide them a syrup that includes calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D. This will give your puppy strong paws and keep them healthy. This is vital for the development of their bones. Vitamin B and Iron should also be given to puppies to ensure a good blood circulation system. Lack of these vitamins could lead to skeletal abnormalities, particulary during the phase of rapid growth and development which takes place within 2-3 months of a puppy's life. After three weeks, add solid food such as cereal, chicken liver and small fish to your pet's meal.Since most puppies are only used to milk during this period, they will tend to refuse food. But it is vital to make them get used to solid food while having milk, before they reach five weeks, because most mother-dogs refuse to feed their puppies after five weeks. Once they reach six weeks, they should be refrained from community feeding because the strong ones will gobble down the food fast, leaving the others hungry. Therefore, around this time, they should be introduced to individual feeding. Till we meet next time with another interesting topic, happy holidays! Make sure you spend enough time with your pet. CNK ############# Protect your pets during the festive season You may have noticed how your pets react when fire crackers are lit around them. Dogs start barking loudly, whimpering and howling, while cats too mew in a wild and frantic manner. Some pets hide themselves and wouldn't come out for hours. If your pets are so scared of these crackers, do you think it's nice of you to subject them to such experiences? When you enjoy yourself during the festive season, lighting crackers and sparklers, remember to ensure the safety and peace of mind of your pet. * Always make sure that they are safely indoors or at some safe place, out of the way of exploding crackers. * Crackers and even sparklers could cause burns and injuries, so ensure that your pets are safely out of the way. * The sound of crackers could scare your pets, forcing them out into the road. This will be even more dangerous as your neighbours may also be throwing crackers on the street; your frightened pet may even run into the path of oncoming vehicles. So ensure that your gates are closed. * Never throw crackers on the road. There may be animals and even people on the roads. * After the festivities, before you go to sleep, check whether your pets are still inside the premises. Don't leave them outside as they may meet with accidents. One other thing you must keep in mind is not to feed your pets with your festive sweetmeats. You may like such food and your pet may enjoy them too, but remember, such foods, especially those oily and sweet food items are not good for the health of your pet. So while you are busy enjoying the holidays, don't forget to take good care of your darling pets. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
A very big hello to all our pet lovers out there! We hope you are
feeding your pets the correct way after the instructions given by Dr. D.
A. U. Samankumara B.V.Sc of Kirindiwela Animal Clinic. 
