What can I do to increase the survival rate of my Pom puppies?
– Pom puppies can be very fragile. There are a number of things you can do to help increase their survival odds: • Move the dam (Mother) to her intended whelping area at least 10 days before she is due. This allows her time to become comfortable with her surroundings. Additionally, in the event that you have miscalculated her due date or she whelps prematurely, she will be safely in her own area. • Before whelping, brush Mom gently but thoroughly to remove loose hair that the pups may get in their mouths causing choking or intestinal impaction. Shave her tummy a few days before she is due so that the pups can easily latch onto her teats. Trimming long hair is a good idea as well since pups can become tangled in long hair. • When the dam is within a few days of whelping, take her temperature morning and evening (rectally with a digital thermometer works best). Once her temperature drops below 99 degrees, you will know she is very close to whelping and can keep an especially close eye on
