You can try to pick up one of the puppies to see how the mother responds. However, if the mother acts aggressively or defensively, leave the puppies and try again later.
You can find these in most supercenters or online.
You can use different colors to help tell them apart. [4] X Research source Take care when identifying them using colored ribbons or collars as these can easily get caught and the puppy may be strangulated.
Small breeds will generally weigh between 75 to 350 grams. Medium breeds range from 200 to 300 grams. Large breeds usually range from 400 to 850 grams.
Make sure if you weigh the puppy in a bucket or with a blanket, you subtract the weight of the extra material. Try using the same material each time you weigh the puppy to help with accurate readings.
The litter should progress at relatively the same pace. Their weights should be very similar each day.
You should weigh the puppies once a day for the first two weeks. After that, weigh them once a week.
Most puppies lose weight during the first day, and then start gaining it each day. Each breed is different with the way they will gain weight. Check each puppy’s weight against the other puppies in the litter and their daily weights.
The teats between the hind legs generally have the most milk. Help the puppies nurse from those. You may want to watch the puppies to make sure larger puppies don’t push smaller ones away from the nipples.
If you have tried to get a smaller puppy to nurse properly but their weight is not going up, you should call the vet. Malnourishment in a puppy may point to a problem in the mother dog, like mastitis.
The vet can take this opportunity to give them any shots or medications that they need.
