23 degrees!! What to do for kittens/puppies?

Last night I was outside late feeding cats and checking on their shelters around 11-12pm. I couldnt find Felix, so I went to look for him. I walked by my uncle's dog's house and she didnt come out. Shelby always comes out...it was cold and I was worried. I looked inside expecting to see a frozen boxer...when instead I saw puppies!!! Ended up counting 7 altogether. I cant believe this!! I think he knew and lied to me. Last night he was teaching me how to put my new alternator on my truck when we heard some squealing noises. I said: "what the heck was that?" He said: (we live in country) "It must've been a pig." I said: "Why would it be a pig??" He said nothing and we finished the alternator. I saw her get mated with, and scared him off and told Danny about it, but this dog belongs to a friend of Danny's and he is keeping her a while. I told him friend's dog or not she needed to be fixed...now look!!! I took newspaper and covered half the opening cause the wind was blowing in and doing that I noticed one puppy off alone and smaller than the others. I picked it up and it was cold...I tried to warm it up and wrapped it in towels. Once warm I returned it to her and it was crying and acting like it was gonna nurse so I went inside. This morning I went out to check on it and the others..and sadly it didnt make it. I noticed she was real protective of it and licking it...atleast she seems like she'll be a good mother. Grandma said that one was a runt and that that stuff happens. It's still sad though. *prayers for the little boy puppy*.
I know Danny's going to be irresponsible with her. He works alot though. Grandma said this is his fault and to leave them alone and let him deal with it. I dont care! I'm not gonna let Shelby or those poor puppies die or freeze to death this winter. I noticed this morning that Danny had put another blanket in there...he didnt think about what he was doing because when I went out there shelby had moved it around and 2 puppies were hung-up inside it and she was pawing at the blanket trying to get to them. I removed the blanket and I'm gonna have to talk to him tonight. I wanna know why the heck he chose to not tell us and lie about the noises lastnight!!! I know he had to have known about them! I'll let you know what he says.
***Is raising and caring for puppies the same as with kittens? I've never took care of puppies before...I'm gonna need your guy's help***

It's susposed to be 23 degrees tonight and definately freezing. What can I do for my cats/kittens(2 1/2 weeks),puppies(couple of days)?
* Sick kitten:I've got thick plastic around the sides of the sick one's enclosure with a tarp and 2 houses with newspaper.
* Cats:Cave like tarp creation on the deck very thick with my truck seat cover to lay on and sheet of cardboard underneath.
* Kittens/mother:Same as sick cat except lots of cardboard around the sides. In the house is lots of shredded newspaper,old towels, and the front is covered with several layers of newspaper, except where she can get out.
*Puppies: Mother is a boxer so she's big...there's 3 layers of carpet inside her house, and newspaper covering the front except for her to get out.
*What more can I do....I'm afraid they will freeze.
*What about their water? Can they live without water when it freezes tonight untill I get up in the morning?

Bring them in the house?

If it is going to be that cold all the animals should be inside, especially the sick one. Cardboard is not a great insulation factor against the cold, nor is plastic because it constricts with the cold outside. At best you want the animals up off the freezing ground, in an enclosed area like a pet carrier or covered litter box that has been heavily insulated both inside and out, and covered around the outside with a heavy tarp. Straw makes for the best insulation because as the animal lies on it it bunches around them and retains body heat.

Originally posted by Coco Maui
Bring them in the house?

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Oh how I wish!!!

Originally posted by hissy
If it is going to be that cold all the animals should be inside, especially the sick one. Cardboard is not a great insulation factor against the cold, nor is plastic because it constricts with the cold outside. At best you want the animals up off the freezing ground, in an enclosed area like a pet carrier or covered litter box that has been heavily insulated both inside and out, and covered around the outside with a heavy tarp. Straw makes for the best insulation because as the animal lies on it it bunches around them and retains body heat.

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There's no way to bring them inside...
All the animal's houses have thick plastic around them and a tarp.
There is cardboard under the houses that are on the ground to kinda insulate them and get them where they arent directly on the ground.
Inside lots of newspaper and cloths. I didnt worry like this last year and they all made it...but last year I didnt have this many and they were all adults. I'm just worried...

This isn't going to help tonight, but it's not going to get any warmer until spring, so you might want to consider this.

Drs Foster and Smith sell a heating unit that looks like a frisbee. You microwave it for a few minutes and it gives off heat for 12 hours. There are no plugs or cords to worry about. I know you don't like ordering stuff online, but they can send you a catalog and you can order from that. Also, you might find something similar in a local pet store.

Here is a link to it: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...18&N=2002+2008

I saw the disc at petsmart too, I was going to get it for Roxy but just ended up tossing him inside.. still might get it though because the garage isn't exactly warm, just not bitter cold.

walmart probably sells those heating thingys that you boil then "crack" to let off heat. I have a few of them that I use when I ski. I also used it for Sasha when he was a kitten. I put it under many layers of blankets and it warmed his area nicely. You could maybe go get a few of those tonight.

I didnt know about those!!That's such a greeeaaaaat Idea! Do you know what section the walmart things would be in? Also if they touch them will they get burned?

Oh, wow, Amber! I'd be mad too, seeing someone be so irresponsible with any animal! In a lot of ways, puppies are similar to kittens, especially when they're babies. When they're a little older, they have to be house-trained, etc., which the mother dog doesn't do, unlike with kitties. (Luna has never had an accident since the day I brought her home, but puppies take awhile to learn this part of living-in-a-house etiquette.) Mostly, keep them warm, and make sure Shelby has plenty food and water and is taking care of them. That's all I can think of, but I'm not an expert.

Originally posted by AuroraViva
Oh, wow, Amber! I'd be mad too, seeing someone be so irresponsible with any animal!

In a lot of ways, puppies are similar to kittens, especially when they're babies. When they're a little older, they have to be house-trained, etc., which the mother dog doesn't do, unlike with kitties. (Luna has never had an accident since the day I brought her home, but puppies take awhile to learn this part of living-in-a-house etiquette.)

Mostly, keep them warm, and make sure Shelby has plenty food and water and is taking care of them. That's all I can think of, but I'm not an expert.

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I had several lengthy sentances to say to him about what I thought! He claimed that he just found them too lastnight. Grrr he still didnt tell me.
Ok good! Atleast I dont have to do anything different. That alone will make raising them alittle easier. I did forget about potty training...I guess since they are all outside and I'm gonna start giving them away when they are weaned it wont matter??? Cause I dont know how to potty train.

Yes they will burn if they touch them so you have to put them inside a paper bag then under a blanket to protect them. They are reusable too!! They are about $7-$10 each I think.

I got mine in the sports section. If you can't find them at Walmart you can try a ski shop or a sporting goods shop like Sports Authority.

Amber I went ahead and merged your two threads together as they both are about the same thing, safeguarding these animals. If you have a fireplace, large rocks and you are very careful, you can make warming rocks, wrap them securely in towels or rags and use those as a source of heat, but you have to be sure and not leave the rocks in the fire to long, and not burn yourself or start a fire when you wrap them up. So unless you know what you are doing, it could go bad on you, especially since you are using a lot of cardboard for these animals.

I forgot to tell you all that sofar everyone is ok. I found a ton of old washclothes and towels that I washed and took to both enclosures and to the 'cat cave' on the deck. Since they made it that night, hopefully I can stop being so scared all winter. I'm gonna check into those heating disks. Tortoises kittens are 3 weeks today(sun. 11-15) and hopefully their mother and them will be able to be given away before the weather stays cold.

As for the puppies...I dont know why, but Shelby keeps killing them. There are now 3 instead of 7.....why?? She doesnt seem like she is being mean because everytime I try to take one to bury it she trys to get it back and if I lay it down to put the tarp back on her house she runs out and grabs it, returns it the the house and begins to lick it. She acts like she doesnt want them dead, yet I've seen her literally do the killing. I cant describe cause it's too graphic. They're only a week old...how long until she lets them live and I dont have to dread checking on them???

Maybe you should take them when she is not around or when she seems no longer interested in the dead puppies. I also have no idea why she may be killing them, probably her instincts are telling her the pups are too weak to survive!
I think you better continue trying to convince Danny to spay Shelby. Look at what has been happening to the puppies!

Originally posted by yayi
Maybe you should take them when she is not around or when she seems no longer interested in the dead puppies. I also have no idea why she may be killing them, probably her instincts are telling her the pups are too weak to survive!

I think you better continue trying to convince Danny to spay Shelby. Look at what has been happening to the puppies!

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It is winter and cold...so maybe that's y...it's just so depressing to go outside several days in a row and bury a puppy. *sigh*
As for spaying...this dog belongs to a friend of Danny's. He cant just fix her without Mike's permision. Honestly if it was me I'd fix the dog anyway and tell Mike that it was costing enough for dog food and that he wasnt watching her for him so she could get preg. The irony though...Danny was gonna try to get ahold of Mike's mother soon (he's in jail alot and doesnt need a dog...alchoholic)And see if she would take her or find a home. Danny was only susoposed to have to watch her a few months..it's been a year and now she's been pregnate. I think it's time for Danny to forget about Mike. I would.

By law in most states the dog is considered your brother property since possesion is 9/10th of the law. He is now considered the rightful owner of shelby. as for Mom killing the puppies chances are she is diong it to increase the rate of surivial for the others. she and allthe puppies are cold, she's doesn't have enough body warmth to care for all of them so she is doing what she thinks is best. And even though she knows she is doing it she still has the mother instinct to save her babies dead or alive. I suggest you be mighty careful when getting one of the dead babies from her. She just might get a little to angry and snap at you if not totally bite you. I suggest that you find someone who would be willing to take just the puppies and care for them. At least save the ones that are left! you living in the country I am sure there is someone in your area that loves and cares for dogs. you just need to do some asking around. Then I suggest you let your brother know that by law he is considered the owner of shelby and that he has the right to spay her and is totally resposiable for her well being.

Originally posted by Mom of 10 Cats
Drs Foster and Smith sell a heating unit that looks like a frisbee. You microwave it for a few minutes and it gives off heat for 12 hours. There are no plugs or cords to worry about. I know you don't like ordering stuff online, but they can send you a catalog and you can order from that. Also, you might find something similar in a local pet store.

Here is a link to it: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...18&N=2002+2008

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Thanks for the link. I just ordered one. I hope my ferals like it!

Amber,
It's possible but unlikely that Amber is killing the puppies. They may be dying from the cold, or she may not be able to nurse them well enough. Most puppies that die will have teeth marks from the mom's desparate attempt to revive them, not from an attack.

On the first night you mentioned that the one pup was separate from the others. There may have already been something wrong with it, or mom may have already determined she couldn't support it. It's still very sad. Our New Guinea Singing Dogs recently had puppies (these are very endangered wild dogs in the dingo group. There are less than 100 left in the world so every one is extremely precious.) One male died shortly after he was born. The other four are now 7 weeks old and doing well.

Make sure mom has plenty of fresh water, and is fed at least two times a day (three or four would be better.) Her food should include extra fat (read: canned food!) and puppy food would be best for her. You can increase her intake by mixing a can (or one and a half) with some dry food and adding hot water to make it about the consistency of stew. Ensuring mom is healthy will increase the chances for the pups. If you sit with mom and hold the pups while she eats it will reassure her and help her to eat better. I can't emphasize enough how important mom's health matters (both physical and mental.)

Above all, if possible don't separate the pups from mom. Their chance of survival goes down quite a bit if they're separated. I've hand raised a number of underage pups and I can tell you it's a LOT of work, and the survival rate is better with mom even with an experienced person taking care of the pups.

By law in most states the dog is considered your brother property

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This is absolutely NOT true. Your brother is caring for someone else's dog so he's already indicated he knows he has a caretaker rather than a owner status. This is no different than boarding an animal and your brother does not have owner's rights over this animal. This is true in every state in the US.

Keep us up to date.

George