Eyes Open, Adventures Begin!
It's hard to believe our "Traveler's Litter" is already two weeks old! The past week has been full of exciting milestones—and, as we've quickly discovered, a few of these little adventurers are already living up to their soon to be registered names.
Mr. Rocky Road (brown collar) and Mr. Pistachio (green collar) have decided that life inside the whelping box simply isn't adventurous enough! Taking advantage of the moments when Tulip was resting against the entrance, both boys managed to climb over Mom in search of what lay beyond their tiny world. Thankfully, their loud protests quickly alerted us, and we came running to rescue our little explorers and reunite them with their siblings. It seems their adventurous spirits are already beginning to shine!
This week also marked one of the biggest developmental milestones, the puppies have officially opened their eyes! Although their vision is still somewhat blurry, they're beginning to take in the world around them for the very first time. Over the coming days, another exciting change will occur as their ear canals open, allowing them to hear the sounds of their environment and, of course, our voices.
Since birth, we've maintained the whelping area at approximately 73°F (22°C). During their first two weeks of life, newborn puppies are unable to regulate their own body temperature, so we use a heat lamp whenever Tulip steps out of the whelping box. Keeping them warm is essential. If puppies become chilled, their heart rate, breathing, and digestive system slow dramatically, making it difficult for them to nurse and properly digest their mother's milk.
The good news is that these little ones are thriving! Each puppy now weighs approximately 3 pounds, and they'll soon enter one of the fastest growth periods of their young lives.
Next weekend marks another exciting milestone. At three weeks of age, the puppies will graduate from our bedroom nursery to their larger puppy area in the living room. There they'll enjoy more space to explore, begin eating their very first solid meals, and start interacting even more with their surroundings. It's an exciting stage.
Every day brings something new, and it's amazing to watch these tiny puppies transform before our eyes.
Stay tuned… the adventure is just beginning!
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