General Care

Fostering a pregnant mom or a nursing mom can be daunting... but it is one of the most amazing things a foster parent can do! Remember: most of the time, mom will do ALL the work. Your role is to provide a clean, safe space and support mom as she raises her babies. 

Preparing the space

The optimal place for a mom and babies is one with limited activity, limited sound, and easy to clean. 

Mom should have an unlimited supply of fresh food, water, and a clean nesting / welping area (kiddie pools work GREAT for puppies, and a dog crate with an open gate is great for kittens).

What to watch out for

Maternal Aggression

This can occur when Mom is trying to protect her babies. It is common to see a Mom agress toward humans or other animals. Be wary of trying to introduce a nursing mom to your household pets. Reach out to foster@bwar.org if you suspect Mom is experiencing some maternal aggression. 

Maternal Neglect

Monitor how Mom treats her neonates. If she avoids grooming or cleaning her puppies, feeding her puppies, or ignores their cries, call our emergency medical line at (828) 820-2115. You will have to be ready to bottle-feed the babies. View our page on Bottle Babies here. 

Timeline

Medical timeline

Dogs and cats both typically gestate for around 63 days. Depending on how far along they are when they get to you, they could give birth as soon as they enter your home or a few days afterward. 

We begin vaccine protocol on mom as soon as she enters our care. Our vaccine timeline for mom will depend on any known medical history, and will be communicated with you at pickup. 

Puppies and kittens both receive dewormer at 2 weeks of age. Puppies and kittens begin their vaccine schedules at 4 weeks of age.

Weaning

Weaning will start occur around 4 weeks of age for both puppies and kittens. Their teeth start to come in and they'll be able to eat soft food. You can begin to offer them "gruel" by mixing formula (KMR or PMR) with warmed canned food and water. If they are not interested, try again the following day. Once they have accepted it, begin to transition the gruel, making it more and more solid each day. At 5-6 weeks of age, offer dry food on a "free feeding" basis (making sure dry food is available 24/7).

Ideally, they will stay with their mother until mom begins to distance herself from the puppies. This happens around 6 weeks of age.