Unweaned Animals
Bottle Babies
Bottle Babies are Unweaned Animals with no mom in care. This means that SACC relies on foster families to provide for this extraordinarily vulnerable population.
Bottle Babies have a high amount of needs that may include but are not limited to the following:
Aid with thermoregulation
Round the clock bottle feeding
Assistance using the bathroom through stimulation
Frequent weigh-ins
Bi-Weekly shelter visits
Having the best and most up to date resources for fostering neonates is critical to success.
All formula for puppies and kittens should be appropriate for species and recommended by the shelter. Cow's milk should never be used as a substitute for formula. Water used to mix formula for babies should always be warmed appropriately.
NEVER ALTER A FOSTER PET'S DIET (BY CHANGING FOOD OR ADDING ITEMS THAT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED) WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE SHELTER STAFF.
One of the cornerstones of good rearing in neonates is tracking weight gain and keeping an eye out for any weight loss. We recommend weighing kittens until they are around 3 weeks old once daily in the morning before the first AM feeding.
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This allows us to be aware of small changes that could indicate underlying problems. Always report weight loss to the Foster Coordinator as soon as you notice.
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Pay attention that the weight (for kittens) and for puppies is based on the "gram" scale as are most medications for neonates. When weighing kittens, a digital produce scale is fantastic for providing gram weights. This ensures you are feeing the appropriate amount. We generally stop weighing in grams when kittens reach one pound.
In the shelter kittens and puppies will generally begin weaning around 4 weeks.
REMEMBER...
How Much Food is Eaten?
Per Meal
How Frequent is Bathroom Use Daily
Per Day
How Much Weight Gained?
Per Day