Puppy cage safety: Is mesh bottom okay? What about stool and water?

Thanks for reaching out about your rat. Wire bars are a mild concern as their feet or legs can slip through, leading to sprain or even fractures. A solid bottom cage is preferred for rodents because of this. Good luck.

Hello and thanks for your question about Belle. I would start off by recommending an examination by Belle's vet to be sure she is healthy/her pregnancy is going well, and she also may need to have some deworming done. In terms of setting things up at home, we normally recommend setting up a comfortable private area for whelping the puppies. A cage may not be best since it may be hard for you to be able to see/access the puppies if needed when she is giving birth. I have seen many people use a small child's swimming pool lined with cozy blankets as this is waterproof (floor won't get dirty) is easily cleaned, and has a high enough edge the pups can't get away but low enough mom can get in and out. Putting it in a quiet area of your house is best. You can also construct an open box yourself. You can read more about pregnant dog care at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A

It seems she might need a small kennel. There should only be enough room for her to stand up and turn a complete circle. Any other room then they tend to soil in one area and lay in another so they do not get dirty. Puppies tend to get distracted easily and may find playing and exploring outside more important than going to the bathroom. I would start taking her out on leash and staying close by you reward her with treats as she goes in the correct place.

Hi Deja! It is common that puppies eat things outside such as branches and mulch, but it is strongly recommended to keep them from doing that. Branches can cause trauma to the GI tract, and some types of mulch can be toxic to dogs if they contain cocoa beans. Puppies may eat this stuff due to intestinal worms, which would also cause her to poop in her crate. I would make sure Daisy is up to date on her deworming treatments, giving her one if she is not. I recommend Panacur, which is a three day course of treatment. She will need another course of treatment two weeks after the first to kill all the worms, and then she should be dewormed every three months. Pick up any branches outside, and keep her away from the mulch to keep her from eating it.

Parvo causes extreme damage to the GI tract. It can take several weeks for it to repair and heal and start being able to absorb all the water needed to make firmer stools. As long as it isn't regressing into watery diarrhea, I wouldn't be concerned. Adding in probiotics may help recovery a little.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is actually an excellent and very smart question and brings up a good point. Dogs can bring soil, bacteria and parasites from the outside so cleaning his paws at least would be a great idea to prevent any harm to the baby. Have a good night!

Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! 1) I don't thin that dogs feel teething pain like human babies. All puppies like to chew fingers, our personal stuff and their toys. They grow out of this! When Leo tries to bite you, stop playing with him and provide an appropriate dog toy for him to chew on. I like Himalayan dog chews and appropriately sized Kongs. 2) Yes, changing the diet too quickly can cause loose stool and vomiting. I recommend going back to the original food until the stools are normal then SLOWLY transition him to the new food over 7-14 days. 3) Walking him on a leash or using a gentle leader to pull his face away from rocks and pebbles will help. Teaching him to "Leave It" is an invaluable command for them to know. They also grow out of this! I hope this helps! https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=gentle+leader&tag=googhydr-20&index=pets&hvadid=182070791188&hvpos=1t2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12322993743522935399&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007368&hvtargid=kwd-298742837690&ref=pd_sl_5f2lr8t4aw_e_p19 https://www.chewy.com/s/brand_facet:Himalayan%20Dog%20Chew?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImsmOm_aa1gIVXrnACh2RcAYzEAAYASAAEgJ-k_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds