top of page

SNUGGLE PET RESCUE
Special Needs Under Gentle Guided Love Everyday
ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION
Rescuing orphaned and special needs kittens and puppies who require foster care due to illness or injuries.
Resources
Triage and General Care Resources for Newborn Kitten and Puppy Care




Emergency Triage
After caring for sick, injured and abandoned newborn kittens and puppies since 2004, SNUGGLE Pet Rescue, has learned a lot. Some things were learned by accident and there were the things we learned from our mistakes. As they say, "Practice makes perfect," and we sure have had plenty of that. Often, we are asked to provide lifesaving information when other individuals or organizations are dealing with an unusual or difficult situation involving a kitten, puppy or even an entire litter. We are always happy to share the knowledge we have gained, especially when it leads to an animal surviving.
Our soon to be launched On-line Resource Library is being created in order to make it easier to provide critical information 24/7, since too many emergencies seem to happen in the middle of the night. If we end up taking a newborn kitten or puppy, the information provides specific instructions on what to do until you can get the animal(s) to us.
SNUGGLE Pet Rescue is committed to giving every animal a chance and we have gone to great lengths to save many who no one else would take. This is made possible because of the support of generous donors. This information will be our way of paying it forward. If we can be a part of helping to save a life, then we are fulfilling our mission.
PLEASE NOTE! Information below is being updated. Tabs do not work at this time. Check back soon.
Bites
Eye Injuries
Broken Bones
Lost Limbs
Burns
Punctures
Cuts
Other Injuries
PLEASE NOTE! This information is intended to help stabilize an animal until you can safely get them to a veterinarian.
Getting Help for Common Injuries to Kittens and Puppies
Chemical
Disasters
Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
PLEASE NOTE! This information is intended to help stabilize an animal until you can safely get them to a veterinarian.
Getting Help for Environmental Threats to Kittens and Puppies


General Care
_edited_edited.jpg)

PLEASE NOTE! Information below is being updated. Tabs do not work at this time. Check back soon.
General Care for Newborn Kittens and Puppies
Behavior
Environment
Feeding
Injury Care
Medications
Neonates
Stimulating
Supplements
Toys
Veterinary Care
Weaning
Other Resources
Determining the Age of a Kitten and Puppy
Most people, when asked the age of a young kitten or puppy, often tell us they do not know. That is one of the first things SNUGGLE Pet Rescue will determine with each new arrival. The information below will help you look for certain characteristic and behaviors to figure out a kitten and puppy's age. These are just guidelines since all babies, including people, develop at slightly different speeds.

NeoNates
-
Totally helpless
-
Depends on mother for food
-
Mother eliminates waste
-
Cannot stand
-
Eyes and ears are closed
-
Cannot hear or smell
-
Cannot maintain body heat
-
Weighs equal to 5 to 8 Oreo Cookies
-
Umbilical cord is still attached
3 Days Old

-
Starting to hold head up
-
Depends on mother for food
-
Mother eliminates waste
-
Cannot stand
-
Eyes are closed
-
Ears are still closed
-
Still can't hear
-
Sense of smell developing more
-
Umbilical cord may be attached
1 Week Old

-
Starts to move some on their own
-
Mother still nursing
-
Mother eliminates waste
-
Eyes are starting to open
-
More aware of surroundings
-
Ears are starting to unfold
-
​Should gain 2 ounces per week​

-
Venturing further from mom
-
Starts to interact with litter mates
-
Will hiss at smells
-
Depends on mother for food
-
Mother eliminates waste
-
Ears are up
-
Eyes are open
2 Weeks Old

3 Weeks Old
-
Completely mobile
-
Brain and feet aren't synched
-
Starting to play more
-
Offer safe toys to play with
-
Their flat teeth are coming in
-
Can start adding rice cereal to formula
-
Mother still eliminating waste
-
Can likely confirm if boy or girl

Puppies
-
Neonatal Stage (Birth to 2 Weeks): Completely dependent on mother for food and waste elimination​
-
Transitional Stage (2 to 4 Weeks): Start opening their eyes, developing senses, cutting teeth
-
Socialization Stage (4 to 12 Weeks): Becoming more interactive

One pretty reliable way to determine the age of a kitten or puppy is to look at their eye color. They are all born with blue eyes, but their eye color starts to change at 5 weeks.

85% of the animals we care for are kittens and 15% puppies. This is determined by the requests for help we receive.
"You can't change an animal's past, but you can change its future."
Anonymous

SNUGGLE Pet Rescue Graduates
bottom of page