Caring for new born puppiesNew born puppies are totally dependent on their mom, and if she is unable (or unwilling) to take care of them, you will need to 'step into the breach'!
Taking care of newborn puppies is time consuming, and it can be worrying, frustrating and tiring. You need to keep them warm, set up a regular feeding schedule, help them to eliminate and keep both the pups and their environment clean. The good news is that if you do it all right, you can help these very vulnerable little creatures a head-start on life. If you've suddenly found yourself in the position of caring for, and feeding, newborn puppiesfoot and have no idea what to do, or where to start - relax, here are some tips and advice that will get you started off on the right - Environment
New born puppies can't regulate their own body temperature, so you need to keep them nice and warm. A cardboard box, lined with paper towels or newspaper, makes a good 'nest', and can be replaced easily enough when soiled. Put the box in a draft free area in a room whose temperature is kept between 90 and 95F for the first week. You can lower it to the mid 80's during the second week and then reduce slowly until it is around 70 - 75F by the end of the first month. A whole litter of new born puppies stay warmer more easily as they tend to sleep together in a puppy pile, benefiting from each others body heat. A single pup needs more help. A heat pad/hot water bottle well-wrapped in towels, or a 25 watt lightbulb in a desk lamp, are quite effective. However, be sure to keep the heated pad/bottle or heat lamp at one end of the box only. That way the puppies can crawl away from the heat if they get too warm. Being unable to regulate their own temperatures, means that they can easily get too hot as well as too cold, and both conditions can be dangerous to their health. If necessary, you can take the puppies temperatures rectally. A brand new pup should have a temp of between 94F and 98F. It will rise slowly over the next few weeks, reaching approx 97F - 100F by the second week, and leveling out at between 100F and 102F by the time the puppy is one month old.
Bottle Feeding Newborn PuppiesWhen it comes to bottle feeding newborn puppies, it's important to use a high quality, commercially prepared puppy milk replacement.These are specifically formulated to meet the unique nutritional requirements of new born puppies and can usually be bought at your veterinarians office or from large pet stores. If your dog is pregnant, I would recommend getting some in advance, so it's handy if you should need it.
Tube Feeding Newborn PuppiesNewborn puppies who are very weak, or who have difficulty sucking, may need to be tube fed. However, you will need to be shown how to do this by a veterinarian as it can be tricky.Tube fed puppies lack the 'mothering' and social aspects of being bottle fed, and so tube feeding newborn puppies shouldn't be the first solution followed when hand-raising a litter. Rather, a method considered in times of necessity.
Puppy weight estimatesAlthough you can usually tell if new born puppies are gaining weight just be their appearance, it's always nice to know that they are 'on track'.There's a huge variation in size and weight between a tiny/toy breed pup and a large/giant breed pup. Their puppy growth rate is also different and there is no 'one-size-fits-all' method of calculating puppy weight estimates. However, there are some general 'rules' about the amount of weight a newborn puppy should gain, and the rate of his development. You can find lots of information on how to decide if your puppy is within the 'normal' range when it comes to growth and weight gain, and even get an idea of just how big he will get, on my Puppy Weight Estimates and Puppy Weight Chart pages.
EliminationNew born puppies can't pee or poop without help! Their mom would normally stimulate the muscles required to control these functions, by licking her pups' anal areas.If you're hand raising puppies, you will need to mimic this behavior by gently rubbing the same area with a damp cotton ball or soft, damp cloth after every feed. Most puppies develop the ability to perform these bodily functions independently between 2 and 3 weeks of age. When bottle feeding new born puppies, look for stools that are brown in color (anywhere from pale to dark shades) and semi-formed. If the stools seem very hard or dry, or are difficult to pass, feed more often and, if necessary, dilute the formula a bit more than normal. If your new born puppies are passing stools that are green/yellow, or show signs of blood, infection is a possibility and you need to contact your veterinarian for advice.
Final Thoughts...............
If you find that you have new born puppies to take care of by yourself, don't panic! Many, many breeders and dog lovers have successfully hand raised puppies, and you can do it too. Use the above information as a general guideline to what's required of you, but always WORK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN, and follow his/her instructions, advice and recommendations at all times. It's always better to be safe than sorry when dealing with such tiny, delicate creatures as new born puppies. So, if you're in doubt or concerned about anything during this time, talk to your vet. Once your puppies are weaned and getting ready to go to their new homes, be sure to get them treated for worms (pretty much all puppies have worms to begin with!), and start on their scheduled vaccinations. It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of the most common dog illnesses so that you can protect your precious pups. But do remember, I don't intend to, neither am I able to, replace your veterinarian in terms of health care advice, diagnosis or treatment! Puppy Weight Estimates
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