Caring for new born puppies

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 get a head-start on life... it might not be easy, but it's hugely rewarding.

If you've suddenly found yourself in the position of caring for, and feeding, newborn puppies 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 foot...

Quick Links:

• Environment


• Bottle Feeding


• Tube Feeding


• Puppy Weight Estimates


• Elimination


• Reading material.. whelping, breeding and raising puppies

There are all sorts of reasons why you may find yourself taking care of new born puppies.. the momma dog died or is sick, you have a sickly puppy who is being rejected by it's mom or 'downtrodden' by it's siblings, or a pup with a defect such as a cleft-palate who needs special care (and most likely tube feeding).

Whatever the reason, you should find the help and information you need right here. In addition to following the tips and advice on this page, don't forget to keep in close contact with your veterinarian as he/she will be a very valuable source of help and advice too.

Environment

A cardboard box, lined with paper towels or puppy pee pads, makes a good 'nest'. Both these absorbent materials have a bit of texture which makes it easier for the puppies to move around.

Newspaper is okay if you have nothing else handy, but not the best choice. Replace the bedding frequently to keep the nest clean and dry.

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.

It's a bit of a juggling act, trying to keep such tiny puppies at the right temperature! Too cold and they'll start to 'fade', then organ failure can set in followed by death. Too warm and they can get dehydrated and/or constipated. Too hot and they can overheat and die.

If you have a single puppy to raise it's even more difficult to keep him at the right temperature. Sometimes carrying him around next to your skin is the best option in the early days. Obviously this is time consuming, and awkward at times, but it can make a big difference to a pup.

Always monitor the puppies very carefully and check on them often to make sure that they're not too cold or too hot.

If necessary, you can take the puppies temperatures rectally. A newborn puppy's temp. will usually be around 94F, and this will change slowly over the next few weeks (by the second week it will likely be somewhere between 97F - 100F, eventually leveling out at between 100F and 102F by the time the puppy is one month old.

Bottle Feeding New Born Puppies

Commercial puppy formulas that are carefully prepared to do just that can usually be bought at your veterinarians office or from large pet stores.

If your dog is pregnant, I would recommend getting some puppy mild in advance, so it's handy if you should need it.

Feeding new born puppies is very similar to feeding new born human babies in that they need to nurse frequently! Every two hours during the day and probably once or twice during the night in the very beginning.

This adorable video shows a tiny French Bulldog being bottle fed...

• Obviously his mommas milk is the best food for a new born puppy. If at all possible, try to encourage the mom to allow the pups to nurse for at least the first 24 hours, as this is when they can receive the benefits of the colostrum (powerful anti-bodies and infection fighting pre-milk). Obviously this isn't always possible, but makes a big difference to the puppies.


• Depending on the size of the breed your pups belong to, you can feed them using a small syringe (3ml), special bottles designed for puppies or kittens, or baby bottles. The baby-bottle nipples that are specially designed for premature babies often work well.


• If there are no holes in the nipple, use a needle (held over a flame to heat and sterilize) to pierce two holes. The milk should drip out SLOWLY when the bottle is held upside down. If it runs out the pup could choke or aspirate (breath in) the milk.


• Puppy milk replacement formula comes in powder form, or ready-made in cartons. The ready-made is easier to use, but quite a bit more expensive. If you're using the powdered version, be sure to mix it well as you don't want any lumps in it. Cool formula to room temperature before feeding it to a puppy. You can test it on the inside of your wrist to make sure it's not too hot or too cold, it should feel barely warm.


• Always feed a puppy face down on your lap or a table top, never hold it on it's back or upright, as this could cause it to choke or breath in the milk. This can lead to pneumonia and possible death.


• Newborn puppies who are being bottle fed usually do well on 6 feedings per day. They should be able to go from 11pm until 6am as long as they are receiving 6 feeds in 24 hours. Smaller puppies may still need to be fed in the night for the first week or so. By the time the puppies are 3 weeks old, 4 feeds a day is enough, and weaning can begin at around 4 weeks of age.

  Puppies who are under a month old need approx. 3.5 - 3.75 calories per ounce of body weight, every 24 hours. So, for example, a 6oz puppy would need approx 22.5 calories per day. Most puppy milk replacers have about 1 calorie per ml, so that 22.5ml of formula can be divided between the 6 feeds. This pup would then need approx. 3.75ml of milk per feed.

  Of course, this is a rough estimate, some puppies need more, some less. As a general 'rule of thumb', it's better to feed smaller feeds more often, than larger amounts less frequently.



• It's also recommended that you 'burp' new born puppies, half-way through each feeding. Do this the way you would with a human baby - by holding the pup up against your shoulder and gently rubbing or patting its' back.


• If a puppy is getting enough to eat and is warm and comfortable, it will look plump, feel warm and sleep most of the time between feeds. If a puppy is crying a lot, is always wriggling and squirming, or feels cool/cold and seems lethargic, you have a problem. In these instances, you should consult your veterinarian right away.


• To help puppies who are having difficulty feeding, or aren't getting enough nutrition, you can use a vitamin and nutrient-rich paste called Nutrical. I've used it myself for puppies who aren't thriving the way they should, and it is definitely something to keep on hand when you are hand-raising new born puppies.

  In my experience the best brand is 'Evsco' (linked to above) and puppies seem to prefer it!



• Don't try to feed a puppy who feels chilled or cold, or seems to be sick. If a new born pup gets too cold, his organs start to close down and feeding him will only make things worse. A cold puppy who isn't eating will get dehydrated quickly which is very serious. If you can't get the pup warmed up enough to suckle fairly quickly, get him to your vet as he may need IV fluids and extra help.


• After every feeding you'll need to help the puppies to pee/poop by gently rubbing their lower belly/genital area. You can read more about this here.

Tube Feeding Newborn Puppies

If you thread the tube down into the puppy's lungs rather than into his tummy, he will die, so it's important that you're shown how to tube feed properly by a veterinarian.

Although it's an effective way to make sure a puppy gets the right amount of milk, tube fed puppies can miss out on the social interaction and cuddling that accompanies natural nursing or bottle feeding.

For both the above reasons it's best not to use this as a first-choice when you need to feed new born puppies, only as a method to be followed when all else fails.

This video explains very clearly how to tube feed a puppy, but PLEASE do get some hands-on help from your own veterinarian before you try it yourself...

Puppy weight estimates

Although 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.

In the first 24 hours after birth a pup may lose a little weight, but then a healthy puppy will see a steady increase. . As a 'rule of thumb', newborn puppies should double their birth weight within the first 7 to 10 days. From then until the pup is about 6 weeks old you can expect to see something in the range of 5 - 10% weight gain per day.

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.

Elimination

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 somewhere between 3 and 4 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 with a bit more water than normal.

If that doesn't help and a pup seems truly constipated, ask your vet for advice as he may need an enema or some medication. DO NOT try to take care of it by yourself or give him over-the-counter or 'human' products!

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...............

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 new pups.

Please do remember, that I don't intend to, neither am I able to, replace your veterinarian in terms of health care advice, diagnosis or treatment of new born puppies!

If you would like some professional veterinary help with your questions, contacting an online vet can be a good alternative to a vet visit for non-urgent situations. Feel free to use this box below if you need a little extra help...

Puppy Weight Estimates

Puppy Weight Chart

Puppy Vaccinations

Puppy Worms

New Puppy Care

Dog Illnesses & Diseases

Return From New Born Puppies to Homepage

New! Comments