Did you know that 1 in 5 puppies die in the first 3 weeks after birth?
Newborn puppies need extra care and attention.
Mom dog is usually extra attentive and prefers to stay with the puppies as much as she can. However, she also needs lots of support from her responsible owner to keep puppies alive and healthy.
There are many dangers in the first few weeks of life. Without your help, they can kill a newborn pup. Here’s what to expect and how to keep your babies safe!
Nutritional Needs of a Newborn Puppy
The mother dog should have plenty of milk for the puppies from birth until the puppies are at least 3 weeks old (when weaning begins). It is perfectly acceptable for mom to nurse past 3 weeks old- many mothers nurse until puppies are 8 weeks or even older.
Mom should nurse the puppies at least every 3 hours. Many puppies will eat for 10-15 minutes every 3 hours. There is no need to intervene if the puppies choose to nurse more often (especially if mom chooses to stay right with her litter- many puppies will eat more often if they have opportunity to!).
Fun fact- puppies need traction to move, and especially to nurse. Using whelping mats under the puppies helps them to grip the ground to nurse better.
The goal here is weight gain. A puppy who consistently gains weight is a healthy puppy. During the newborn phase, weigh the puppies every day to ensure each puppy increased in weight. Measure the puppies in grams (a small enough unit of measurement to accurately note tiny adjustments in weight for small puppies). Need a chart to track the puppies’ growth? We’ve got you covered here.
What happens if a puppy is NOT gaining weight?
You’ll need to act fast as puppies can pass away in a short time if they cannot get the nutrition that they need. Bottle feeding is one avenue to save a puppy’s life. Tube feeding is also incredibly handy and a vital skill if an entire litter of puppies needs your help with feeding (such as if mom does not have adequate milk supply).
Remember- a puppy cannot digest properly unless he is warm. His body temperature must be over 98 degrees F in order to digest food (even better if he is around 99 degrees F). Absolutely do not feed a puppy whose temperature is under 97 degrees F- he cannot process the milk and could die. Check your puppy’s temperature by carefully inserting a thermometer in his rectum.
Potty Needs of a Newborn Puppy
A mother dog should lick each puppy’s genitals to encourage them to poop and pee. Most mothers will lick up the poop in order to keep the whelping area clean.
For some mothers, especially first time mothers, this instinct does not seem to come naturally. If your dog does not stimulate her puppies to go potty, it will be your job to help them.
How can I teach a mother dog to stimulate her puppies? Place a small amount of butter or karo syrup near the puppies’ rear end. This will encourage mom to start licking. Often, once she begins licking, she learns her role and the problem is solved.
If mom still does not stimulate puppies, use a damp, warm paper towel and wipe each puppy on the genitals until the puppy poops and pees. Repeat about every 3 hours or after each feeding.
Don’t forget to change the whelping pads often for a clean and sanitary environment.
Keeping a Newborn Pup Warm
Newborn puppies cannot regulate their body temperature. Cold temperatures are very dangerous and puppies die in a short time if they get cold. It is also vital to understand that a cold puppy cannot digest milk, so never feed a cold puppy.
Keep the whelping area very warm- around 85 degrees.
It is highly recommended to have multiple sources of heat available to puppies: a heat lamp, a heat pad, warm water bottles, etc. Puppies also turn to mom and each other for heat (hence the puppy pile). Line the bottom of the puppy area with whelping mats- these are important to keep puppies off of cold flooring as well as giving them the traction that they need to move around. Keep newborn puppies in the house where you can better control the puppies’ warmth.
Avoid baths in the first 3 weeks of life. Instead, if a puppy is messy, gently wipe the pup with a warm wash cloth, dry thoroughly, and place the puppy on a heat pad until the pup is back to normal temperatures.
Check on puppies often. If one pup is separated from the group, move her back to the pile of puppies for warmth.
Constant Supervision Saves Lives
Irresponsible breeders do not monitor their puppies in the first few weeks, leaving it to mom to raise them on her own, but responsible breeders spend hours with the babies.
A leading cause of death among brand new pups is suffocation because mom may accidentally sit, stand, or lay on a puppy. Dog owners should check on the puppies as often as every few minutes- counting to be sure that they are all accounted for. Dog owners should sleep near the puppy area for the first 2-3 weeks to avoid accidents at night.
Another leading cause of death- suffocation from getting stuck under blankets or mats. This is a catch 22 because puppies need some kind of traction to nurse and move effectively. But if a puppy is trapped under a blanket or mat he could die. The solution? Check on the puppies often! You can easily remove the blanket or get the puppy to safety if you’re attentive.
Giving up just a bit of sleep can save the life of a baby who needs you. Puppy ownership is a major responsibility, and we owe it to each baby to keep them safe.
Miscellaneous Needs of a Newborn Puppy
- Early Neurological Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction- Important exercises that change a puppy’s life!
- Pet the puppies for early socialization by stroking their back, but avoid picking them up or moving them away from the warm whelping area at this young age. It is best to tell children to wait to play with the puppies until they are older as the puppies can be hurt easily by a child.
- Avoid stressing mother dog. Follow her lead unless something seems “off”.
- Learn all you can– there is lots of development coming and you’ll need to be on your A game!
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