How to Take Care of Newborn Puppies

Puppies need a lot of care in order to grow into healthy dogs. A puppy's mother normally provides most of the care required, but if you have taken in an orphan puppy you will find there are a few things you need to do throughout the day to provide an adequate amount of care. Keeping the puppy's main area warm and free from drafts, feeding, bathing and helping the puppy go to the bathroom will all be things you, the adopted mother, will need to provide.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lamp
• Heating pads
• Warm water bottles
• Large dog carrier
• Soft towels
• Stuffed animal
• Bottle
• Puppy milk formula
• Water
• Warm washcloth

1. Keep the puppies indoors in a draft-free room and away from cold floors. The room should be between 70 and 80 degrees F if they have their mother. If you're caring for orphaned puppies, keep the room at 80 to 85 degrees F.

2. Place a large dog carrier in the room. Keep the area warm by placing a lamp on top of it. Or, you can place warm heating pads on the lowest setting or warm water bottles underneath blankets in the carrier. Even if you don't have a heating pad in use, place soft blankets inside the carrier for the puppies to lay on. If you only have one puppy, put a stuffed animal inside for the puppy to cuddle with.

3. Rub a warm, moist washcloth over the puppy's genital and anal area to help it go to the bathroom. Do this before and after feedings. Usually, a mother dog will use her tongue to stimulate elimination, but if she isn't present it must be done by you to keep the puppy healthy.

4. Keep your puppy's bedding clean and dry at all times.

5. Bathe your puppy with warm water and mild baby soap or shampoo. Towel-dry or use a hair dryer on its lowest setting to completely dry the puppy before returning it to its bed.

6. Feed your puppy with formula if the mother dog isn't present. (See Step 7 for a recipe.) Use a bottle and place it in the puppy's mouth. Squeeze the bottle to get the milk flowing if the puppy doesn't start on its own. A puppy will want to be fed numerous times each day. If a puppy is whimpering, that can be a sign that it is hungry. You will need to feed the puppy throughout the night, just like a newborn child.

7. Make your own puppy formula by mixing a 13-oz. can of evaporated milk, 13 oz. of water, 4 oz. of plain yogurt, 4 egg yolks and 1 tbsp. of liquid vitamins. Water is very important, especially with formula that includes yogurt and canned milk.

8. Burp a bottle-fed puppy by rubbing its sides and back. Move your hand up and down gently but firmly until you hear a burp.

9. Warm your puppy up before feeding. Do this by placing a heating pad wrapped in towels in a small box with the puppy on top. Frequently turn the puppy to keep the puppy from warming up too quickly or only in one spot. Once a puppy is warm, it can be fed.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent dry flakes on your puppy, use a rough washcloth and warm water on your puppy's face and body a few times each day.
• Don't use flea shampoo on newborn puppies.
• Don't alter the amount of water in the formula recipe. Without enough water in the formula, the puppy's stomach contents will harden like cement and cause the puppy to die.
• Do not feed a cold puppy. Warm it gradually before feeding.