How to Care for a Litter of Large Breed Puppies

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By Janet Ford
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Litter of Bernese Mountain Dogs

Caring for a litter of large breed puppies is different in many ways than methods of raising litters from small breed dogs. These instructions are for an average litter of large breed dogs and does not cover possible problems nor does it cover the actual birthing process. See my other articles for some of the possible scenarios.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Postal Scale
Bedding
Pine Shavings
Wading Pool or Whelping Box
Notebook

Step 1

Bernie puppy nursing

Shave mom's belly if she is very hairy so puppies don't have trouble getting to a teat to nurse. Monitor this area. If Mom gets chaffed, apply udder balm between nursings.
Step 2

Bernese Puppies

Weigh puppies daily for the first week and then weekly thereafter and note weights in your notebook. This could be important information should you need to have any of the puppies vetted but it's also good practice so you have information on past litters for comparison sake.
Step 3

Redbone Litter

Mark each puppy with a puppy ID collar. These can be purchased from any pet supply catalog or online source such as petedge.com, cherrybrook.com or Jeffers.com You will need to change these as the puppy grows but keep that same color (or mark each collar) so each puppy carries that same ID throughout the entire time you have them.
Step 4

Coonhound Puppies

For the first week - 2 weeks, I suggest pulling puppies from their dams to prevent accidental killing of the puppies by laying or stepping on them when you aren't able to monitor them. I place ours in a container with either a small towel or disposable hospital bed pad (change often) with a heating pad under the towel. Puppies at this age are unable to regulate their own body temperature so a heat source is important. You may or may not opt to use a heat lamp but again, use caution that your puppies are not getting too hot or at all drafty.

At one week, puppies should be on mom to nurse until they fall asleep or lose all interest in nursing, placed in whelping container somewhere out of Mom's ability to try and get to them and then back to Mom in an hour-2 hours time. By the second week, you will be able to go 3 hours in between and then they will be big enough to fair well staying with Mom full time. This is optional but I have saved many a life doing this.
Step 5

English Coonhound Pup

Inspect each puppy individually twice daily. Be certain their umbilical cords are drying nicely, that Mom isn't licking the belly button areas into potential open sores or hernias, be certain they are lively and at a normal body temperature. They should also be appropriately active and able to nurse properly.
Step 6

Vaccinate and Worm!

Worm with a pyrantel paomate based wormer starting at 2 wks old once a week. I prefer D-Worm 2 or Nemex 2. First puppy vaccinations between 6-8 wks of age. I like giving 5 way shots. Most breeds/locations should avoid the lepto vaccine for the first vaccination. Inquire with your vet. Be sure to visit the link in the resources section below this article to learn more.