How to Care for a Premature Puppy

Puppies born before the end of the 63-day gestation period are called premature. Dogs born more than five days early rarely survive. If they are within a couple of days of the due date, they will be small, weak and have less sucking instinct and ability. These steps give you a good chance of saving such puppies.

Things You'll Need

• Rough towel
• Blankets
• Heat lamp
• Scale
• Baby bottle
• Puppy formula
• Iodine
• Dental floss

Instructions

What to Do to Help a Premature Puppy Survive

1. Check the puppies. If they aren't breathing or sound congested, rub each puppy with a rough towel or swing each puppy over your head in a wide arc downward to dislodge mucous and get the lungs working.

2. Premature puppies must be kept warm. Raise the temperature of the room and make sure they are nestled close to their mother. If she neglects them, you'll need to make a nest of blankets and use a heat lamp.

3. The digestive system is usually not well-formed in a premature puppy. It can't digest its mother's milk. You need to feed it a puppy formula such as Esbilac, using a bottle or a catheter.

4. Use a scale to keep close track of the puppy's weight. This will help you determine how much to feed it and tell you if it is gaining weight.

5. If a puppy bleeds excessively from the umbilical cord, clean the cord in iodine and tie it off at the base with dental floss.

Tips & Warnings

• The first week is the most critical for a premature puppy. Watch the puppy closely for signs of failure to nurse, slow weight gain, a temperature drop, dehydration, diarrhea and constant crying. Have the puppy checked by a veterinarian if any of these signs are present.