Tips on Feeding Newborn Puppies

Feeding newborn puppies can be difficult. They need constant care and attention when feeding, and the amounts you give them must be accurate otherwise they could become overfed or malnourished -- both of which can result in serious health problems. Although puppy formula comes with instructions on how to use it, knowing a few tips on feeding newborn puppies will make the process much simpler, safer and less stressful for all involved.

  1. Take Your Time

    • When feeding newborn puppies, it is important to take things slowly. Puppies drink at a certain speed and trying to rush the puppy can lead to it breathing in fluid. This will then sit on the puppy's lungs, causing sickness, choking and even death. To further reduce the risk of choking, make sure to only feed puppies when they are horizontal and on their feet -- never on their back or while holding them vertically.

    Time Between Feeds

    • Newborn puppies need a lot of nutrients to grow and stay healthy so they should be fed about six times a day, spaced out so they get one feeding every two hours or so. Newborn puppies can survive going without food overnight, such as from 11pm to 6am, provided they are fed regularly during the day.

    Amounts

    • It is important to know exactly how much food a newborn puppy is receiving, so it is a good idea to use a feeding bottle with clear markings on the side. This will greatly assist in measuring the puppy's feeding. Weigh your newborn puppies regularly and consult the information that comes with your particular brand of puppy formula to determine exactly how much to feed the puppy.

    Sterilization

    • As with bottle feeding human babies, it is important that everything you use to feed your newborn puppies is sterilized after use. You can sterilize puppy feeding equipment with boiling water, which will kill the bacteria that would otherwise infect your puppies. Remember to let the equipment cool for between five and 10 minutes after sterilization so you don't scald yourself or your puppy when using it.