How to Clean Puppies After Delivery

Your dog just has a litter of puppies and they are still wet and slimy. Should you bathe them? Should you leave them alone to dry naturally? Well, the answers are yes and no. You should not bathe a puppy until he is 4 weeks old, until he can maintain his own body temperature, but there are things you can do to clean him. Once he is old enough, it’s easy and fun to bathe a puppy.

Things You'll Need

  • Old towels
  • Puppy wipes
  • Mild baby or puppy shampoo
  • Pitcher
  • Electric hair dryer
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      When a puppy is born, the mother will lick the puppy to stimulate him to breathe. After she has finished licking him, or while she is delivering the next puppy, wrap the puppy in an old dry towel and rub him until he is dry. Wrap him in another clean towel until the mother is ready for him to nurse.

    • 2

      The dam will lick the puppies frequently, to clean them and to stimulate elimination. If you need to clean them before 4 weeks, purchase wipes made especially for puppies and use according to directions. Be sure to rub the puppy dry with a towel before returning her to the bed.

    • 3

      When puppies are ready for their first bath, it’s a good idea to bathe them either in the kitchen sink or the bathtub. While you are gathering everything, turn the temperature to between 70 and 80 degrees and close any doors or windows to avoid drafts

    • 4

      Place a folded towel in the bottom of the sink or tub and run warm water over it. Fill the pitcher up with warm water. Have someone gently hold the puppy while you pour the water over the pup to wet their coat. Avoid pouring water over her head.

    • 5

      Squeeze a small amount of shampoo-about the size of a quarter-in your hand and rub it over the puppy’s body. Don’t put any shampoo on his head and don’t let him lick the shampoo. Quickly wash the puppy, as you want to avoid getting him chilled. Talk gently to the puppy while you are bathing him, to keep him from getting scared.

    • 6

      Fill the pitcher with warm water and gently pour over the puppy, avoiding his head. Fill the pitcher again and continue to rinse until all the shampoo is gone. Be careful not to let the puppy lick the soapy water.

    • 7

      Wrap her in an old towel and briskly rub her down. Change towels when the first one gets wet. Use an electric hair dryer set on low to finish drying the puppy. Make sure she is completely dry before returning her to the bed.