How to Look After a Newborn Chihuahua

Caring for newborn Chihuahua puppies is critical to ensure that this smallest of dog breeds has a successful start. When a mother Chihuahua cannot or will not care for her new puppies and you have become the primary caregiver, it's important to give them extra care because of their small size.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic crate
  • One or two blankets
  • Hot water bottle or heating pad
  • Syringe
  • Puppy formula
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a safe place to house your newborn Chihuahuas during the first six to eight weeks of their lives. Use a large plastic crate lined with blankets and set it on or near the floor to keep puppies from escaping or falling. Chihuahuas are prone to becoming cold quickly, so provide warmth with a heating pad on the lowest setting placed underneath the crate, or a hot water bottle wrapped inside a towel and placed inside the crate. Do not place the crate near a door, vent or any other source of airflow that will cause them to become cold or too hot. Additionally, be sure the puppies are in a quiet and peaceful area so they will get plenty of rest.

    • 2

      Feed your Chihuahua if the mother is absent or if you notice the mother ignoring or rejecting a puppy. A Chihuahua's early eating can determine the state of its future health.

      Because of the dog's small size, a syringe is the best tool from which to feed; bottles are usually too large. Feeding should commence soon after birth, so consult your veterinarian about the best puppy formula, how much to feed and how often. Generally, Chihuahuas should eat every three hours and at least eight times during a 24-hour period.

      Cease feeding your puppy when its stomach has become round in shape after each session. At four weeks, a Chihuahua can have formula mixed with mashed dried puppy food, and by the time it is seven to eight weeks old, it should be completely weaned from formula.

    • 3

      Stimulate your puppy's urinary and anal glands after it eats in order to relieve it of waste. Using a warm washcloth, gently stroke these areas until the puppy has released its waste. Then gently clean it and return it to the crate. You should do this in the absence of the mother, who uses her tongue to coax her puppies to eliminate waste.

    • 4

      Take note of any illness or clues (vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, whimpering, red eyes, or any other abnormal signs) indicating that your puppy needs to see the veterinarian. If you notice any, get prompt medical care.