How to Clean a Newborn Puppy When the Mother Didn't

Newborn puppies are fragile and require great care when cleaning. Most mother dogs will nurse and clean the puppies for three or more weeks after birth. There are occasions when the mother dog does not do an adequate job of cleaning her puppies or is absent from the puppy's life. In these cases, it's up to the caregiver to provide a thorough cleaning. It's important to remember that newborn puppies are highly sensitive to temperature and to their environment. These factors must be monitored closely to prevent health problems.

Things You'll Need

  • Trash bag
  • Sterile scissors
  • Antiseptic solution
  • Towels
  • Washcloths
  • Bowl
  • Heat lamp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grasp the newborn puppy by holding it underneath its belly and gently remove it from the whelping box. If the dam has not done so already, peel away the gestational sac from the puppy's face. This should be done promptly after birth to prevent the puppy from inhaling the fluid within the sac. Remove the sac from around the puppy and discard it in a trash bag.

    • 2

      Clip the umbilical cord about 1 inch from the abdomen with a pair of sterile scissors. Apply a drop of antiseptic solution to the tip of the cord to prevent infection.

    • 3

      Dip a soft, clean washcloth into a bowl of warm water. No soap or detergent of any kind is necessary and can actually be harmful to the newborn puppy. Wring out the washcloth and clean the puppy. Not much pressure is needed to get the puppy clean. Apply short, firm strokes to simulate the mother's tongue. Be gentle around the neck, belly and under the tail, as these places can be sensitive. Take time to focus on the genital and anus areas as this stimulates urination and defecation. The dam will usually stimulate these areas by licking. Massage the area gently with your fingertips covered in a warm washcloth. The pressure of your fingertips, along with the warmth of the washcloth, will simulate the dam's tongue.

    • 4

      Rub the puppy with a dry, soft towel to prevent chilling. This is extremely important as newborn puppies have no way to regulate body temperature after birth. Keep the puppy in a warm towel until dry.

    • 5

      Place the puppy back into the whelping box. Newborns depend solely on their mother to keep them warm. If the mother is not present, hang a heat lamp about 6 feet from the top of the whelping box. Keep the whelping room between 80 and 90 degrees to keep the puppies warm and healthy.