How to Take Care of Stray Newborn Puppies Outside

Inspect the newborn puppies to see if they are injured or sick. Wrap them in a towel to conserve body heat; newborn puppies can die quickly from dehydration and heat loss. Check the area closely for the mother or any other puppies; often entire litters are abandoned by callous people.

Take the newborn puppies to a veterinarian to make sure they're healthy enough for fostering. The vet will evaluate the strays and prescribe medications if necessary. She will also advise you about feeding and caring for the puppies, and schedule an appointment for shots at a later date, at approximately six to eight weeks of age. If the veterinarian can't see you immediately, purchase nursing supplies and care for the puppies on your own until you can be seen.

Find a foster-mom dog to nurse the newborn puppies if you can. If this isn't possible, it's up to you. Feed them every few hours around the clock. Most newborns can survive for only a few hours between nursing sessions. Purchase puppy milk replacement formula and miniature nursing bottles at the pet store or your veterinarian's office. Pierce the rubber nipple with a hot needle, razor blade or scissors in several places to ensure adequate flow (light pressure on the bottle emits a few thin streams, but not a flood) and heat the bottle until the formula is lukewarm. Hold a puppy in your palm, belly down to avoid choking, facing away from you, against your chest. Reach around with the bottle and tilt the nipple into the newborn's mouth and wiggle it until it tries to nurse. Do not stuff the nipple in or squeeze the bottle; instead, withdrawing the nipple a bit can encourage it to latch on. Check the flow to avoid choking. Newborns take time learning to nurse, so be patient, but if a puppy will not nurse after several attempts, take it to an emergency veterinarian. Track your puppies' intake to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration. Weaker puppies may need more frequent and longer feedings.

Clean the genital and anal areas of the newborn puppies immediately after each and every feeding to start elimination. This is as vital a task as feeding, as newborns cannot urinate or defecate on their own and will soon die without help. Moisten a cotton ball or toilet paper with warm water and rub the genital and anal areas in one direction (not back and forth), from the waist down. Repeat gently but briskly until you notice that elimination has started; continue until the puppy has finished. During the first few weeks, clean the puppies after every feeding to ensure elimination of both urine and feces. After a couple of weeks, the puppies will start eliminating on their own.

Prepare a safe environment for your newborn puppies. First and foremost, keep them warm. The nest box temperature must be around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an open-top cardboard box at least 15 inches tall. An old down vest or jacket is the best heat-conserving material; fleece is also a good choice. Add a heating pad set on low, wrapped in several layers of toweling as necessary. Or, in areas where electricity is a hazard, use a microwavable heat disc (found at pet stores and online outlets) that provides warmth for up to 8 hours. Place several layers of soft paper towels on top of your bedding for sanitary purposes. Set the box in an area you can visit often, away from high-traffic areas. If you cannot keep the puppies inside, keep the nest box on a covered porch, patio or terrace, where it is safe from temperature extremes, other pets, predators and children. If temperatures are low, add a portable heater to maintain warmth in the nest box.

Keep the stray puppies' nest box healthy by cleaning it at least once a week. Use warm water and antibacterial soap to remove all dirt, fecal matter and urine from the nest box and nesting material. Puppies need to be kept warm during this house-cleaning process as well.

Check and feed the stray newborn puppy every few hours, otherwise it might die. Remember, puppies are most fragile during the first eight weeks, so be prepared to care for them during that period almost as you would with a baby. Note that puppies left on their own, without a mother, have no chance of survival, unless you follow precise rules for their food, feeding time and temperature requirements.