Care of Orphan Neonatal Puppies

Mother dogs generally rear their pups without human assistance, but occasionally a mom may reject her puppies, be unable to produce milk or die. In these cases, human intervention is the only thing standing between life and death for these pups. Caring for orphaned puppies is an exhausting job, but it is well worth the trouble to see these tiny, helpless babies grow to be strong, rambunctious dogs. There are many things to keep in mind, but it gets easier as time goes by.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box
  • Towel
  • 25-watt light or heating pad
  • Puppy milk replacer
  • Puppy feeding bottle
  • Cotton balls
  • Washcloth
  • Baby scale or kitchen scale

Instructions

    • 1

      Contain the puppies. A large cardboard box lined with a towel is a good way to keep the puppies together and out of harm's way. Make sure the sides of the box are high enough that the puppies cannot crawl out, and keep them in a quiet, out-of-the-way place. Avoid handling the puppies unless it is to feed or clean them.

    • 2

      Keep the puppies warm. The temperature should be between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week, and around 85 degrees Fahrenheit the second week. Keep decreasing the temperature by five degrees every week until the puppies are accustomed to room temperature, or 70 degrees, around the fifth week. Use a 25-watt bulb over the box rather than a heating pad, unless you will be in the room with the puppies at all times. If you use a heating pad, keep it on low, and put it under the box instead of in it.

    • 3

      Feed the puppies. Use a commercially prepared puppy milk replacer and a bottle designed for puppies. If a puppy refuses to suckle, your vet may show you how to tube feed, but this can be dangerous. Always try the bottle first. Keep the puppy belly-down when you feed, and follow the directions on the formula label for quantity. Puppies need to eat every two hours for the first three days, then every three hours for the rest of the first week. During the puppies' second week, decrease feedings to every four hours. In the fourth week, they can be started on "puppy mush," a thin mixture of formula and canned dog food, three times daily in addition to the bottle feeding. After a week, increase the mush to four or five times daily, and gradually stop bottle feeding.

    • 4

      Induce elimination. Puppies cannot go to the bathroom on their own until they are three weeks old, so they must be stimulated. Using a cotton ball moistened with warm water, gently massage their rear ends for a minute or two, until they urinate and defecate. This should be done after every meal.

    • 5

      Keep the puppies clean. Between learning how to eat and learning how to go to the bathroom, puppies get very messy very quickly. Use a warm, damp washcloth to spot-clean them when they're dirty, but do not leave them wet. Be sure to dry them thoroughly with a soft towel to avoid illness.

    • 6

      Weigh the puppies often. Use a baby scale or even a kitchen scale to record each puppy's weight daily. A puppy should add 10 percent of its birthweight every day for the first couple of weeks. If the entire litter is underweight, feed more often. If just one puppy is underweight, it is called "failure to thrive," and that puppy should see a vet.

    • 7

      Take the puppies to the vet for their first full examination around six weeks of age. By this time, the danger of infancy has passed and the puppies are strong enough to handle a short car ride and the excitement of new surroundings. They may also receive their first vaccinations at this time.