Facts About Newborn Puppies

Newborn puppies are among the cutest things imaginable. They are also among the most fragile of lives relying on the capabilities of their mother and other factors to get through the first few days of life in an almost completely helpless state. While wild dogs do manage to raise puppies, it is always best for the pet owner to provide additional assistance and comfort to the mother dog and her puppies.

  1. Body Temperature

    • According to thepetmedic.com website, puppies are born with a body temperature of about 94 degrees Fahrenheit. This is about 7 degrees below the normal body temperature of a dog. While the puppy's temperature slowly rises to what is normal for the species over several days, the environment must keep them warm in the meantime. This is done by the body heat of the mother dog or artificial measures such as heat lamps or heat pads.

    Puppy Eyes

    • The puppy's eyes are closed at birth and remain that way until the puppy is 1 to 2 weeks old. The eyes should be monitored to make sure no infections occur. Infection can cause the eye to form matter that will close the eye and look much like the closed eye of a younger puppy. Anytime the eye closes after it has opened is cause for concern.

    Puppy Teeth

    • A puppy is born without teeth but develops his first set, the milk teeth, at about 4 weeks of age. Permanent teeth begin to develop by the time the puppy is 3 months old and are complete by the time the dog is about 7 months old.

    Bladder Control

    • Puppies do not eliminate waste without stimulation from the mother. The mother licks the puppy to stimulate urination. This act is simulated by rubbing the genitals with a warm cloth for orphaned puppies raised by people. According to the vetinfo.com website, the puppy will not develop complete bladder control until he is about 4 months old.

    Sleep Patterns

    • Newborn puppies sleep about 90 percent of the time for the first few days of their lives. The 10 percent of the time not spent sleeping is spent nursing. By the time they are about 2 weeks old and the eyes are starting to open, their sleep patterns change to about 12 hours asleep and 12 hours awake every day. They still spend a lot of time eating but they will start to spend time playing and exhibiting some of their personality traits.