You may find yourself with an orphaned puppy because the mother is unable to care for her litter or she is not present to do so. Either way, caring for an orphan puppy is a rewarding, but time-consuming, experience. For some owners, caring for a newborn litter can be too demanding a task. So the pups may need to be spread out over a group of people, each willing to care for one.
Things You'll Need
- Pet bottle Dropper Tube for feeding Special pet formula Clean cloth Box or clothes basket Blankets
Instructions
How to Care for an Orphaned Puppy
Purchase special milk from the pet store that is as close as possible to the milk of the mother. Ask someone at the store to help you so you are sure you are buying the right milk. Depending on the age of the pup, you will have to use a tube, a dropper or a bottle to feed the puppy. While the bottle method is preferred, the tube or dropper may have to be used until the puppy is able to latch on to the bottle and suck from the nipple. This usually takes place during the first week.
Feed the puppy while he is on his stomach rather than his back so that none of the formula gets in his lungs. Allow the pup to sit on your lap and gently hold his head up while he eats. Keep track of how much formula he finishes so that you are sure he is getting adequate nutrition. Your vet can help you determine the right amount for each individual puppy.
Burp the puppy after each feeding just like you would a baby, right over your shoulder. The first two weeks the puppy should be fed every two to three hours. After the second week he should be fed every four hours. By the fourth week you can combine mushy food and the bottle for the puppy. At six weeks give him solid food only and water to drink. The puppy will be able to lap from the water bowl if he is able to eat the solid food.
Rub a warm, moistened cloth over the genital and rectal area of the puppy after each feeding. You are stimulating the puppy to relieve himself. His mother usually teaches him with her tongue while she is licking her pups. Each time you stimulate the area, he will either urinate or defecate. He can usually go on hos own by three weeks of age.
Put the puppy in a box or a clothes basket lined with blankets. The puppy has to stay warm but not overheated. Start at about 90 degrees Fahrenheit for a new pup and decrease the temperature that is required by five degrees after each week. Once the pup is four weeks old, he can live in an average household temperature.
Call your vet and explain your situation. He or she might want to see the puppy earlier than normal for a puppy that had been nursing from its mother. Orphaned pups must get their shots as soon as possible, many times as early as two weeks of age. The first series of shots, according to The Pet Center, includes distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and coronavirus.