How to Take Care of a Dog's Newborn Puppies

Having newborn puppies in the home is exciting and challenging all at once. Although your dog's natural instincts will help her take care of her offspring, you can give her a helping hand by providing the appropriate accessories and ensuring that the puppies have everything they need. As well as caring for the puppies, supporting the mother during this period is equally as important, as she will need a lot of energy and resources to care and provide for her new puppies.

Things You'll Need

  • Premium dog food
  • Fresh water
  • Vitamin supplements
  • Heat lamp
  • Large box or crate
  • Newspaper
  • Towels
  • Large blanket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide the mother and puppies with a box. Ideally use a cardboard box or crate that has shortened sides and no top. This will help the puppies stay warm but will also allow easy access to the box if necessary. The mother will also have to leave the box to eliminate.

    • 2

      Feed the mother premium dog food and ensure she has plenty of water. Don't put the food and water bowls in the same place as the puppies as they could inadvertently crawl into them. Make sure you are feeding the mother high quality food that has plenty of vitamins, protein and a low fat content.

    • 3

      Give the dog supplements to make sure she is getting all the vitamins and minerals she needs. Producing milk drains the body's resources and it is important to help her stay healthy. Ask your vet for recommended supplements that can be added to her food or water.

    • 4

      Monitor the temperature of the puppies' box. Newborn puppies are very sensitive to the cold and temperatures that are comfortable for people are life-threatening for pups. Until they can regulate their own body temperatures at 4 weeks of age, they will need a heat lamp to keep the temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Adding blankets to the box will also help insulate their environment. However, ensure that all corners of the blanket are tucked under the outside of the box to avoid puppies getting lost in wrinkles.

    • 5

      Change bedding at least once a day. Place a layer of thick paper at the bottom, then layer several sheets of newspaper on top, with towels and a blanket on top of that. When the puppies start eating solids, change their bedding two or three times a day until they are housebroken.

    • 6

      Take the mother and puppies to the vet for a check-up as soon as possible after the birth and preferably within 24 hours. The vet will inspect the puppies to make sure they are healthy and there are no problems with the mother. When the puppies are 6 to 8 weeks old, they will need to return for their vaccinations.