Welcoming a litter of newborn puppies into your home is an exciting and heartwarming experience, but it also comes with serious responsibilities.
Both the mother dog and her tiny pups need special attention during those crucial first weeks to ensure everyone stays healthy and happy.
From keeping them warm to monitoring their development, there are several important steps you can take to give these little ones the best possible start in life.
This article provides general guidance for caring for newborn puppies.
Always consult with a licensed veterinarian for specific medical advice and concerns regarding your dog and her puppies.
1. Create A Warm And Cozy Space
Newborn puppies are born without the ability to control their own body temperature, making them completely dependent on external warmth.
Setting up a whelping box in a quiet, draft free area with soft bedding is your first priority.
Use a heating pad under half the box or a heat lamp positioned safely overhead to maintain temperatures between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during week one.
Always leave a cooler zone so puppies can move away if needed.
2. Make Sure Puppies Get Their First Meal
Within hours of birth, puppies must nurse to receive colostrum, the antibody rich first milk that protects their fragile immune systems.
Watch closely to confirm each puppy is latching properly and feeding every two to three hours.
If mom cannot nurse, a commercial puppy milk replacer becomes essential, and you will need to bottle feed around the clock.
Healthy pups should double their birth weight by day ten.
3. Keep A Close Eye On Mom’s Wellbeing
After giving birth, your dog will be exhausted but should still appear alert and attentive to her puppies.
Be vigilant for warning signs like heavy bleeding, foul smelling discharge, extreme lethargy, vomiting, or refusal to eat, as these could indicate serious complications.
Schedule a postnatal veterinary check up within 24 to 48 hours to ensure both mother and babies are thriving.
Her health directly impacts the puppies’ survival.
4. Maintain A Spotless Whelping Area
Infections spread quickly in unsanitary conditions, so cleanliness is absolutely vital during these early weeks.
Change soiled bedding at least twice daily, and gently wipe down the mother if she has discharge or mess around her hindquarters.
A hygienic environment protects vulnerable newborns from bacterial infections and keeps mom comfortable as she recovers.
Clean hands before handling puppies reduces contamination risk significantly.
5. Help Puppies With Bathroom Needs
For approximately two weeks, newborn puppies lack the ability to urinate or defecate without stimulation from their mother’s licking.
If mom is absent or not performing this task, gently massage each puppy’s genital area with a warm, damp cloth after every feeding to encourage elimination.
This mimics the mother’s natural behavior and prevents dangerous blockages.
By week three, they should manage on their own.
6. Minimize Handling During Early Days
Excessive handling stresses both mother and her vulnerable babies, whose immune systems are still extremely weak.
In nature, mother dogs instinctively keep their litters hidden in secluded, sheltered spots away from disturbances.
Covering the whelping box partially with a blanket recreates this safe den feeling.
Limit interactions to essential care tasks during the first two weeks, allowing mom to bond peacefully with her pups.
7. Track Their Growth And Milestones
Puppies develop rapidly, with eyes opening between days eight and fourteen, and ears starting to function around week three.
Around three to four weeks old, you will notice more confident walking and the beginning of teething.
This developmental stage marks the perfect time to introduce gentle socialization through brief, calm handling sessions.
Early positive human contact helps puppies grow into well adjusted, friendly dogs.
8. Introduce Solid Food Gradually
Around three to four weeks of age, puppies are ready to explore food beyond mother’s milk.
Start by offering softened puppy food mixed with water or formula to create a porridge like consistency that is easy to lap up.
Mom will naturally begin nursing less as her milk production decreases.
By six to eight weeks, most puppies transition fully to solid food and should have access to fresh water daily.
