Caring for Newborn Puppies: A Complete Guide for Dog Breeders
The arrival of a new litter of puppies is an exciting time for any dog breeder. However, caring for vulnerable newborn puppies also brings great responsibility. The health and proper development of puppies in their first weeks of life depends on dedicated care and supervision by the breeder. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about caring for newborn puppies, from preparing for their arrival to weaning and adoption.
Preparing for the Puppies' Arrival
Advance preparation is the key to ensuring newborn puppies transition smoothly into the world. Here are some must-do's:
- Set up whelping area - The mother dog needs a warm, quiet, secluded area to deliver and nurse, like a kiddie pool or box lined with blankets. Place it in a low-traffic area.
- Gather supplies - Have emergency supplies on hand like heating pads and thermometer. Ask your vet for bottle/nursing recommendations in case supplemental feeding is needed.
- Learn warning signs - Educate yourself on signs of whelping trouble so you know when to call the vet.
- Find a vet - Identify a veterinarian experienced with newborn puppies and get their emergency contact information.
- Prepare for feedings - While mom nurses pups, you may need to supplement feed if the litter is large. Have emergency formula and bottles on hand.
- Weighing scale - You'll need to closely monitor each pup's weight daily. Invest in a gram scale.
Following this checklist will help you be fully prepared when the big day arrives! Don't forget to also tend to the mother dog's health and nutrition during pregnancy.
The Whelping Process
Here's what to expect as your dog goes into labor and gives birth:
- Nesting signs - The mother dog may seem restless, vocalize, or start nesting 24-48 hours before labor starts. She will seek an isolated nest site to give birth.
- 3 labor stages - Stage 1 early labor lasts 6-24 hours as the cervix dilates. Mom pants, shivers, and may vomit. In Stage 2 active labor, contractions intensify and pups are delivered every 30-60 minutes. Stage 3 involves passing placentas after pups are born.
- Delivery - Problems like prolonged labor or heavy bleeding require an emergency vet visit. Typically whelping progresses smoothly, but contact your vet if anything seems abnormal.
- Litter size - The average litter contains 4-6 puppies. Much larger litters can pose nursing challenges and require supplementation. Yorkies average 3 pups while large breeds may have 10+ pups.
Knowing the whelping timeline helps you support your dog through a smooth delivery and get the pups off to a healthy start. Don't delay in seeking veterinary help if concerns arise during the birth process.
Caring for Newborns (Days 1-14)
The first two weeks of a puppy's life are critical. Here are the most important elements of newborn puppy care:
Feeding and Weighing
- Nurse frequently - Puppies need to nurse every 2-3 hours as their stomachs are small. Never go more than 3 hours without nursing in the first week.
- Early weight - Weigh each pup within 24 hours of birth to establish a baseline weight. Use a gram scale and track weights daily.
- Weight goals - Puppies should gain about 10% of birth weight daily. Supplement formula via bottle/syringe if any pup fails to gain weight.
- Stimulate to urinate - Puppies cannot eliminate without stimulation. Gently rub genitals with warm cloth before/after feeding.
Keeping Puppies Warm and Safe
- Monitor temperature - Use heating pads and thermometer to maintain your whelping area at 85-90°F for newborn pups.
- Limit handling - Avoid excessive handling in first week. Newborns cannot maintain their body heat if chilled.
- Resuscitate if needed - Vigorously rub/dry newborns showing no signs of life to stimulate breathing.
Attentive Care
- Frequent health checks - Weigh, monitor nursing, and inspect each puppy at every feeding in the first week of life.
- Address problems early - Look for signs of dehydration, low weight gain, hypothermia. Notify your vet promptly if observed.
- Vet visit - Take the entire litter to your vet within 24 hours for an initial newborn checkup.
Diligent supervision, weighing and warming are required round-the-clock for newborn pups. Don't hesitate to supplement feed using a bottle if any puppy fails to gain weight.
Transition Period (Weeks 3-4)
In weeks 3-4, puppies will start to walk, develop sight/hearing, and explore their world. Here's how to help them through this transition:
- Eyes open - Puppy eyes open around 10-14 days old. Vision is poor at first.
- Ears open - Ears open at around 2 weeks. Hearing is still immature but puppies startle to loud noises.
- Raise temperature - Puppies can now regulate their temperature. Raise ambient temperature to around 75°F.
- Encourage mobility - Provide solid shallow food/water dishes to encourage movement. Never feed on loose bedding.
- Increase handling - Frequently handle pups and expose them to human touch and contact.
- Paper training - Puppies naturally seek to eliminate away from bed. Provide puppy pads nearby to start paper training.
- Introduce gruel - Around 3-4 weeks, offer canned puppy food mixed with formula in gruel form 2-3 times a day.
- Vet visit - Pups need a vet visit at 6 weeks for a wellness exam and first vaccines against contagious diseases.
As puppies grow more mobile and independent, socialization and paper training are top priorities to start them off right.
Weaning Puppies (Weeks 5-8)
Weaning can begin as early as 3-4 weeks, but should be gradual with complete weaning by 7-8 weeks old:
- Add dry food - Around 5 weeks, slowly introduce dry puppy kibble soaked in formula or water.
- Transition to dry - Over the next weeks, decrease water/formula mixed into the dry food to transition pups fully to dry kibble.
- Free feed - By 6-7 weeks puppies can eat dry food with free access. Provide fresh kibble throughout the day.
- Supplement nursing - As pups nurse less, continue to supplement with bottle feedings if needed to ensure proper nutrition.
- Weigh weekly - Continue weighing puppies weekly to ensure they gain around 4-7 grams each day.
- Restrict nursing - Limit nursing sessions to 5 minutes max after 6 weeks old. Puppies should not nurse after 8 weeks.
- Reinforce training - Stay consistent with paper training. Confine pups when not supervised so they learn to use the designated potty area.
- Socialization - Make sure pups receive extensive human contact and exposure to new things during this key socialization period.
With patience and proper nutrition, you can get puppies fully transitioned to solid food so they are ready for their new homes. Remember frequent weighing ensures they remain on target developmentally.
Common Newborn Puppy Problems and Solutions
Even with excellent care, puppies can sometimes encounter health issues. Here are some common newborn puppy problems and how to handle them:
Problem: Puppy seems extremely weak, cold, and uninterested in nursing.
Solution: A newborn pup may be born with low viability. Use a heating pad to warm the puppy to 95°F and bottle feed formula every 1-2 hours if unable to nurse. Seek immediate vet assistance to save the puppy.
Problem: Puppy is crying, crawling with a hunched posture and has diarrhea.
Solution: These are likely signs of intestinal parasites. Bring a stool sample to your vet for evaluation. Dehydration is a risk so supplemental formula feedings may be needed.
Problem: The mother dog shows signs of fever, lethargy, loss of appetite or other postpartum abnormalities.
Solution: Serious complications like uterine infection can arise after whelping. Seek emergency veterinary care for the mother dog right away. In the meantime, bottle feed the puppies every 2-3 hours if the mother cannot nurse.
Problem: A newborn puppy's eyes do not open by 10-14 days old.
Solution: Gently massage the closed eyelids with damp cloth. If eyes remain shut beyond 14 days, see your vet immediately to check for infection.
As a breeder, observe puppies closely for any emerging issues and respond promptly. Most newborn puppy problems can be resolved with early detection and treatment.
Preparing Puppies for Adoption
Here are some things to do as your puppies reach 7-8 weeks old and are ready for their forever homes:
- Vet visit - Pups need a final health check and second round of vaccines around 8 weeks old.
- Deworm - Consult your vet on appropriate deworming treatment at this age. Educate new owners on importance of continuing parasite prevention.
- Training - Ensure pups are paper trained before adoption. Give new owners pads/papers and written instructions.
- Socialization - Expose pups to a wide range of new people, animals, places, sounds, and experiences.
- Send supplies - Provide new families with food samples, collar, leash, bed, toys, and other essentials.
- Screen adopters - Vet potential owners thoroughly. Ensure each puppy is going to a safe, loving home. Require adoption contracts.
- Follow up - Check in periodically with new families. Offer continued guidance and take back puppies if needed.
While bittersweet, sending your pups to carefully screened forever homes is rewarding. You can rest assured the dedicated work you invested in raising happy, healthy puppies has primed them for lives full of companionship and joy.
Conclusion
From preparing a whelping area to finally placing puppies into their adoptive homes, breeding dogs involves major time commitments and responsibilities. However, the diligent breeder reaps the rewards of whelping robust litters and launching puppies into the world primed for success. Remember to tap into your vet as an invaluable resource whenever health concerns arise. With attentive neonatal care and socialization, your puppies can grow into their bright futures as lifelong beloved companions.