How to take care of newborn puppies without a mother?

How to Care for Newborn Puppies Without a Mother

Caring for orphaned newborn puppies is a delicate task that requires dedication, patience, and knowledge. Without a mother, you must replicate key aspects of maternal care to ensure the puppies thrive physically and emotionally.

1. Provide a Warm and Safe Environment

Newborn puppies cannot regulate their body temperature until they are 3–4 weeks old, so warmth is crucial.

• Keep the whelping box temperature between 29–32°C (85–90°F) during the first few days.
• Gradually lower the temperature each week until reaching room temperature by week four.
• Use heating pads (set on low and protected with a blanket) or heat lamps, ensuring puppies can move away if they become too hot.
• Always provide a non-heated area in the box.

2. Feeding Without the Mother

Feeding is a cornerstone of neonatal puppy care. Mother's milk provides nutrients and antibodies in early life. When it's unavailable:

• Use a commercial puppy milk replacer; never feed cow's milk as it lacks essential nutrients.
• Feed puppies every 2–3 hours during the first week, gradually reducing frequency as they grow.
• Use a bottle or syringe and avoid aspiration by feeding with the puppy in a natural, belly-down position.
• Warm the formula slightly to body temperature before feeding.

3. Help with Elimination

Newborn puppies are unable to urinate or defecate independently during the first two weeks.

• After feeding, use a soft, moist cloth to gently rub the genital and anal areas to stimulate urination and defecation.
• Keep bedding clean and dry to prevent infections.

4. Monitoring Growth and Development

Tracking a puppy’s growth helps detect early signs of failure to thrive.

• Weigh puppies at birth, 12 and 24 hours later, and then daily for two weeks.
• Puppies should steadily gain weight. A healthy puppy should double its birth weight by day 10.
• Any weight loss or stagnation should prompt a veterinary check.

5. Recognizing Developmental Milestones

Understanding normal development is key to providing proper care.

• Eyes open between 8–14 days.
• Ears open around week three.
• Walking improves at 3–4 weeks, accompanied by increased curiosity.
• Teething begins during this period.

6. Weaning and Solid Foods

Weaning begins between 3 to 4 weeks of age.

• Offer a porridge made of puppy food and formula or water.
• Gradually reduce nursing (if applicable) as puppies consume more solids.
• By 6–8 weeks, puppies should eat solid food entirely.
• Introduce water in a shallow bowl at week three.

7. Health Care and Veterinary Oversight

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to puppy health.

• Deworm puppies beginning at 2 weeks old and every two weeks thereafter until they are at least 8 weeks old.
• First vaccinations typically start around 6 weeks (distemper, parvovirus, etc.).
• Schedule a veterinary check within 48 hours of birth—or adoption, if orphaned.
• Watch for warning signs: diarrhea, blood in stool, lethargy, hypothermia, or poor appetite.

8. Socialization and Emotional Needs

Handling and interaction are essential for well-adjusted puppies.

• Limit handling in the first weeks to avoid stress or disease exposure.
• Gradually increase gentle, frequent contact after the third week to boost socialization.

9. Record Keeping and Planning Ahead

• Keep daily records of weight, feeding schedules, and health status for each puppy.
• Ensure a clean, secure space as puppies grow more mobile.
• By 8 weeks, puppies are ready for new homes with proper nutrition, early training, vaccinations, and deworming complete.

Final Thoughts

Raising newborn puppies without a mother is a rewarding but demanding task. With consistency, attention to detail, and veterinary guidance, you can provide these puppies with the foundation they need for a healthy, happy life.