Warming can be accomplished by using a hot water bottle filled with very warm water, ’not’ boiling water, placed in the bottom of a small cardboard box or shoe box and covering it with a towel. The puppy can then be placed on the towel, covered with a light cloth or towel and the top of the box can be lightly closed. Alternatively, you can place the puppy on your chest under your clothing until it warms up. You may want to wrap the rear end in a clean piece of cloth so you’re not urinated or pooped on! Puppy’s tiny claws will be sharp as well, so be prepared for a few scratches. Using a heating pad is dangerous, as they can overheat a puppy. Even on the lowest setting, a heating pad can become dangerously hot. You want to gradually warm the puppy over a course of one to three hours. Warming any more rapidly can cause overheating. [3] X Research source Lawler, D. F. (2008) Neonatal and pediatric care of the puppy and kitten. Theriogenology, 70: 384-392 There are heating pads made specifically for animals, and these usually don’t get as hot. The puppy must not be placed directly on this pad — you must use a towel or fleecy cover between the pad and the puppy in order to avoid thermal burns. If the puppy is open-mouth panting, she is too hot.
If the body temperature is below 94 °F (34. 4 °C) the gastrointestinal tract will not work properly. However, don’t let the rectal temperature get over 99 °F (37. 2 °C) in a puppy less than seven days or overheating can occur. Write the temperature in the same notebook or spreadsheet in which you are recording the weight.
You may need to give the weak puppy a little one on one time with his mom. Keep any other puppies in the same room as the mom but keep them away from her body while the weak puppy attempts to nurse.
Weakness and lethargy. Tremors and twitches. (Normal newborn puppies will twitch, so combine this with other signs of hypoglycemia to differentiate between normal twitches and abnormal twitches. ) Convulsions. Unresponsive or comatose.
Mix the formula according to directions and make sure it is warm but not too hot, much like you’d prepare formula for a human baby. Talk to a veterinarian if you’re not sure which puppy milk replacement formula is best for your puppy. [6] X Expert Source Ray Spragley, DVMVeterinarian Expert Interview. 29 June 2021.
For example, feeding every three hours will be eight feedings total, and feeding every four hours will be six feedings. Make sure to feed fresh, warm formula each feeding.
Take a clean cotton ball and wet it with warm water. Gently rub it on the genital region of the puppy. The puppy will urinate and/or defecate as need be from this stimulation. Wipe the genital area with a clean tissue to clean up any mess and dispose of the cotton ball and tissue in the garbage. Wash your hands well afterwards.
Also see your veterinarian if your puppy has diarrhea, has fluid coming from the nose, or if you have any other concerns regarding her health. Timely treatment is very important in the newborn puppy. If you wait too long the puppy may die.
Cold to the touch or cold mouth Weak suckle reflex when the fingertip is gently placed in mouth Limp or poor muscle tone: head hangs down and legs don’t pull back when lightly tugged Inability to nurse Feces on the rear: can indicate diarrhea (a serious issue) Discharge from the umbilical stump Non-stop crying
Weights should be recorded in a notebook or spreadsheet so you can track their progress for the first two weeks of life.
