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Use a hot water bottle filled with warm (not boiling) water, placed at the bottom of a small box and covered with a towel. Lay the puppy on top and cover it with a thin cloth.
Another method: hold the puppy against your chest, inside your clothing, until it warms up. Use a clean cloth to protect against accidents.
Avoid standard heating pads, as they can cause overheating and burns. If using a pet-specific heating pad, always place a towel between the pad and the puppy.
Warm the puppy gradually over 1–3 hours. Rapid warming can cause overheating. If the puppy pants with its mouth open, it is too hot.
A temperature below 94°F (34.4°C) means the digestive system cannot function.
For puppies under seven days old, do not let the rectal temperature exceed 99°F (37.2°C), to avoid overheating.
Record the temperature in the same notebook or spreadsheet you use for weight tracking.
When the puppy is warm and active, attempt feeding. Check if the mother allows the puppy to latch onto a nipple. Colostrum—the first milk—is vital, as it contains antibodies that build the puppy’s immune system.
Weakness and lethargy
Shaking and tremors (distinguish from normal newborn twitches)
Convulsions
Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness
If the puppy is warm and willing to suckle but the mother rejects it or it cannot latch, use a vet-recommended puppy milk replacer, available at vet clinics or trusted pet stores. Feed with a puppy bottle or syringe.
Weak newborns require feeding every 3–4 hours, including throughout the night. Divide the daily total feeding amount (per the formula label) by the number of daily feedings.
Every 3 hours = 8 feedings per day
Every 4 hours = 6 feedings per day
Always use fresh, warmed formula for each feeding.
Newborn puppies cannot urinate or defecate on their own and need stimulation. Mother dogs normally do this, but you must step in for neglected pups.
The puppy does not respond to warming
It refuses to feed
It shows signs of dehydration, diarrhea, or nasal discharge
Cold to the touch, especially around the mouth
Weak or absent sucking reflex when a finger is placed in its mouth
Poor muscle tone: floppy head, legs that do not retract when gently pulled
Inability to nurse
Feces around the anus, indicating diarrhea (a serious condition)
Discharge from the umbilical cord area
Constant, unrelenting crying
Weigh each puppy twice a day using a clean kitchen scale. Measure consistently in grams or ounces. Healthy puppies should not lose weight; after the first day, they should gain roughly 10% of their birth weight daily, a sign they are getting enough milk.
