{"id":34961,"date":"2024-03-05T22:38:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T22:38:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hartzdevelop.wpengine.com\/how-to-keep-newborn-puppies-warm\/"},"modified":"2024-04-02T17:12:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T17:12:40","slug":"how-to-keep-newborn-puppies-warm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hartz.com\/en-ca\/how-to-keep-newborn-puppies-warm\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep Newborn Puppies Warm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"How

Keeping a newborn puppy warm is far more critical than food. Cold puppies can\u2019t nurse or digest food.<\/p><\/div>\n

Under normal circumstances, neonatal puppies depend on their mom to maintain their body temperature. But your situation is far from normal. Without external heat, it doesn\u2019t take long for a puppy to become chilled (hypothermic).<\/p>\n

Newborn puppies can't generate their own body heat until they develop the shiver reflex at around two and a half weeks. At birth, his body (rectal) temperature should fall between 95\u00b0 and 99\u00b0F. If it drops below 94\u00b0F, your puppy could be facing life-threatening hypothermia<\/a>. Over the next three weeks, his body temperature will slowly rise until it reaches 99\u00b0 to 100\u00b0. Eventually, he\u2019ll sustain a normal temperature of 101.5\u00b0.<\/p>\n

Until his little body can produce its own heat, Mom (or in her absence, you) must provide warmth. If a mom can care for her brood, let her keep the babies warm. Under normal circumstances, she shouldn\u2019t need additional heat. Without her, it\u2019s up to you to keep the room temperature according to the chart below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Puppy\u2019s Age<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Room Temperature<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Newborn to 7 days<\/td>\n85\u00ba to 90\u00baF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 8 to 14<\/td>\n80\u00ba to 85\u00baF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 15 to 21<\/td>\n75\u00ba to 80\u00baF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 22 to 28<\/td>\n70\u00ba to 75\u00baF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Despite our instinct to want to immediately feed a puppy in trouble, warmth is far more critical than food. Cold puppies can\u2019t nurse or digest food. Their heart rates drop, and the circulatory and respiratory systems collapse. They don\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n

But you don\u2019t want to warm a cold puppy too quickly because that, too, can be fatal. You have to find that happy medium between having a chilly dog and a hot dog. The safest way to warm him is old school\u2014using your own body heat. Don\u2019t rush it; warming him too quickly could send him into shock. Hopefully, in a couple of hours, you should feel him wiggling and moving around. Then<\/i><\/strong> it\u2019s safe to prepare the bottle.<\/p>\n

\"How

The safest way to warm a newborn puppy is old school\u2014using your own body heat.<\/p><\/div>\n

When you\u2019re ready to set up the nest, place clean towels or puppy pads in a cardboard box positioned well away from drafts like air conditioning vents, windows, and doors.<\/p>\n

Puppy Warming Pad<\/h3>\n

Position the box half-on half-off a heating pad (rather than placing the heating inside the box.) This way the puppy can crawl off the heat source should the pad grow too hot. Cover the floor with a towel, blanket or puppy pads<\/a>. If you must put the heating pad inside, make sure the puppy can\u2019t come in direct contact with it. If he\u2019s open-mouth panting, the box is too warm.<\/p>\n

A litter of puppies can help you gauge their comfort level more easily than a solo pup. Cold puppies will cry and they\u2019ll collect in a pile to help keep each other warm. Hot dogs will separate and sleep apart.<\/p>\n

Ways to Keep Your Newborn Puppy Warm (with Caution)<\/h3>\n