Updated September 25, 2026. Fact-checked against veterinary sources; review by a licensed veterinarian is in progress. See our editorial policy.
Quick answer: Newborn puppies can’t control their body temperature, so warmth, frequent nursing, and daily weight checks are the foundation of care. Healthy puppies nurse vigorously, sleep in piles, and gain weight daily. A puppy that is cold, weak, crying constantly, or not gaining weight needs a vet quickly, since newborns can decline within hours.
Warmth
- Keep the whelping area warm and draft-free
- Provide a warm zone and a cooler zone so puppies can move
- Cover heat sources and check they aren’t too hot
- A cold puppy can’t digest milk. Warm it gradually before feeding
Nursing
- Puppies should nurse within the first hours to get colostrum
- They nurse every 1–2 hours at first
- Check that each puppy can latch and swallow
Weight checks
- Weigh each puppy daily on a kitchen scale
- Puppies should gain weight steadily and often double birth weight by 7–10 days
- Weight loss or no gain is a warning sign
Milestones
- Eyes open around 10–14 days
- Ears open around 2–3 weeks
- Start walking around 3 weeks
- Weaning begins around 3–4 weeks
Warning signs of a fading puppy
- Cold to the touch
- Weak suckling or not nursing
- Constant crying
- Separating from littermates
- Not gaining weight
- Diarrhea or labored breathing
Call your vet promptly. Supplemental feeding with puppy milk replacer may be needed, but don’t bottle- or tube-feed a cold or weak puppy without guidance.
More: feeding a nursing mother.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Neonatal care of puppies and kittens
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of the neonate
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for care from your own veterinarian. Learn about The Pet Vet and our editorial policy.