Nature has most wonderfully provided all female dogs as well as all other female animals with the instincts needed to safely care for their newborns. Unfortunately not all female dogs are good mothers and some are decidedly remiss in caring for their newborns. Why this happens is not fully understood however this behavior tends to be found within specific breeds and even more frequently within specific breeding lines that may indicate there is some hereditary factor involved. In the wild females that didn't properly care for their offspring would not pass on their genetics to future generations since their puppies would not survive to breed and reproduce. In breeding programs in managed situations humans can step in and care for the puppies, enabling this inherited trait to continue.
In some cases the dam or mother dog may exclude or reject a puppy. This can be for a specific reason such as a malformation or health problem with the puppy that the mother can sense, or it may occur if she has too many puppies to care for. In some cases there appears to be no reason obvious to the human eye, which can make things really challenging. The smaller puppies may not be able to feed as the larger puppies can easy push them aside, which may be a factor in the dam's decision. While some people see this as survival of the fittest, it may just be a puppy that is a bit slower getting mobile right after delivery. Once the puppy is rejected by the dam it may be challenging to get her to accept it right away, however feeding it separately but still allowing it to stay with the littermates may give the little one the time needed to grow and become more assertive with his or her brothers and sisters.
Not all mothers that can't care for their puppies have some temperament issue that is preventing them from caring for their young. Mothers that are ill or are injured or even die during whelping are unavailable to the puppies for other reasons. Sometimes dogs that have large litters may also be very willing mothers but simply cannot keep up with the demands of a huge litter of rapidly growing and eating puppies.
In any of the above situations it is possible for breeders or owners to take over the role of the female dog. This requires a true commitment and round the clock care of the puppies for the first few days of life. Puppies are particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature and environment in these first few days and need to be monitored and kept at the right temperature to avoid health problems and death. Typically with effective and appropriate care for the first week or two the puppies are well on their way to being very healthy provided no other unusual situations occur that cause complications or problems.
The first and most important consideration in the event of orphaned puppies is that they need to have the first milk from the mother, known as colostrum. This milk is different than other milk the mother will produce and gives the puppies a wide range of antibodies that protect them from diseases and stimulates their own immune response processes. If the puppies do not have this colostrum they will typically develop very serious health conditions and often will not live. If they do survive they are likely to be very sickly and will be at risk all their lives.
There are commercially available products that are designed to replicate the colostrum of the dam. These products are available through most vets and pet stores and are packaged in tubes with an easy to use syringe type measure. This tube is placed inside the puppy's mouth and the correct volume per the weight of the puppy is squeezed into the mouth. It is typically found in a paste form that allows the puppy to swallow it easily rather than having to try to swallow a liquid that can get into the lungs. This colostrum supplement can be given anywhere up to 24 hours after the puppy is born and may also be given later as a booster or supplement if the puppy is not feeding correctly. Ideally your vet can recommend if the product needs to be used again.
Commercial milk replacement products are also easy to mix, measure and use for the next few weeks of feeding. It is important to feed multiple times a day as per your vet's recommendations or by talking with an experienced breeder. Keep all feeding tubes, bottles or syringes sterilized between feedings and don't use the same equipment for multiple puppies as this can easily spread disease, bacterial and viral infections and parasites. Use separate equipment for each puppy and keep a record of the volume of milk fed at each feeding for each puppy. For the first two to three days of life the puppies should be fed every two hours round the clock. After the third day they can be transitioned to feedings every three hours in the day and four hours at night. By the second week they can extend to four hour feedings in the day and six hours overnight and small amounts of kibble dissolved into milk to make a mush can be provided after the third week to supplement bottle-feeding.
Keeping newborn puppies warm is also a big issue. Puppies cannot regulate their own body temperature and rely on the mother and other puppies to stay warm. Heating pads or a heat lamp is a good idea but it has to be set up so the puppies cannot directly access the heat source. They can burn their skin and even become heat stressed if they are allowed direct access to the heat source. In a house or room free from drafts a regular 25 watt light bulb suspended a few feet above the puppies may provide all the additional heat needed. Ideally puppies should be kept in a space with an air temperature of 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week, then drop the temperature by 5 degrees per week until the end of the fourth week when additional heat should not be required if the puppies are in the house.
Puppies will need to be stimulated to urinate and defecate for the first three weeks of life. Before and after feeding rub a warm, soft and moist cloth against the anal area and genitals. For very tiny breeds a cotton ball may be a more appropriate option. This gentle massaging action, similar to the mother's licking, should cause the puppy to go to the bathroom. Keep a record of this elimination and immediately seek veterinary assistance if the puppy does not urinate or defecate within two feedings.
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