Feeding newborn puppies without a mother requires special care and attention. Here are some steps to follow:
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Choose the right milk replacer: Commercial puppy milk replacers are recommended as they are superior to cows milk and home-made mixtures. The milk replacer you choose should meet several key nutritional factors. For every 100g of milk replacer fed (on a dry matter basis), there should be 33g crude protein, 42g fat, and 14.5g lactose.
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Feed on a strict schedule: Orphaned puppies should be fed every 2-4 hours, preferably every 2-3 hours for the first few weeks. Puppies up to two weeks old can generally consume their daily intake in 4-5 meals per day. Small breed puppies should be limited to 10-15mL per feeding during the first week of life in order to prevent diarrhea. Commercial milk replacers are labeled to help you calculate the total volume to be fed per day.
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Warm the milk replacer: Before feeding, warm the milk replacer in the microwave for three to five seconds until it is warm, but not hot. Newborn puppies under 8 ounces (230 g) may have to be fed one cc of milk per ounce of weight while puppies above this weight can be fed one and a half ccs of food per ounce. Only prepare enough food for the day. Milk kept for longer than a day can attract bacteria.
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Monitor the puppies: Without their mother’s presence, orphaned puppies are susceptible to dehydration, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and other medical problems, so keep an eye on them. If the orphaned puppy develops diarrhea, reduce the formula volume. It is better to slightly underfeed than overfeed.
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Wean the puppies: During the third week, begin offering the puppies a dish of water. Then, introduce the puppies to gruel by blending a good-quality dry puppy food with commercial milk replacer. Feed gruel four times a day. By week six, most puppies can eat a diet of solid food on their own from a bowl.
It is important to note that cows milk is not suitable for newborn puppies as it can result in diarrhea and subsequently dehydration of the puppy.
