How to Care for Orphan Puppies: A Complete Guide

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Raising a litter without a mother is hard, demanding work, but it can succeed. The mother normally provides warmth, food, cleaning, toileting help and antibodies. As the caregiver, you must replace all of that. A vet who knows your litter is your most important ally.

Start with the vet

Take orphan puppies to a vet as soon as possible. The vet can check each puppy, weigh them, give advice on feeding and temperature and rule out problems such as infections or congenital issues. Newborn puppies that did not receive colostrum from their mother may be at higher risk of infection, and your vet can discuss options. Ask whether a foster mother dog is available through a breeder, rescue or vet clinic, which is often the best outcome.

Warmth

Orphans cannot keep themselves warm. Provide a warm, draft-free box with a safe heat source and a cooler area, as described in our guide to newborn puppy care. Check the temperature often. Never feed a chilled puppy before warming it gradually.

Milk replacer

Use a commercial puppy milk replacer made for dogs, available from vets and pet stores. Follow the label for mixing and storage. Do not use cow's milk, goat's milk or human infant formula as a long-term substitute. Prepare small amounts, warm gently to about body temperature, test on your wrist and discard what is left over after a feed.

Feeding method and schedule

Newborn puppies usually feed with a special puppy bottle or a syringe designed for the purpose. Positioning matters, because feeding on the back can lead to aspiration, which is dangerous. See our full guide to bottle-feeding a puppy.

• Typical schedules are every two to three hours in the first weeks.
• Over time, feeds become less frequent and larger.
• Your vet will tell you how much each puppy needs based on weight.
• Do not overfeed, as it can cause diarrhea and bloating.

Toileting

Puppies under about three weeks cannot pee or poop unaided. Gently stimulate the genital and anal area with a warm, damp cotton pad after each feed. Our guide on stimulating a puppy to pee and poop shows how.

Weigh and record

Weigh each puppy daily and record feed amounts, toileting and behavior. Steady weight gain is the sign you are doing it right. Contact your vet if a puppy fails to gain.

Hygiene

• Wash hands before handling puppies.
• Sterilize bottles, teats and syringes after each use.
• Keep bedding clean and dry.
• Clean puppies gently with a warm damp cloth if soiled.
• Keep other pets and visitors away.

Socialization and development

Puppies raised by hand miss the mother's lessons, such as bite inhibition and communication. As they grow, give them safe contact with calm adult dogs, other puppies and varied people and experiences under your vet's guidance. See our socialization checklist.

Weaning

At around three to four weeks, you can start offering gruel. Our guide to weaning puppies onto solid food explains the steps.

Taking care of yourself

Round-the-clock feeding is exhausting. Share the work with family members if possible, plan sleep in shifts and lean on your vet or a rescue organization for support.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Feeding cow's milk, which can cause diarrhea and stunted growth.
• Feeding a cold puppy before warming it up.
• Holding the puppy on its back to feed.
• Overfeeding in an attempt to make up for lost time.
• Skipping the daily weigh-in.
• Using unsterilized bottles.
• Delaying a vet visit when a puppy stops gaining weight.

Building a routine

A written schedule helps when you are exhausted. List feeding times, toileting, weigh-ins and temperature checks for each puppy, and tick them off as you go. Keep the vet's emergency number beside it. A routine reduces mistakes and makes it easy to hand over to a family member for a few hours of sleep.

The takeaway

Orphan puppies can thrive with warmth, proper milk, patient feeding, toileting help and vet support. Take it hour by hour and keep records.