How to Take Care of Orphaned Puppies

 Finding yourself responsible for orphaned puppies is one of the most challenging and emotionally intense situations a dog lover can face. Whether the mother has passed away, is too ill to nurse, has rejected her puppies, or simply does not have enough milk to sustain the litter — the responsibility of keeping those tiny lives alive falls entirely on your shoulders.

It is a big responsibility. But it is absolutely possible to raise orphaned puppies successfully with the right knowledge, the right supplies, and an unwavering commitment to their care.

When a friend of mine found herself with a litter of five orphaned puppies after their mother passed away unexpectedly during delivery, I helped her through every step. Those five puppies all survived and thrived. Here is everything we learned — and everything you need to know.

Why Puppies Become Orphaned

Puppies can become orphaned or require hand rearing for several reasons:

The mother dies during or after delivery

The mother is too ill or weak to nurse

The mother rejects one or more puppies from the litter

The mother does not produce enough milk for the entire litter

The litter is too large for the mother to nurse all puppies adequately

The mother develops mastitis and cannot nurse safely

In some cases only one or two puppies in a litter need supplemental feeding while the rest nurse normally. In other cases the entire litter requires full hand rearing. The approach is the same — it just requires more time and effort for larger litters.

The First Priority

Colostrum

If the mother is alive but unable to nurse, try to collect her colostrum — the first milk produced in the hours after birth — and feed it to the puppies by bottle or syringe. Colostrum contains essential antibodies that protect newborn puppies from disease during their first weeks of life.

Puppies can only absorb these antibodies through colostrum in the first 12 to 24 hours of life. After that window closes the gut can no longer absorb them. Getting colostrum into orphaned puppies as early as possible is critically important.

If the mother's colostrum is not available, ask your vet about canine colostrum supplements — these are not as effective as the real thing but they provide some immune support.

What to Feed Orphaned Puppies

Never feed orphaned puppies cow's milk, goat's milk, or human baby formula. These do not provide the right nutrition for puppies and can cause severe digestive problems, diarrhea, and dehydration.

The only appropriate milk replacement for orphaned puppies is a commercially prepared canine milk replacer — available from vets and pet stores. Popular brands include Esbilac and Royal Canin Babydog Milk.

Follow the mixing instructions on the packaging carefully. Always prepare fresh formula for each feeding — do not store prepared formula for more than 24 hours even in the refrigerator.

Warm the formula to approximately body temperature — around 35 to 38 degrees Celsius — before feeding. Test it on your wrist. It should feel comfortably warm but not hot.

How to Feed Orphaned Puppies

Bottle Feeding

A small puppy nursing bottle with a soft nipple is the most natural feeding method for most orphaned puppies. Make sure the hole in the nipple is the right size — formula should drip out slowly when the bottle is turned upside down. If it pours out freely the hole is too large and the puppy can inhale formula into the lungs.

Hold the puppy in a natural nursing position — belly down, never on its back. Allow the puppy to suckle at its own pace. Never squeeze the bottle to force formula into the puppy's mouth.

Tube Feeding

For very weak puppies that cannot suckle, tube feeding may be necessary. This involves passing a soft feeding tube directly into the stomach. Ask your vet to show you how to do this correctly before attempting it — incorrect tube placement can be fatal.

How Much and How Often to Feed

Newborn puppies have tiny stomachs and need to be fed very frequently. Follow this general schedule:

Week 1 (Days 1 to 7)

Feed every 2 hours around the clock — yes, including through the night. This is the most demanding week. Each feeding should provide approximately 1 milliliter of formula per 30 grams of body weight.

Week 2 (Days 8 to 14)

Feed every 2 to 3 hours. Puppies are growing rapidly and each feeding will be slightly larger.

Week 3 (Days 15 to 21)

Feed every 3 to 4 hours. Eyes and ears are opening. Puppies become more active between feedings.

Week 4 (Days 22 to 28)

Begin introducing puppy gruel alongside bottle feeding. Reduce bottle feeds gradually as puppies show interest in lapping from a dish.

Weeks 5 to 8

Gradually transition fully to puppy food gruel and then solid puppy kibble. Bottle feeding should be phased out completely by around week six to seven.

Keeping Orphaned Puppies Warm

Keeping orphaned puppies warm is absolutely critical — especially in the first two weeks when they cannot regulate their own body temperature at all.

Temperature guidelines

Week 1: 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (29 to 32°C)

Week 2: 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (27 to 29°C)

Week 3: 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 27°C)

Week 4 onwards: Room temperature is usually sufficient

Use a heating pad set to low under half the bedding in the whelping box — never cover the entire floor with heat so puppies can move to a cooler area if needed. A heat lamp positioned safely to one side works well. Monitor the temperature with a small thermometer inside the box.

A puppy that is too cold will cry constantly and feel cold to the touch. Warm a cold puppy slowly and gently by wrapping it in a warm towel and holding it against your body. Never put a cold puppy directly on a hot heat source.

Stimulating Puppies to Go to the Bathroom

This is something many people do not realize — orphaned puppies cannot urinate or defecate on their own in the first two to three weeks of life. The mother normally stimulates them by licking their belly and bottom area after every feeding.

Without this stimulation puppies will become dangerously constipated.

After every single feeding use a warm damp cotton ball or soft cloth and gently wipe the puppy's belly and genital area in small circular motions until they urinate and pass stool. This must be done after every feeding without fail until puppies are around three weeks old and able to go on their own.

Normal urine is pale yellow. Normal stool is soft and yellowish. Dark, hard, or absent stool is a sign of constipation — contact your vet.

Socialization for Orphaned Puppies

Puppies that are raised without a mother and without littermates miss out on crucial early socialization that normally happens naturally. This can affect their behavior and ability to interact with other dogs later in life.

To compensate:

Handle puppies gently and frequently from the very beginning — they need human touch and contact

If possible introduce them to gentle adult dogs under supervision once they are a few weeks old

Allow them to interact with each other — even orphaned puppies benefit enormously from having littermates to play and sleep with

Expose them gradually to different sounds, textures, and experiences as they grow older

Daily Weight Monitoring

Weigh each puppy at the same time every day using a kitchen scale. Healthy puppies should gain weight every single day. Even a small daily gain is a positive sign.

If a puppy loses weight for two consecutive days contact your vet immediately. Weight loss in an orphaned puppy is a serious warning sign that requires prompt attention.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Contact your vet right away if you notice:

A puppy that cries constantly despite feeding

Weight loss or failure to gain weight

Diarrhea — loose or watery stools

Constipation — no stool after stimulation

A puppy that feels cold and cannot warm up

Bluish or pale gums

Labored or noisy breathing

A puppy that suddenly becomes very weak or limp

Orphaned puppies can deteriorate very quickly. Do not wait to see if things improve — act fast.

My Personal Experience

Helping my friend raise those five orphaned puppies was one of the most exhausting and rewarding experiences I have ever been part of. We took turns with the two-hourly night feeds for the first week. We kept a chart on the wall tracking every feeding and every weight measurement.

There were moments of real fear — especially in the first few days when the puppies were so small and fragile. But day by day they grew stronger. By week three they were crawling around the whelping box with their eyes open, bumping into each other and making little growling sounds.

By eight weeks all five were healthy, chunky, playful puppies ready for their new homes. Watching them thrive after such a difficult start was something neither of us will ever forget.

Final Thoughts

Caring for orphaned puppies is demanding  there is no other word for it. The two-hourly feeds, the constant monitoring, the stimulation after every meal — it requires total dedication for several weeks.

But it is also one of the most meaningful things a dog lover can do. Every puppy you save through that dedication is a life that would otherwise have been lost.

Get the right formula. Keep them warm. Feed them on schedule. Stimulate them after every feed. Weigh them every day. And never hesitate to call your vet when something concerns you.

They need everything from you right now. Give it to them completely — and they will reward you beyond measure.

For more puppy care and dog pregnancy guides, keep exploring PawMama!

My dog Bella is such a wonderful and loving companion. During her pregnancy, I noticed how she became even more gentle and trusting. Watching her settle into the whelping box I had built for her was one of the most touching moments I have experienced as a dog owner. She sniffed every corner, circled around a few times, and then lay down peacefully — as if she knew this was her safe place.
Building that box for her did not take much time or money, but it gave her exactly what she needed — security, warmth, and a space that was truly hers. If you are preparing for your dog's delivery, please do not skip this step. Your dog cannot ask for what she needs, but she trusts you completely to provide it.
That trust is the most beautiful thing about being a dog mama.