Newborn Puppy Care: To Touch or Not?

🇫🇷 Lire en Français | 🇪🇸Leer en Español  | 🇧🇷Leia em português

I often receive questions regarding the care and handling of newborn puppies. One of the most frequently asked questions is, “Can I touch a newborn puppy?”. And I must admit, the way I answer this question has evolved significantly over the years. Traditionally, during the neonatal phase (which spans from birth until nutritional weaning), the consensus was straightforward: newborn puppies primarily require two essentials – food and warmth. The general belief held that touching or overstimulating these tiny beings was unnecessary, as their days predominantly revolved around sleeping and feeding. However, as with many aspects of canine care, perspectives have shifted. In this blog, I’ll discuss the latest insights and share my personal reflections on whether touching newborn puppies is beneficial or detrimental.

---

1. The Importance of Handling Newborn Puppies Properly
   1. Why is it important to handle newborn puppies?
   2. How can handling affect mother rejection?
   3. Should I wear gloves when handling newborn puppies?
2. Safety Precautions when Interacting with Newborn Puppies
   1. Keeping puppies away from other pets
   2. Newborn animal care
   3. Safety precautions
   4. Mother dog’s behavior
3. Vulnerability of Newborn Puppies to Illness

---

Whether you are a new pet owner or an experienced dog breeder, understanding the intricacies of newborn puppy care is essential. So, let’s explore the do’s and don’ts of interacting with these adorable creatures.

The Importance of Handling Newborn Puppies Properly

Handling newborn puppies is a delicate task that requires utmost care and attention. Improper handling can lead to several issues, even mother rejection, causing harm to the puppies’ well-being.

Why is it important to handle newborn puppies?

First and foremost, handling newborn puppies is crucial… for their behavioural development actually. Yep, even at this young age, handling them regularly will bring have a positive effect here! Daily handling sessions, right from birth, can be a game-changer indeed!

Momentarily placing the puppy on a cool vinyl floor during 30 seconds to 1 minute can act as a mild stressor, which enhances their resilience and adaptability in the future.

Additionally, proper handling can help detect any health issues at an early stage, allowing for prompt treatment if needed… and there are a lot of things you want to check for daily here:

• Proper Daily Weight Gain: rule of thumb: a healthy puppy ALWAYS gains weight on a daily basis);
• The Umbilical Cord: you want to make sure the puppy does not develop an inflammation of the umbilical cord (aka omphalophlebitis);
• The Skin and the Eyes: skin and eye infections are common problems we can encounter in newborn puppies;
• Get a Sense of their Body Temperature: newborn puppies are highly predisposed to hypothermia during the first 3 weeks of life;
• Check if there are no signs of neonatal diarrhea or constipation here, also common problems we can encounter during the neonatal period;

👉🏽Neonatal growth charts are an excellent tool to quickly identify newborn puppies failing to thrive, helping breeders and veterinarians take early action. These charts include data from over 115 different puppy breeds. Download them here!

How can handling affect mother rejection?

Mother dogs can reject their puppies if they smell unfamiliar, potentially due to human scent.

Remember though that the most common cause of mother rejection… is hypothermia actually! Which is always something to check first when you are under the impression a mother is neglecting one of her puppies.

When handling newborn puppies, it is essential to avoid touching them excessively and use gloves to prevent any human scents from rubbing off on them. It is also crucial to ensure cleanliness by washing hands before handling them, as newborns are highly prone to bacterial infection during this period obviously.

Handling Tips	Precautions
Hold them gently, supporting their head and bottom.	Avoid sudden movements and handling them excessively (no more than 5 minutes), which can cause excessive stress.
Introduce them to new experiences and stimuli gradually.	Avoid exposing them to loud noises… but exposing them to various sounds can already be beneficial for sure! Play soft commercials, recordings of various everyday noises, or gentle music. This auditory enrichment aids neurological development and preps them for the world outside.
Observe their behavior and body language closely.	Handle them with care and contact a veterinarian if you notice any signs of illness, distress, or abnormal behavior.

👉🏽Maintaining the ideal temperature for newborn puppies is crucial for their survival and well-being. There are different options available, including a heating lamp for evenly distributed warmth (like this one), a heating pad with adjustable settings for targeted heat (like this one), or a pediatric incubator, which offers precise temperature and humidity control (like this one). Choosing the right option depends on your needs, but each plays a vital role in keeping your puppies warm and healthy.

Should I wear gloves when handling newborn puppies?

Yes, I would definitely recommend you to do so! When handling newborn puppies, this is the best way to maintain hygiene and prevent the transfer of any bacteria or viruses. Additionally, gloves can prevent any human scents from rubbing off on them, thereby reducing the risk of mother rejection.

Safety Precautions when Interacting with Newborn Puppies

As a responsible caretaker of newborn puppies, it’s vital to take safety precautions during your interactions with them. These measures ensure their safety and protect their health.

Keeping puppies away from other pets

It’s best to keep newborn puppies away from other pets in the household until they are old enough to handle socialization.

Interactions with other animals can lead to disease transmission and infection, so ideally, the other animals of the house should not be allowed to access the maternity.

The same goes for the other humans living in the house actually. It is better to limit the number of persons interacting with the newborns, no more than one ideally.

Newborn animal care

Newborn puppies require special care that includes proper feeding, cleaning, and regular monitoring for illness.

It’s essential to provide a warm, clean, and comfortable environment to support their growth and development. Regular veterinary check-ups can also help detect any potential health issues early.

Check this blog to find out about the monitoring protocol I recommend in newborn puppies:

Newborn Puppy Care: The A-to-Z of Nurturing New Beginnings

Safety precautions

Consider the following safety measures when interacting with newborn puppies:

• Wash your hands before handling the puppies to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.
• Avoid handling the puppies too much (no more than 5 minutes/day), as it can cause stress and anxiety.
• Wear gloves when handling the puppies to keep the environment clean and hygienic.

Mother dog’s behavior

The mother dog’s behavior can also have an impact on the safety of the newborn puppies. It’s essential to monitor the mother dog’s behavior around the puppies to ensure she doesn’t accidentally injure them.

This is of particular importance with mothers that give birth for the first time (primiparous females), as their inexperience might show here.

Additionally, some mother dogs may become aggressive toward humans who try to handle their puppies. Be mindful of the mother dog’s behavior and avoid any interactions that could lead to harm.

The rule is NOT to stress out the mother, I have seen cases where high levels of stress in the mother lead to cannibalism actually – definitely something to avoid here.

Recent studies have actually shown that the use of pheromones in the maternity, starting 7 days before whelping and during the 3 first weeks of life of the newborn puppies, help improve the maternal behaviour.

Definitely something worth implementing in your maternity I think!

👉🏽I believe that pheromone diffusers are an excellent tool for reducing stress in breeding dogs, and studies have shown that they can significantly enhance maternal care in breeding females. Here is the pheromone diffuser I recommend for dogs.

Vulnerability of Newborn Puppies to Illness

As a responsible caregiver, it is essential to understand the vulnerability of newborn puppies to illness. These delicate creatures have weak immune systems and are highly susceptible to infections… but the biggest threat looming around is what I call the 3-H syndrome, which refers to Hypothermia, Hypoglycemia and Dehydration.

👉🏽One essential tool to have on hand to prevent the 3H syndrome (hypoxia, hypothermia, hypoglycemia) in puppies is a high-quality milk replacer, ensuring they receive proper nutrition and energy support.  Here is the milk replacer I recommend. It is also available through a professional program. Learn more about options in the USA and Canada.

It is therefore crucial to take necessary precautions to protect their health and ensure a safe and healthy living environment.

Providing a clean and hygienic environment for the puppies is always paramount. Caregivers must ensure that surfaces, bedding, and other items that come in contact with the puppies are regularly cleaned and disinfected.

Puppies younger than 3 weeks old must be:	Details
Kept warm	Provide a warm, draft-free environment for the puppies
Monitored for signs of illness	Watch for symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and diarrhea/constipation
Handled gently and with care	Be gentle when handling the puppies to avoid causing harm or stress

The delicacy of newborn puppies cannot be overstated. It is essential to understand that their small size and weak immune systems make them extremely vulnerable to illness. Any sign of sickness should be addressed immediately, and veterinary care should be sought promptly.

---

Proper care and handling of newborn puppies is crucial to their well-being. As I have discussed in this blog, it is important to handle them correctly and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

Remember, caring for newborn puppies requires attention to detail, patience, and a deep understanding of their delicate nature. By following the advice provided in this article, you can ensure that your interactions with these adorable creatures are beneficial for both the puppies and their mother. And that will set them up for a great start of life for sure!