Heating

Heating for newborn and neonate puppies is crucial, as body temperature is a key factor for survival. In fact, hypothermia (low body temperature) suppresses most physiological functions, including breathing, heart rate, suckle reflex and gut motility. Therefore, it is extremely important to dry newborn puppies, and keep them warm.

Have an ample supply of clean, dry and warm towels before a whelp. You can use heat pads, hot water bottles or your tumble dryer to achieve this. A humidicrib, incubator or warming box with an ambient temperature of 35-37ºC should be prepared ahead of time, and be ready for use. Only use this high a temperature for the first couple of hours of life. Afterwards, reduce the temperature to 33ºC for at least 24 hrs. Newborn puppies are unable to sustain and regulate their own body temperature, until they are a few weeks old.

If a puppy has required resuscitation, and is now stable, place him in the humidicrib or warming box to recover. Keep him there until he is warm and dry, is active and seeking mum.