Newborn puppy not feeding or fading
A weak, cold, or non-feeding newborn puppy can die within hours — warm gradually and phone the vet immediately.
In the next 60 seconds
- Warm gradually — body heat (against your skin) is best, or a warm wrapped hot water bottle in the whelping box.
- Drop a small amount of glucose gel or honey on the gums for hypoglycaemia.
- Phone the vet immediately.
- Bring the puppy and mother.
Recognise the signs
- Cold to touch
- Limp, weak, not crying for milk
- Poor weight gain or weight loss
- Not latching
- Pushed away by mother
First aid steps
- Warm gradually — body heat (against your skin) is best, or a warm wrapped hot water bottle in the whelping box.
- Drop a small amount of glucose gel or honey on the gums for hypoglycaemia.
- Phone the vet immediately.
- Bring the puppy and mother.
Do NOT
- Do not pour sugar water down the throat — risk of inhalation.
- Do not give cold milk.
- Do not warm aggressively (no hot water bottles directly on skin).
While transporting to the vet
- Keep warm against skin or wrapped.
- Phone ahead.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Any cold, weak, or fading newborn
Common causes
- Hypothermia (newborns can't regulate temperature)
- Hypoglycaemia (rapid in newborns)
- Infection
- Birth defects
- Inadequate maternal milk
- Maternal rejection
Daily weight checks — what's normal
- A healthy newborn puppy should gain roughly 5-10% of its birth weight every day.
- Weigh every puppy at the same time daily (a kitchen scale is accurate enough) — a puppy that isn't gaining, even if it was born a normal size, is often the earliest sign something is wrong, before any other symptom appears.
- A puppy who seems critically unwell may need weighing 4-6 times a day so a vet can track the trend, not just a single reading.
- Other early warning signs to weigh alongside the scale: a weak or absent suckling reflex, persistent crying, inability to right itself when gently tipped over, or separation from the rest of the litter.
What the vet will need to know
- Age in days/hours
- Litter size and other puppy condition
- Mother's condition
- When last fed
Aftercare
- Supportive care, fluids, possibly tube feeding.
- Some puppies cannot be saved despite intervention.
- Other puppies may need monitoring.
Prevention
- Whelping plan with vet.
- Adequate warmth in whelping box (29-32°C first week).
- Weigh puppies daily.
- Watch for fading puppy syndrome early.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should the whelping box be?
29-32°C in the first week, dropping to 26-29°C in week 2, then 22-26°C from week 3.
How often should puppies feed?
Every 2-3 hours in the first week. Healthy puppies are vigorous and gain weight daily.
Can I save a fading puppy at home?
Sometimes with prompt warming, sugar, and feeding — but vet input gives the best chance. Don't delay calling.
How much weight should a newborn puppy gain each day?
Roughly 5-10% of its birth weight, every day. Weigh each puppy at the same time daily — a puppy that isn't gaining is often the earliest sign of a problem, sometimes appearing before any other symptom.