Caring for Abandoned Puppies from Day 0 to 8 Weeks: the Step‑by‑Step Foster Manual

Before You Start: Safety & Setup

The First Hour You Receive Puppies

1. Warm first. Place pups in a draft‑free nest with a warm side and a cooler side. Aim for the week‑appropriate room and puppy temperatures listed above. veterinary guidance
2. Check temps. Use a digital rectal thermometer (lubricated) for a quick reading; record each pup’s temp and weight.
3. Assess hydration & vigor. Pink gums, strong suckle, quiet sleep after feeding are good; constant crying, limpness, or cold body are urgent.
4. No feeding until warm. Rewarm hypothermic pups before offering formula.
5. Sanitize gear. Wash bottles/syringes in hot soapy water and air‑dry. Use separate equipment for litters when possible.

Age‑by‑Age Care (0 days to 8 weeks)

Days 0–7 (Week 1): Stabilize & Establish a Rhythm

• Environment: Room 84–89°F, humidity 55–65%; puppy rectal temp 95–99°F.
• Feeding frequency: every 2–3 hours if tiny/weak, otherwise ~every 3–4 hours around the clock.
• How much per day: Manufacturer guidance for common replacers (e.g., Esbilac): ~30 mL per 115 g body weight per day, divided into feedings. Warm formula to ~body temp.
• Alternative by weight math: Foster programs often use ~4 mL per 100 g per feeding, not exceeding stomach capacity; if you use this chart, match number of feeds accordingly.
• Calories (planning): Neonatal energy needs rise from ~133 kcal/kg/day (week 1) upward each week; this helps you sanity‑check volumes against label kcal/mL.
• Technique: Feed in sternal position (belly down), head slightly extended; the bottle should be horizontal, not inverted. Burp after.
• Elimination: After each feed, gently rub genitals/anus with warm, damp cotton to stimulate pee/poop.
• Weight targets: Daily gain of about 5–10% of body weight is expected. Weigh at the same time daily.

Days 8–14 (Week 2): Eyes Open, Still Neonatal

• Environment: Room ~80°F; humidity 55–65%.
• Feeding: Still every 3–4 hours for most puppies; adjust to weight gain and behavior (quiet sleep between feeds = adequate).
• Deworming: First pyrantel pamoate dose at 2 weeks (per rescue’s vet protocol).

Days 15–21 (Week 3): Ears Open, Mobility Starts

• Environment: Room ~80°F; pups begin to self‑right and explore.
• Feeding: Every 4 hours is typical; some pups start sleeping a 5–6 hour stretch overnight.
• Elimination: Many pups still need stimulation after feeds, but you can begin offering a shallow litter area lined with pads.

Days 22–28 (Week 4): Transitional—Start Weaning

• Environment: Room 69–75°F; pups regulate heat better.
• Weaning preview: Begin offering gruel (see “Weaning” below). Bottle feeds taper as solid intake rises.
• Parasites: Repeat deworming at 4 weeks.

Weeks 5–6: Social & Sensory Bloom

• Feeding: 3–4 small meals of puppy gruel; bottle only as needed. See weaning section for texture targets.
• Environment: More space, safe toys, short positive handling sessions. Start crate‑nap practice.
• Parasites: Repeat deworming at 6 weeks.

Weeks 7–8: Pre‑Adoption Prep

• Diet: Fully on a moistened puppy kibble/canned diet; water available at all times.
• Vaccines: First DA2PP (distemper‑parvo combo) typically at 6–8 weeks, then every 2–4 weeks until ≥16 weeks per AAHA.
• Parasites: Repeat deworming at 8 weeks.

Weaning (3½–5 weeks): From Bottle to Bowl

1. Start at ~3½–4 weeks. Offer a shallow dish of warm gruel: high‑quality puppy food blended with prepared milk replacer.
2. Texture ladder: soupy gruel → thick gruel → soft‑soaked kibble → regular puppy food by 7–8 weeks.
3. Keep volumes honest. As solid calories increase, bottle/caloric needs decrease. Use one of these validated frameworks:
   • Label method: ~30 mL per 115 g per day of reconstituted formula.
   • Program method: ~4 mL per 100 g per feeding, respecting stomach capacity.
4. Never exceed stomach capacity. Foster charts cap single‑feed volume around 4 mL/100 g to reduce aspiration/vomiting risk.

Parasite Control (2–8 weeks)

• Deworming cadence: Puppies should be dewormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks (pyrantel or per vet protocol), then transition to a monthly broad‑spectrum preventive as label allows.
• Fleas: For neonates, use a flea comb and manual removal; keep bedding hot‑washed. If pups are ≥4 weeks and ≥2 lb, a single dose of nitenpyram (Capstar®) may be used per label; confirm age/weight minimums: 4 weeks and 2 lb.

Vaccines & Preventive Care (6–8 weeks)

Core puppy vaccines begin at 6–8 weeks—most rescues start with DA2PP (distemper/parvo/adenovirus). Continue every 2–4 weeks until ≥16 weeks of age to overcome maternal antibody interference; a booster again at 1 year, then typically q3y. Follow your veterinarian’s plan based on risk and local law (rabies timing varies).

Sanitation & Disease Prevention

• Wash hands before/after handling. Keep litters separate.
• Hot‑wash bedding daily; disinfect hard surfaces (rescue‑approved disinfectant).
• Bottles/nipples: clean after every feed; boil or use a sanitizing solution daily. Store dry and covered.
• Visitors: Avoid outside dog contact until vaccine series is underway.

Weights, Records & Daily Logs

Weigh every day at the same time and log temp, weight, appetite, stool consistency, and behavior. Healthy puppies generally gain ~5–10% body weight per day during the first weeks; stalled or negative gain is a red flag.

Red Flags & What to Do

Why the urgency? Neonatal morbidity sky‑rockets with hypothermia, malnutrition, and infection. Prompt warming, appropriate feeding, and hygiene are the pillars of survival noted in veterinary neonatal management references.

FAQ for First‑Time Fosters

How warm should the formula be? Warm to body temperature (it should feel just warm on your wrist). Feeding very cold or very hot milk can cause problems; many foster programs target ~95–100°F for bottle babies.

Is cow’s milk okay? No—its nutrient profile isn’t appropriate for puppies; use a commercial puppy milk replacer.

When do I stop stimulating for pee/poop? Usually around 3 weeks when pups begin eliminating on their own, though individual timing varies.

How often should I feed? Newborns: every 2–4 hours (day and night); by 3–4 weeks: every 4–6 hours as you begin weaning. Cross‑check with weight gain and the volume frameworks above.

Appendix

Appendix A — Sample 24‑Hour Schedule (7‑day‑old litter)

Appendix B — Mixing & Feeding Basics

1. Mix: Prepare puppy milk replacer exactly per label (powder → water); do not concentrate or dilute unless a veterinarian directs.
2. Warm: Place the bottle in hot water; don’t microwave (hot spots).
3. Flow test: Tip the bottle—milk should drip, not stream. Use Miracle Nipple® or ultra‑preemie for the slowest flow.
4. Position: Puppy on belly (never on back); keep head slightly extended. Pause and burp.

Appendix C — Quick Supply Checklist

• Milk replacer, bottles, nipples, syringes; bowl & blender for gruel
• Heating pad (under half the nest), fleece/towels, playpen, pads
• Humidifier, thermometer/hygrometer, rectal thermometer
• Scale (0.1 g), log sheets, disinfectant, fragrance‑free wipes
• Snuggle/heartbeat aid, shallow water dish (from weaning), safe toys