General tips, not vet advice. If a pet is in danger, call your vet or an emergency vet now. If a person is hurt or in danger, call 911.
Have all of this before the puppies arrive. Don’t wait until 2am when something goes wrong.
Must-Have Supplies
- Digital rectal thermometer — dedicated to the puppies, not the family one
- Karo syrup (light corn syrup) or honey — for low blood sugar. A weak, cold or limp puppy can’t wait: call your vet or an emergency vet now, then your rescue’s foster contact.
- Nutri-Cal or high-calorie nutritional gel — for puppies not eating
- Unflavored Pedialyte — for dehydration (generic is fine)
- Puppy milk replacer (formula) — even if mom is nursing, have it on hand. Puppy milk replacer your rescue recommends.
- Nursing bottles + extra nipples — different sizes for different ages
- Small syringes (1ml, 3ml, 5ml, without needles) — for feeding, only the way your rescue shows you
- Kitchen scale (grams) — weigh puppies daily. A digital one that measures in grams is best.
- Heating pad — with a low setting. Put it under only half the box, with bedding between the pad and the puppies, so they can crawl off the heat. Hot water bottles work in a pinch, wrapped in a towel.
- Heating lamp or heat emitter — for newborn litters. Positioned so puppies can move away if too warm.
- Clean towels and washcloths — way more than you think you need
- Puppy pads / pee pads — bulk pack
- Bland diet supplies — plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling), plain white rice, boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Bleach (regular, not color-safe) + spray bottle — for disinfecting. Cornell’s vets suggest 1 part regular bleach to 30 parts water on clean, hard surfaces, left wet for at least 10 minutes after you’ve cleaned off any mess. Ask your rescue or vet first.
- Rescue disinfectant or Parvasol — easier than bleach, no mixing, kills parvo. Worth having.
- Small notebook + pen — track weights, who ate, who had diarrhea, who got meds. You WILL forget if you don’t write it down.
Nice-to-Have
- Rectal thermometer covers — disposable sleeves, convenient
- Stethoscope — cheap ones work fine
- Cool-mist humidifier
- Microwaveable heat disc — stays warm for hours, no cords
- Nail clippers for puppies — sharp puppy claws need trimming or they scratch mom’s belly
- Small playpen or puppy enclosure — separate from the whelping box for when they start walking
Your rescue’s foster contact and emergency vet numbers, written down and saved in your phone.