When I had my first litter of Great Dane pups years ago, my bitch, Ebony, was a great mom. Her six babies were thriving and growing quickly. When they were just a week old, however, Ebony was injured by a truck and suffered several broken bones and some other injuries. She had a long stay in the veterinary hospital, so I had to take over the care of the pups.

I had bred other breeds before, but these were my first Danes. Also, it was the first time I’d had a lactating bitch put out of commission. I had to have a long talk with my vet and do a lot of research on my own to make sure I did a good job. Here’s some of what I learned:

Puppies have to stay warm, and they often don’t generate enough body heat on their own, especially if they’re not kept in a warm place. They share their mother’s body heat, but without her presence, you’ll have to make some heat for them. Keep them in a warm place away from drafts. Give them a cozy blanket, and keep them in a box just a little larger than the area they take up. This will hold in their heat. For the first 10 days, the pups need to be kept very warm – about 90 degrees. After the tenth day, the temperature can be gradually reduced to 85. By the end of the first month, the temperature can be reduced to 75 as long as they still have their blanket and each other.

It’s a good idea to keep a thermometer in the box. Make sure the box doesn’t get too cold or too hot. If the temperature drops, use a hot water bottle near the puppies, but not on the puppies. A 25-watt light bulb suspended over the box will work, also.

Of course, you’ll have to bottle feed the pups. Newborns must be fed every 2-4 hours. The best milk is milk replacer for puppies - one you get from your veterinarian that is especially formulated for dogs. Cow’s milk is not meant for dogs! Also, purchase a special bottle made just for puppies. Don’t try to use an eye dropper or some other device. If the milk flows too freely, the puppies can aspirate it and get pneumonia, or they could actually drown. The milk should be warmed. Test it on the underside of your wrist, just as you would feeding a human baby. The milk should feel just a little warmer than your skin. After each feeding, the pups need to be burped over your shoulder. Once the babies are 2 weeks old, feedings can be stretched out to ever four hours. When the pups are about 21 days old, you can feed them milk at room temperature.

One of the best methods for feeding puppies is with a feeding tube. To do this, you’ll have to get special instructions and a demonstration or two from your vet, along with the necessary supplies, of course.

Weigh the puppies every few days to make sure they’re gaining weight. If they’re not, take them to the vet.

Keep the pups away from bright light until they’re four weeks old. Even then, introduce them to bright light, like sunlight, gradually.

The mom is responsible for getting the puppies to pee and poop for the first couple of weeks. She does this by licking their genital area. You’ll need to stimulate the orphaned puppies with a warm wet washcloth. Do this just after each feeding. After the first 2-3 weeks, the puppies should “go” on their own.

Once the pups are about three weeks old, they’ll be crawling around, so they’ll need a bigger box. At this time, you need to provide them a small, shallow dish of water. You can start offering them a little dog food now, too. Soak some dry puppy food in a little puppy milk replacer and a little water until it’s soupy. Gradually decrease the amount of liquid you add to the kibble.

Orphaned puppies are especially prone to diseases. They don’t get the disease-fighting colostrum from their mother’s first milk, so you’ll need to be extra careful. Always wash your hands before handling the pups, and make sure the bottles and nipples are sterile. Keep their bedding clean, too. It’s also imperative to not allow other canines near the puppies before the pups are vaccinated. If you’ve handled another dog, change your clothes before handling the babies.

Raising orphaned puppies is a rewarding, yet arduous, task. I’m happy to report that all six of Ebony’s babies survived and went to good homes. Because of Ebbie’s internal injuries, she had to be spayed, so this was her first and last litter.