Is it normal for newborn puppies to cry all the time? Here’s What to Do Next

Vocalizations and crying in newborn puppies

Newborn puppies make an assortment of gentle (and adorable!) vocalizations, such as quiet squeaks, chirps, or grunts. Those early squeaks arent technically crying. Theyre simply small sounds puppies make as they creep around in search of their mother for (yet another) meal. Sometimes they even make sounds while sleeping. Like many other newborns, puppies spend the vast majority of their time sleeping, up to 22 hours a day. And when they arent sleeping, theyre usually eating.

But a newborn puppy that is truly crying—and perhaps doing it extensively—may be exhibiting signs of a problem1 and a veterinarian should be consulted. Older puppies may cry because theyre bored or lonely. But crying in newborn puppies is generally due to one of a few issues:

  • Hunger. Make sure each puppy is nursing properly and is getting enough nursing time. Watch out for competition from the other littermates and keep an eye out for any issues with the mother dog and her milk.
  • Cold. Puppies have difficulty regulating their temperatures during the first four months of life and will likely cry if theyre too cold. Is the puppies home (usually a whelping box) warm enough? Are the puppies staying close enough to their mother and each other to keep warm from the combined body heat? Would they benefit from a heated pad or additional heat source?
  • Sickness. Newborn puppies can become susceptible to illnesses. Crying in newborn puppies could indicate that something isnt quite right, so be sure to check with your veterinarian.
  • The story is a little different when it comes to an older puppy thats over eight weeks old. Older puppies may cry for a wide range of reasons. Its one of their primary ways to express their opinions and wishes. Older puppies may cry when:

  • Theyre left alone. An older puppy recently weaned and perhaps removed from its littermates is probably still adjusting to these changes. He may cry if his new human family is out of sight. Keeping the pup in view of household activities can help alleviate crying.2
  • Theyre awake at night. Its not much fun if youre trying to sleep and your puppy is wide awake, especially when she starts crying or barking. But dont worry! There are a few things you can do to help her sleep at night.
  • Theyre sleepy. Puppies sleep a lot! It can be as much as 18 to 20 hours a day at this age. And if theyre sleepy, they sometimes cry.
  • They need to go outside. If your puppy is already smart enough to alert you when he needs to go outside, youre doing great—and so is he! To make sure things stay that way, take your eight-week-old puppy out every three hours or so to give him a potty break,3 whether hes crying or not.
  • Your puppys cries are a good form of communication. Its a valuable clue to help you figure out what hes trying to tell you. So listen and respond. Youll be communicating with your puppy in no time!

  • PetPlace. “How to care for newborn puppies,” August 25, 2015, https://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/pet-care/new-born-puppies.
  • Grieves, Deidre. PetMD. “Puppy Crying: Why it Happens and How to Help,” January 27, 2017, https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/puppy-crying-why-it-happens-and-how-help.
  • PetPlace. “What to Expect from Your 8-week-old Puppy,” March 29, 2016, https://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/pet-care/what-to-expect-from-your-8-week-old-puppy/.
  • Needs to Eliminate

    Newborn whelps cry when they have trouble passing stool. Mothers usually lick their newborn’s bottoms to stimulate them to eliminate. However, if the puppy is orphaned, then it is possible that they are struggling to excrete.

    If your puppy does not eliminate properly, it can cause bloating and discomfort in their stomachs. Moreover, this bloating can turn into pain and uneasiness, which causes puppies to whelp. Most owners can take a warm gauze and stimulate puppies to eliminate with slow movements.

    Some puppies also cry when they need to be burped to relieve them of the bloated stomach. This helps them calm down and rest. Otherwise, you might find your puppy struggling and in discomfort.

    Newborn puppies crying may be a symptom to indicate various health issues. Just like a human infant, crying is a way of communicating pain and discomfort. The smart choice is to go to and get your puppy checked by a qualified veterinarian.

    Get the puppy checked for birth defects like a cleft palate. Their behavior can also indicate problems with their digestive system. Notice signs for vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea. Some elements in their diet can cause such problems. Cow milk is known to cause digestive dysfunction in newborn puppies.

    Their health can also be a result of their environment. Temperature changes can lead to your puppy becoming hypoglycemic or hypothermic. This can alter their blood levels and effects their activity. It may be causing your puppy to be lethargic and fatigued.

    Is it normal for newborn puppies to cry all the time?

    Newborn whelps cry when they seek love and attention from their mother. This can get difficult if they have been orphaned. Dogs are social animals, and they need time to adjust to new environments and deal with abandonment. This is why they require the constant care of their mothers.

    Ideally, the owner should spend time with their puppy and provide them with love and care they might need. Newborn puppies do not deal well with isolation, so owners can try to keep them around and interact with them from time to time. They can get bored and want someone or something to play and interact with them.

    Some newborn puppies also cry out of fear. They might not find some faces or other pets in the house to be very welcoming. They can get easily startled by loud, intimidating sounds as well. Owners are likely to find them hiding, whimpering, and crying as a defense mechanism.

    Owners should ease such puppies into new situations and try to comfort them with love and care to make their transition into a new home as smooth as possible. Over time, puppies gain confidence and are not as needy of their mothers, protecting them.

    Having a newborn puppy is exciting and heartwarming. However, they do require certain attention and care from their owners that will ensure their health and safety. There are multiple steps you can take to take care of your newborn puppy and protect them fro any sort of discomfort.

    Start by creating a safe space for them, for this, a small whelping box will make do. This is where the puppies can huddle up with their mothers and siblings. It is important to make sure the temperature of their surroundings ideal for them.

    If it is still too cold, you should use a heating pad to maintain the temperature. This allows them to be comfortable and is extremely important for their development. Huddling together with their mothers and staying warm allows the puppies to develop a bond as well.

    Problems with a puppy’s diet can cause them a lot of discomforts. As soon as puppies are born, you can also help them learn how to nurse. Newborn puppies are blind and deaf. You can help them locate their mother’s milk ducts and help them get comfortable with the process.

    Hygiene is vital to newborn puppies. They do not have an active immune system yet, hence, make sure people wash their hands before coming in contact with them. The mother’s first milk is the only source of immune defense for the first few weeks. This also includes keeping dirty shoes and apparel away from the area they sleep and feed in.

    How do you stop a newborn puppy from whining?

    How to Stop a Yelping Newborn Puppy

  • Feed Him. Newborn puppies are just like newborn human babies: They’ll cry when they’re hungry. …
  • Comfort Him. If your puppy is separated from his littermates and mother, he might be feeling lonely and scared. …
  • Keep Him Warm. …
  • Other Considerations.
  • What To Do If A Newborn Puppy Is Crying

    Is your newborn puppy crying itself to sleep? Or are you constantly disturbed by the piercing snobs of your tiny newborn pup? Well, if your answer to either of the above questions is yes, then, you definitely need to dig a little deeper in this matter.

    Yes, crying comes naturally to newborn pups just like newborn infants, but this can be a matter of concern if the crying is excessive and is practically unstoppable. There may be a few basic reasons why your puppy is crying so much, a few of which are enlisted below for your quick reference.

    A newborn pup resembles a newborn infant in a number of ways and there are ample of chances that she is crying tirelessly because of not getting proper feed. There may be an issue with the mother’s milk production or the puppy may be too weak to suckle or there may be a malformation making nursing difficult or impossible. If your newborn puppy is crying a lot, its probable that she isn’t receiving enough food and the pup is feeling hungry all the time. Don’t ignore such symptoms and seek veterinary help if your puppy seems unable to properly nurse.

    Puppies cannot regulate their body temperature during their first two weeks of life. If your newborn puppy is crying a lot, it may be a sign of the lack of warmth she is feeling. You must have observed that newborn pups have a tendency of cuddling with their mothers and usually stay close to their siblings in order to feel warm at all times, but there may be chances that your pup isn’t getting the right kind of warmth and thus is crying all the time to convey you the message that shes getting cold.

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    Puppies need to be stay warm in order to digest their food. If your puppy is not staying close to the others or mother dog is pushing him way, please seek prompt veterinary help. On the other hand, its also worthy evaluating if the puppy is too hot. As a general rule of thumb, consider that overly warm pups spread out around the whelping box while overly chilled pups will huddle and cry.

    When puppies are in their mothers care, mother dog licks their bottom to stimulate them to eliminate. If the puppy is orphaned, its the caregivers duty to help the pup eliminate otherwise the puppy will develop a large, bloated belly. When the puppy gets bloated, he may be colicky which leads to pain. The caregiver must therefore encourage the newborn pup to suckle since the food will trigger the gastro-colic reflex which helps the stool is moved into the rectum. At this point, the pup must be stimulate to potty by gently passing some warm gauze on his rear to encourage him to have a bowel movement. This warm gauze and gentle movement will mimic mothers dog tongue and should stimulate the puppy to eliminate. Also, on top of needing help to eliminate, some puppies may need to be burped if they get air bubbles.

    Crying for new born pups can be normal just like human infants, but if your newborn pup is crying for long intervals in a scorching and piercing voice then, you’ve definitely got something to worry about. Puppies should be checked for any birth defects such as cleft palate or a missing opening in the rear end. In some cases, it could be the puppy is experiencing tummy troubles and gas. Newborn puppies have delicate digestive systems. Feeding a newborn puppy cow milk for instance, may lead to diarrhea and digestive upset. Also, persistent, relentless crying can be a symptom of hypothermia or hypoglycemia. Where on one hand, hypoglycemia indicates low blood sugar levels, hypothermia involves low body temperatures. Both these medical issues need instant attention from you and veterinary care as both of these conditions can take a toll on your newborn pup’s life.