dog feces · dog health · dog poop · dog waste · potty training · puppies · puppy · puppy potty training · Jun 27, 2022

Do Newborn Puppies Poop?

Updated on October 13, 2023

Congratulations on the new member of your family! Your puppy is already home, and as a new puppy parent, you sure have many questions. Do newborn puppies poop? How many times a day? How can I know if my puppy is constipated? Relax, we answer all these common questions.

Can Newborn Puppies Poop?

Yes! They poop several times a day, so prepare yourself to clean up once, twice, and many times a day.

The digestive system of newborn pups is in development. Therefore, they need a little help to pee and defecate.

Usually, the mother is in charge of helping her little ones to do it. How? Quite simply, she stimulates the puppies by licking them.

How Often Should Newborn Puppies Poop?

Puppies usually poop about 30 minutes after eating until their 4th month of life. It is similar to what happens with human babies. Pooping many times a day is a physiological need marked by a digestive system that is not yet fully developed.

During the first days, the puppy usually feeds every two hours. So your pup will poop, too, every two hours. After the first week, puppies usually space their milk feedings to three hours, and the time between one poop and another also changes.

And How Often Do Puppies Pee?

Puppies usually pee every time they wake up, and within a few minutes after drinking water.

In general, this behavior lasts until the puppy is 4 months old. Therefore, be patient when potty-training!

Read: How To Potty-train Your Puppy

What Should Newborn Puppy Poop Look Like?

First puppy poop is called meconium. It's black or dark green and sticky. This substance is made of fats, proteins, mucus, bile and cells the puppy ingested inside his mother.

Your newborn puppy's poop should be light brown or dark yellow in color and formed. Over time, the stool will darken as the dog begins to eat solids.

How Can I Know If My puppy Has Diarrhea?

The symptoms of diarrhea in newborn puppies are easy to identify:

Loose and runny stools
Bloating.
General discomfort.
Loss of appetite

4 Symptoms Of Constipation In Newborn Puppies

The main symptoms that may indicate that your puppy is constipated are:

Reluctance to drink or eat
Moaning groaning
Hard and enlarged abdomen.
Bouts of straining around a rigid abdomen.

Discover: Dog Hasn't Pooped In 2 Days: 8 Easy Solutions!

How To Make A Newborn Puppy Poop When Constipated?

Your puppy will need your help if he is constipated in order to eliminate the stool and relieve his discomfort.

To help him, you must stimulate his abdomen. Follow these steps to take so:

Pick up your pup between your hands.
Roll him like a rolling pin.
Gently rub the abdomen from the top right to bottom left.
Wet a cotton wool with warm water and pass the cloth over the anus to stimulate it.

I Stimulated My puppy To Poop, But He's Still Not Pooping

In some cases, the stimulation described above is not enough to make your pup poo. Then you can try:

Lubricate a rectal thermometer with the flexible tip (a baby thermometer is perfect).
Use it to take the temperature of your pup.
This stimulation usually works for the puppy to begin to eliminate.

If your puppy is still constipated after the stimulation, you should visit your trusted vet.

The specialist can diagnose your pup and give him a stool softener or laxative, such as lactulose, or an enema.

⚠️ Don't give an enema to your pup nor a laxative without consulting your vet!

How Long Can A Puppy Hold Its Poop?

It is estimated that puppies control their bowel movements for one hour per month of life. In other words, a 3-month-old puppy should be able to hold his feces for around 3 hours and a 6-month-old puppy for 6 hours.

Note! This information is a generalization. Other factors may influence your puppy's behavior.

Do newborn puppies poop? Absolutely, and it's crucial for their health! Newborn puppies poop several times a day, a process often facilitated by the gentle stimulation from their mother on their belly and anus. If the mother is unable or unwilling to perform this vital task, it becomes essential for you to step in and assist to prevent constipation and ensure the well-being of the pups. When in doubt, always consult with a veterinarian.

FAQ

How Long Can A Newborn Puppy Go Without Pooping?

For the first few weeks after birth, your newborn puppy will pass stool approximately every two hours. In general, this happens a half hour after eating. However, your puppy can also get constipated. Observe your pup and stimulate him if he does not regularly evacuate stool.

Do Puppies Poop Right Away?

Thirty minutes after eating, the puppy tends to eliminate feces. By ingesting only milk, digestion is fast and, therefore, also defecation

What Do I Do If My Newborn Puppy Won't Poop?

The best home remedy if your puppy doesn't poop is to stimulate his anus with a cotton cloth dipped in warm water.

Do Puppies Poop Every Day?

During the first few days, newborn puppies can poop up to 12 times/day. This amount will decrease as they grow and spacing out milk intakes. They will also drop even more when he starts eating solid foods.

Can 2-Week-Old Puppies Poop On Their Own?

Little puppies cannot poop on their own. They need the mother's stimulation to poo. If the mom doesn't stimulate them, they can become constipated.

When Do Puppies Start Pooping On Their Own?

Puppies can start pooping on their own around 3 weeks after being born. Many puppies will still need some help at three weeks old. It depends on the pup.