Borzoi — Newborn & Baby Care

The arrival of Borzoi puppies is a momentous event that requires attentive supervision from the very first moments. Newborn Borzoi are surprisingly fragile despite belonging to a large breed, and each puppy should be checked immediately after birth to ensure the airway is clear, breathing is steady, and the umbilical cord has been properly managed. The dam will typically handle much of this instinctively, but a calm and prepared caretaker should be on hand to intervene if any puppy appears distressed or fails to begin breathing on its own.

During the first 24 hours, the priority is ensuring every puppy latches onto the dam and begins nursing. Colostrum, the first milk produced by the mother, is rich in antibodies and essential for building the puppies' immune defenses. Borzoi litters can vary in size, and in larger litters it is important to rotate puppies if necessary so that smaller or weaker individuals are not pushed aside by their stronger siblings. Monitoring weight at birth and again at the 24-hour mark provides an early indicator of whether each puppy is feeding successfully.

The whelping area should be warm, draft-free, and quiet. Borzoi dams can be sensitive to stress and disruption, and a calm environment supports her natural bonding and nursing instincts. Bedding should be clean and changed frequently, and the space should be large enough for the dam to stretch out comfortably without risk of accidentally lying on a puppy. A whelping box with low rails can help prevent this common danger.

It is wise to have your veterinarian's contact information readily available and to establish a plan for emergency intervention before the litter arrives. Any puppy that fails to nurse within the first few hours, appears unusually lethargic, or shows signs of distress such as persistent crying or cold extremities should receive prompt veterinary attention. Early intervention during this critical window can make the difference between a thriving puppy and one that struggles.

For the first several weeks of life, Borzoi puppies depend entirely on their mother's milk for nutrition. The dam's diet during this period is just as important as the puppies' intake, and she should be fed a high-quality, calorie-dense food formulated for lactating dogs. Her caloric needs may increase dramatically, sometimes doubling or even tripling compared to her normal maintenance diet, especially with a larger litter. Fresh water should be available to her at all times.

Puppies should be nursing vigorously and gaining weight steadily from day one. A healthy Borzoi newborn will typically double its birth weight within the first week to ten days. Weighing each puppy daily on a kitchen or postal scale and recording the results is one of the most reliable ways to track progress. A puppy that fails to gain weight or begins losing weight is a cause for concern and may need supplemental feeding.

In situations where the dam cannot produce enough milk, rejects a puppy, or is unavailable, a veterinarian-approved canine milk replacer should be used. Bottle feeding or tube feeding may be necessary, and both techniques require careful instruction to avoid aspiration, which can be fatal. Never use cow's milk or homemade formulas, as these do not meet the nutritional requirements of neonatal puppies and can cause digestive distress.

As the puppies approach three to four weeks of age, the weaning process can begin gradually. A soft gruel made from high-quality puppy food moistened with warm water or milk replacer can be introduced in shallow dishes. Borzoi puppies may be hesitant at first, but most will begin lapping and eating within a few days. The transition from nursing to solid food should be gradual, typically completed by six to seven weeks of age, with the dam naturally reducing nursing sessions as the puppies become more independent eaters.

Borzoi puppies are born with their eyes and ears sealed, relying entirely on touch, warmth, and scent to navigate their small world. During the first two weeks, known as the neonatal period, their primary activities are sleeping and nursing. Movement is limited to a slow crawl, and they depend on the dam for warmth and stimulation of bodily functions. This is a period of rapid internal development even though outward changes appear minimal.

Around ten to fourteen days of age, the eyes begin to open, though vision remains blurry for several more days. The ear canals open shortly afterward, typically between two and three weeks. These sensory awakenings mark the beginning of the transitional period, during which puppies start to respond to light, sound, and movement in their environment. They will begin attempting to stand and take wobbly steps, and their first baby teeth may start to emerge.

The socialization period begins around three weeks and extends through roughly twelve weeks of age. During this window, Borzoi puppies become increasingly interactive with their littermates and human caretakers. They begin to play, vocalize, and explore their surroundings with growing curiosity and coordination. This is a critical developmental phase, and gentle, positive handling by humans during this time lays the groundwork for a well-adjusted adult dog.

By four to five weeks, Borzoi puppies are walking and running with increasing confidence, engaging in play-fighting with siblings, and beginning to develop individual personalities. Their sighthound instincts may already be apparent as they track movement with keen interest. Growth during this period is rapid, and the difference in size and capability from week to week can be remarkable.

Newborn Borzoi puppies are unable to regulate their own body temperature for the first several weeks of life. This makes environmental temperature management one of the most critical aspects of neonatal care. The whelping area should be maintained at approximately 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the first week, gradually decreasing to around 75 degrees by the end of the fourth week as the puppies develop the ability to thermoregulate on their own.

A heat lamp or heating pad designed for whelping use can help maintain consistent warmth, but care must be taken to avoid overheating or burns. The heat source should be positioned so that puppies can move toward or away from the warmth as needed, creating a temperature gradient within the whelping box. Monitoring the ambient temperature with a reliable thermometer is essential, and adjustments should be made based on the puppies' behavior. Puppies that are too cold will pile on top of each other and cry persistently, while those that are too warm will spread apart and may pant.

The whelping area should be kept scrupulously clean to reduce the risk of infection. Bedding should be changed frequently, and surfaces should be easy to sanitize. Avoid using cedar shavings or other aromatic bedding materials, as these can irritate delicate respiratory systems. Soft, washable blankets or veterinary-grade bedding pads are ideal choices.

Drafts are a serious hazard for neonatal puppies and should be eliminated from the whelping environment. The space should be quiet and relatively secluded, away from household traffic and noise, to minimize stress on both the dam and the litter. While socialization with humans is important and should begin gently during the third week, the first two weeks should prioritize a peaceful, stable environment that supports uninterrupted rest and growth.

Early socialization is a cornerstone of raising well-adjusted Borzoi, a breed known for its sensitive and sometimes reserved temperament. The foundations of socialization begin well before the puppies leave for their new homes, and the breeder plays a pivotal role in shaping each puppy's comfort with human contact, novel stimuli, and everyday experiences. Gentle handling should begin in the first week of life, with brief sessions of holding and touching each puppy to accustom them to human scent and warmth.

As the puppies' senses develop during the second and third weeks, handling sessions can gradually increase in duration and variety. Stroking different parts of the body, gently touching paws and ears, and exposing puppies to different textures and surfaces all contribute to neurological development and emotional resilience. These early experiences help prevent the fearfulness and excessive shyness that can sometimes develop in undersocialized Borzoi.

From three to seven weeks of age, interaction with littermates provides essential lessons in canine communication, bite inhibition, and social hierarchy. Puppies learn through play how to read body language, how to moderate the force of their bite, and how to navigate conflict. Removing a puppy from the litter too early can result in lasting behavioral deficits, which is one reason reputable breeders do not release puppies before eight weeks of age at the earliest.

Introducing a variety of mild environmental stimuli during this period is also beneficial. Quiet household sounds, gentle music, the presence of different people, and supervised exposure to safe, calm household pets can all broaden a puppy's comfort zone. The goal is not to overwhelm but to build a foundation of confidence through positive, low-stress experiences that will serve the Borzoi well throughout its life.

A veterinary examination within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth is strongly recommended for the entire litter and the dam. The veterinarian will assess each puppy for congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate, heart murmurs, or limb deformities, and will evaluate the dam's postpartum condition, including checking for retained placentas or signs of infection. This initial visit establishes a health baseline and allows for early intervention if any issues are detected.

Borzoi, as a large and deep-chested breed, can be predisposed to certain health conditions that may have early indicators even in the neonatal period. While most serious hereditary screening occurs later, the initial veterinary visit provides an opportunity to discuss breed-specific health concerns with your veterinarian and to establish a monitoring and vaccination schedule appropriate for the litter.

Deworming typically begins at two weeks of age and is repeated at regular intervals as recommended by the veterinarian. Intestinal parasites are common in puppies and can cause significant illness if left untreated, particularly in young animals whose immune systems are still developing. The deworming schedule should be followed precisely, as even mild parasite burdens can impair growth and nutrient absorption during this critical period.

Vaccinations generally begin between six and eight weeks of age, with a series of boosters following at three- to four-week intervals. The specific vaccination protocol should be determined in consultation with your veterinarian and tailored to the disease risks in your geographic area. Keeping detailed health records for each puppy from birth forward is not only good practice for the breeder but provides invaluable information for the puppy's future owners and their veterinarians.

Caring for newborn Borzoi requires constant vigilance, and knowing the warning signs that indicate a puppy is in trouble can be life-saving. One of the most reliable early indicators of a problem is failure to gain weight. A puppy that is not gaining or is losing weight despite having access to the dam should be evaluated immediately, as this may indicate inadequate milk intake, infection, or a congenital issue that is interfering with normal feeding.

Persistent crying is another red flag. While some vocalization is normal, a puppy that cries continuously despite being warm and having access to the dam may be in pain, hungry, or ill. Similarly, a puppy that becomes unusually quiet and lethargic, showing little interest in nursing or moving, should be assessed promptly. In neonatal puppies, the line between mild illness and life-threatening crisis can be crossed very quickly.

Watch for signs of fading puppy syndrome, a condition in which an apparently healthy newborn gradually weakens and declines. Symptoms include progressive lethargy, refusal to nurse, low body temperature, and isolation from the rest of the litter. Fading puppy syndrome can have multiple causes, including infection, congenital heart defects, and inadequate maternal antibodies, and it requires immediate veterinary intervention for the best chance of survival.

Other warning signs include diarrhea, vomiting, discharge from the eyes or nose, difficulty breathing, and any visible swelling or redness around the umbilical site. The dam should also be monitored closely during this period for signs of mastitis, eclampsia, or postpartum infection, as her health directly affects the well-being of the entire litter. When in doubt, it is always better to consult a veterinarian early rather than adopt a wait-and-see approach with neonatal puppies.