Italian Greyhound — Newborn & Baby Care

Italian Greyhound puppies are among the smallest newborns in the dog world, often weighing as little as three to five ounces at birth. Their tiny size makes the first day of life critically important, and every detail of their environment must be managed with precision. The dam should be allowed to clean and stimulate each puppy immediately after delivery, as this bonding process encourages breathing and circulation in the newborn.

Within the first hour, each puppy must begin nursing to receive colostrum, the antibody-rich first milk that provides essential passive immunity. Italian Greyhound litters tend to be small, typically ranging from two to five puppies, but even in modest litters competition for nursing positions can occur. Gently guiding weaker puppies to a teat and monitoring their latch is especially important with this breed, as their delicate frames leave very little margin for missed feedings.

During the first 24 hours, observe each puppy closely for signs of distress such as persistent crying, failure to nurse, or cold extremities. Because Italian Greyhound puppies have almost no body fat and very thin skin, hypothermia can set in rapidly. Keep the whelping area warm, draft-free, and quiet. Weigh each puppy and record the figure so you can track daily gains over the coming weeks.

Contact your veterinarian if any puppy fails to nurse within the first two hours, if the dam shows signs of complications such as excessive bleeding or lethargy, or if a puppy appears significantly smaller or weaker than its littermates. Early intervention is often the difference between a healthy start and a serious setback for these fragile little dogs.

Newborn Italian Greyhounds depend entirely on their mother's milk for the first three to four weeks of life. Colostrum intake within the first 12 to 24 hours is essential, as the puppies' intestinal walls are temporarily permeable to the large antibody molecules that provide protection against common canine diseases. After this window closes, the nutritional content of the dam's milk continues to supply every calorie, vitamin, and mineral the puppies need for rapid early growth.

The dam's own nutrition plays a direct role in milk quality and quantity. During the nursing period, she may require two to three times her normal caloric intake, delivered through a high-quality food formulated for lactating dogs. Fresh water must be available at all times, and the dam should be encouraged to eat and drink frequently. If she shows reluctance to eat, consult your veterinarian, as poor maternal nutrition will quickly affect the puppies.

Monitor each puppy's weight daily using a kitchen scale accurate to the gram. Italian Greyhound puppies should gain weight steadily, roughly doubling their birth weight within the first seven to ten days. A puppy that stalls or loses weight for more than a day may need supplemental feeding with a veterinarian-approved milk replacer and an appropriately sized nursing bottle or syringe.

Around three to four weeks of age, you can begin introducing a gruel made from high-quality puppy food softened with warm water or milk replacer. This weaning process should be gradual, allowing the puppies to explore solid food at their own pace while still nursing from the dam. By six to seven weeks most Italian Greyhound puppies will be eating softened puppy food regularly, though the dam may continue to allow brief nursing sessions.

Italian Greyhound puppies are born with their eyes and ear canals sealed, relying entirely on touch, warmth, and scent to navigate toward their mother. During the first two weeks, known as the neonatal period, their activity is limited to sleeping and nursing. Movement consists of slow crawling using the front legs, and the dam must stimulate elimination by licking each puppy's abdomen and genital area.

Between ten and fourteen days the eyes begin to open, though vision remains blurry for several more days. The ear canals open around the same time, introducing the puppies to sound. These sensory developments mark the transition into the transitional period, during which the puppies begin to respond to light, movement, and noise in their environment. You may notice them startling at sudden sounds or tracking objects with their gaze.

By three weeks the puppies enter the socialization period, a critical window that extends to roughly twelve weeks of age. They begin walking rather than crawling, attempt their first wobbly play interactions with littermates, and start to vocalize beyond simple crying. Italian Greyhound puppies are naturally alert and curious at this stage, and gentle handling by human caregivers helps build a foundation of confidence and trust.

Between four and six weeks, baby teeth begin to emerge, play becomes more complex with mouthing and chasing behaviors, and the puppies develop enough coordination to explore their surroundings with increasing boldness. This is also when individual temperament differences become more apparent, with some puppies showing the characteristic Italian Greyhound sensitivity and caution while others display adventurous curiosity.

Maintaining a proper thermal environment is arguably the single most important husbandry task for newborn Italian Greyhounds. These puppies are exceptionally small and lean, with virtually no subcutaneous fat to insulate them. They cannot regulate their own body temperature for the first two to three weeks of life and are entirely dependent on external heat sources and the warmth of their mother and littermates.

During the first week, the whelping area should be kept between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. A heat lamp positioned safely above the box or a veterinary-grade heating pad placed beneath bedding can help maintain this range. Always provide a cooler zone within the whelping box so the dam can move away from the heat source when she needs to cool down, and so puppies can self-select their comfort zone as they grow.

Reduce the ambient temperature gradually over the following weeks, lowering it by about five degrees per week until the puppies are comfortable at normal room temperature around four to five weeks of age. Use a reliable thermometer inside the whelping area and check it several times daily. Drafts from windows, doors, or air conditioning vents should be eliminated entirely from the room where the litter is housed.

Beyond temperature, the whelping environment should be quiet, dimly lit during the neonatal period, and protected from household traffic and other pets. Bedding should be soft but not so plush that tiny puppies can become trapped or smothered. Whelping pads or fleece blankets that wick moisture away from the skin are ideal. Change bedding whenever it becomes soiled to reduce the risk of bacterial infection on the puppies' delicate skin.

Although the formal socialization window does not open until roughly three weeks of age, the groundwork for a well-adjusted Italian Greyhound begins from the very first days. Gentle daily handling by the breeder or caretaker, including briefly holding each puppy, touching paws and ears, and speaking softly, introduces positive human contact during the neonatal period without causing stress.

Italian Greyhounds are a breed known for their sensitivity and tendency toward shyness if not carefully socialized. This makes early exposure to varied stimuli particularly important. Beginning around three weeks, introduce mild environmental variations such as different textures underfoot, quiet household sounds, and brief exposure to new scents. Keep sessions short and always allow the puppy to retreat to the security of the whelping area.

From four to seven weeks, socialization should expand to include gentle handling by additional family members, age-appropriate interactions with calm older dogs if available, and short periods of separation from littermates to build individual confidence. Italian Greyhound puppies that learn to cope with brief solitude during this period are less likely to develop severe separation anxiety later in life.

It is important to balance stimulation with rest. Newborn and very young Italian Greyhounds need an enormous amount of sleep, and overstimulation can cause stress that undermines the very confidence you are trying to build. Watch for signs of fatigue or distress such as turning away, yawning, trembling, or vocalizing, and return the puppy to its dam and littermates promptly. Positive early experiences should always end on a calm, reassuring note.

A veterinary examination within the first 24 to 48 hours of birth is recommended for all Italian Greyhound litters. The veterinarian will check each puppy for congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate, umbilical hernias, and heart murmurs. Given the breed's predisposition to certain orthopedic issues, early evaluation of limb structure is also worthwhile, though definitive assessments will come later in development.

Deworming typically begins at two weeks of age and is repeated at regular intervals as directed by your veterinarian. Intestinal parasites are common in puppies and can cause rapid weight loss and dehydration in a breed as small as the Italian Greyhound. Fecal examinations help guide the deworming protocol and ensure that treatment is effective.

The first round of core vaccinations is generally administered between six and eight weeks of age, covering diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Your veterinarian will establish a vaccination schedule that continues with boosters every three to four weeks until the puppy reaches approximately 16 weeks. Until the vaccination series is complete, limit the puppy's exposure to unvaccinated dogs and public areas where pathogens may be present.

Keep a detailed health record for each puppy, including birth weight, daily weight gains, deworming dates, vaccination dates, and notes on any concerns observed during daily care. This documentation is invaluable for the veterinarian at each visit and for the future owners who will take over the puppy's care.

The small size and lean build of Italian Greyhound puppies mean that problems can escalate quickly. Learning to recognize early warning signs is essential for any breeder or caretaker responsible for a newborn litter. A puppy that cries persistently, feels cold to the touch, or is consistently pushed away from nursing positions by littermates needs immediate attention.

Weight loss or failure to gain weight over a 24-hour period is a serious red flag. While minor fluctuations can occur, a consistent downward trend or plateau indicates that the puppy is not receiving adequate nutrition. Supplemental feeding should begin promptly, and the puppy should be evaluated by a veterinarian if improvement does not follow within a few feedings.

Watch for signs of fading puppy syndrome, a catch-all term for neonatal decline that can result from infection, congenital defects, inadequate nutrition, or hypothermia. Symptoms include lethargy, refusal to nurse, weak or absent suckling reflex, labored breathing, and separation from the rest of the litter. Fading puppy syndrome progresses rapidly and requires urgent veterinary care.

Other conditions to watch for include diarrhea, which can cause life-threatening dehydration within hours in a tiny puppy, as well as nasal discharge, swollen or red umbilical stumps suggesting infection, and any asymmetry in limb movement that might indicate injury or developmental problems. When in doubt, err on the side of contacting your veterinarian. With Italian Greyhound newborns, early action consistently yields better outcomes than a wait-and-see approach.