Sloughi — Newborn & Baby Care

The arrival of a Sloughi litter is a moment that demands attentive, calm oversight. Sloughi dams are typically intuitive mothers, but the breed's lean build and naturally reserved temperament mean the whelping environment should be quiet, warm, and free of unnecessary foot traffic. Each puppy should be checked immediately after birth for clear airways and a strong suckling reflex. The dam will usually sever the umbilical cord and clean each pup, but you should be prepared to step in if she hesitates or becomes overwhelmed by a large litter.

Within the first hour, every puppy needs to begin nursing to receive colostrum, the antibody-rich first milk that is essential for immune protection during the early weeks. Sloughi newborns are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut, and they rely entirely on warmth, touch, and scent to find the dam. Gently guiding a struggling puppy toward a teat can make a critical difference. Weigh each puppy at birth and record the weight so you have a baseline for tracking daily gains.

During these initial hours, monitor the dam closely for signs of distress, excessive bleeding, or failure to pass all placentas. A retained placenta can lead to serious infection if left unaddressed. Keep the whelping box bedding clean and dry, replacing soiled layers without disturbing the family more than necessary. The first day sets the foundation for the litter's survival, and vigilance during this window is non-negotiable.

Sloughi puppies are among the more delicate sighthound neonates. Their long, slender limbs and low body fat make them particularly vulnerable to chilling. Ensure the whelping area maintains a temperature around 85–90°F (29–32°C) for the first week. A heat lamp or heating pad placed beneath part of the bedding can provide a warm zone the puppies can crawl toward instinctively.

Colostrum intake during the first 12 to 24 hours is the single most important nutritional event in a Sloughi puppy's life. The antibodies absorbed through colostrum provide passive immunity that shields the puppy from infections until its own immune system begins to mature. If a puppy is unable to nurse naturally, consult your veterinarian immediately about supplemental feeding options and colostrum substitutes.

For the first three weeks, Sloughi puppies will nurse exclusively from the dam, typically every two to three hours. The dam's nutritional needs increase dramatically during lactation, and she should be fed a high-quality, calorie-dense diet to sustain milk production. Fresh water should always be available, as dehydration will quickly diminish her milk supply. Monitor each puppy to ensure it is gaining weight steadily — a healthy Sloughi newborn should roughly double its birth weight within the first ten days.

By the third to fourth week, you can begin introducing a gruel made from softened puppy food mixed with warm water or puppy milk replacer. This early weaning process should be gradual, allowing the puppies to explore solid food while still nursing. Sloughi puppies may be tentative eaters at first, as the breed tends toward a more cautious approach to novel experiences even at this early age.

As the puppies transition toward solid food between weeks four and six, reduce the liquid content of the gruel gradually until they are eating moistened kibble or a raw diet appropriate for puppies. Continue to monitor individual weights and watch for any puppy that falls behind its littermates, as this can signal a health issue or difficulty competing for resources at mealtime.

Sloughi puppies progress through a predictable series of developmental stages during their first eight weeks. During the neonatal period, from birth to roughly two weeks, the puppies are essentially helpless. They cannot see, hear, or regulate their own body temperature, and their movements are limited to slow crawling toward warmth and the dam. This is a period of rapid internal development even though outward changes appear minimal.

Around days 10 to 14, the eyes begin to open, though vision remains blurry for several more days. Hearing develops shortly after, typically between days 14 and 21. Once both senses are active, the puppies enter the transitional period, and their world expands dramatically. They begin to stand, take wobbly first steps, and show the earliest signs of social awareness, responding to littermates and the dam with increasing intention.

The socialization period begins around three weeks and extends to roughly 12 weeks, though the breeder's window of influence is typically through eight weeks. During this critical phase, Sloughi puppies begin to play with siblings, explore their environment, and develop bite inhibition through rough-and-tumble interactions. The breed's characteristic reserve makes this period especially important — gentle, positive exposure to a variety of sounds, surfaces, and human handling will lay the groundwork for a confident adult dog.

By six to eight weeks, Sloughi puppies are mobile, curious, and showing early glimpses of the elegant movement the breed is known for. Their legs are noticeably long relative to their body, and their coordination improves rapidly. Teeth begin to emerge around three to four weeks, and by eight weeks the puppies have a full set of deciduous teeth.

Thermoregulation is one of the most critical concerns when caring for newborn Sloughi puppies. Sighthound breeds carry less body fat and have thinner skin than many other breeds, making neonates especially susceptible to hypothermia. The whelping box should be maintained at approximately 85–90°F (29–32°C) for the first week of life, gradually decreasing to around 80°F (27°C) by the end of week two, and then to 72–75°F (22–24°C) by week four as the puppies develop the ability to regulate their own temperature.

A reliable heat source is essential. Heating pads designed for whelping should be placed under one half of the box so the puppies can move toward or away from the warmth as needed. Avoid heat lamps positioned too close to the bedding, as they can cause burns or overheating. A room thermometer placed at puppy level provides a more accurate reading than measuring ambient room temperature above the whelping box.

The whelping area should be draft-free, quiet, and dimly lit to reduce stress on the dam and her litter. Sloughis are sensitive dogs by nature, and a chaotic environment can cause the dam to become anxious, which may interfere with her willingness to nurse or care for the puppies. Limit visitors during the first two weeks and keep household noise to a minimum in the immediate area.

Bedding should be changed frequently to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of bacterial infection. Veterinary-grade bedding pads or fleece layers that wick moisture away from the puppies are preferable to towels, which can bunch and trap small limbs. As the puppies grow more mobile after week three, ensure the box sides are high enough to contain them but low enough for the dam to step in and out comfortably.

Socialization during the neonatal and early puppy period has a profound impact on the adult temperament of a Sloughi. This breed is naturally aloof with strangers and can develop fearfulness if not given gentle, positive exposure to the world during its formative weeks. While the puppies' eyes and ears are still closed during the first two weeks, early neurological stimulation through brief, gentle handling can promote resilience and adaptability.

From days three through sixteen, many breeders implement a mild stress protocol that involves brief handling exercises — holding the puppy in different positions, tickling between the toes, and placing it on a cool surface for a few seconds. These controlled, low-level stressors have been shown to improve cardiovascular performance, stress tolerance, and immune function later in life. Each exercise should last only a few seconds and should never cause visible distress.

Once the puppies are mobile and their senses are fully online, typically around three to four weeks, structured socialization should begin in earnest. Introduce novel sounds at low volume — household appliances, different types of music, recorded traffic sounds. Allow the puppies to walk on different surfaces such as tile, carpet, grass, and rubber matting. Each new experience should be paired with calm reassurance and never forced.

Human handling by multiple people is especially important for Sloughi puppies. Because the breed bonds deeply with its family and can be wary of outsiders, exposure to a variety of gentle visitors during weeks four through eight helps build a foundation of social confidence. Children should always be supervised during these interactions, and the puppies should never be overwhelmed by too many new experiences at once.

A veterinary examination within the first 48 hours of birth is recommended for the entire litter, especially if any complications occurred during whelping. The veterinarian will check each puppy for congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate, heart murmurs, and umbilical hernias. Sloughis are generally a healthy breed with a relatively shallow gene pool in some regions, so early screening helps identify any issues that may require monitoring or intervention.

Deworming typically begins at two weeks of age and is repeated at regular intervals as directed by your veterinarian. Intestinal parasites are common in young puppies and can cause rapid decline in a neonatal Sloughi's condition if left untreated. The dam should also be dewormed on schedule, as certain parasites can be transmitted through her milk.

The first round of vaccinations generally occurs between six and eight weeks of age, covering core diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Your veterinarian will establish a vaccination schedule based on the region's disease prevalence and the litter's specific risk factors. Sloughis, like other sighthound breeds, may have particular sensitivities to certain medications, so always inform your vet that you are working with a sighthound.

Keep a detailed health log for each puppy, recording daily weights, feeding observations, stool quality, and any behavioral changes. This documentation becomes invaluable if a puppy develops a health concern and also provides prospective owners with a thorough health history when the puppies are placed in their new homes.

Newborn Sloughi puppies are fragile, and their condition can deteriorate rapidly when something goes wrong. One of the earliest warning signs is a failure to gain weight or an unexplained weight loss. Daily weigh-ins at the same time each day provide the most reliable data. A puppy that does not gain weight for two consecutive days, or that loses more than ten percent of its body weight, needs immediate veterinary attention.

Persistent crying or restlessness in a newborn puppy often indicates hunger, pain, or an inability to regulate body temperature. A healthy, well-fed neonate should spend the vast majority of its time sleeping quietly or nursing. A puppy that is constantly vocalizing and crawling away from the litter pile may be ill, chilled, or unable to compete for access to a teat. Supplemental bottle feeding may be necessary while you determine the underlying cause.

Diarrhea, vomiting, or a distended abdomen are red flags at any age but are especially dangerous in neonates. Dehydration sets in quickly in tiny puppies, and the electrolyte imbalances that follow can be fatal within hours. If you notice loose or discolored stools, or if a puppy's abdomen feels tight and swollen, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Watch for fading puppy syndrome, a catch-all term for neonates that decline without an obvious cause. Symptoms include lethargy, low body temperature, refusal to nurse, and a limp or unresponsive feel when handled. While not all cases of fading puppy syndrome can be reversed, early intervention — including warming the puppy, providing supplemental nutrition, and seeking veterinary care — gives the best chance of survival. Trust your instincts as a breeder: if something feels wrong, act quickly rather than waiting to see if the puppy improves on its own.