Newborn puppies should be weighed every day for at least the first four weeks of life. Record each puppy’s birth weight as your starting point, then weigh them once daily to track consistent gains. After four weeks, you can transition to weekly weigh-ins as the puppies grow more stable and start the weaning process.
Why Daily Weighing Matters
Puppies are fragile in their first weeks. They can’t regulate their own body temperature, they depend entirely on nursing for nutrition, and problems can escalate within hours. A puppy that seems fine in the morning can be in serious trouble by evening. Weight is the single most reliable indicator that a puppy is eating enough and developing normally, because lack of weight gain is usually the first sign something is wrong, often appearing before any other symptoms.
Daily weighing catches problems early enough to act. A puppy that fails to gain weight for even one day deserves closer attention, and two consecutive days without gains should prompt immediate action, whether that means supplemental feeding, adjusting the puppy’s nursing position, or calling your vet.
The First 24 Hours
It’s not unusual for puppies to lose a small amount of weight in the first 24 hours after birth. This is normal and doesn’t necessarily signal a problem. However, after that initial dip, puppies should begin gaining weight steadily. If a puppy continues losing weight past the first day, or never begins gaining at all, that’s a red flag that requires veterinary attention right away.
Weigh each puppy as soon as possible after birth and record the number alongside an identifying mark (a small dab of nail polish on a toenail or a different-colored yarn collar works well for telling puppies apart). This birth weight becomes your baseline for everything that follows.
What Scale to Use
A small kitchen scale is the best tool for weighing newborn puppies. Set it to grams rather than ounces. Grams give you a much more precise reading, which matters when you’re tracking tiny daily changes in an animal that might weigh only 100 to 200 grams at birth for a toy breed, 400 to 500 grams for a large breed, or around 700 grams for a giant breed.
A puppy that gains 10 grams overnight would barely register as a change in ounces, but in grams, you can see the trend clearly. Place a small towel or container on the scale, zero it out, then set the puppy inside. The whole process takes about 30 seconds per puppy.
How to Get Consistent Readings
Weigh your puppies at the same time each day. The most common approach is to weigh them first thing in the morning before a feeding, since a puppy weighed right after nursing will appear heavier than the same puppy weighed on an empty stomach. Picking one consistent time eliminates that variable and gives you a clean comparison from day to day.
Keep a simple log, either on paper or in a spreadsheet. Record the date, each puppy’s ID, and their weight in grams. Over the first two weeks, you should see a fairly steady upward line. Most healthy puppies roughly double their birth weight within the first 7 to 10 days, though the exact rate varies by breed.
When to Switch to Weekly Weigh-Ins
After the first four weeks, daily weighing becomes less critical. Puppies are more robust at this stage, they’re beginning to explore solid food, and their growth is easier to observe visually. Weekly weigh-ins from this point forward are enough to confirm they’re staying on track. Compare their progress against breed-appropriate weight charts, which your vet or breed club can provide.
Giant breeds deserve a note here: their growth curves differ significantly from standard charts, and they’re more susceptible to problems caused by growing too fast. If you’re raising a giant breed litter, ask your vet for a growth curve specific to your breed rather than relying on generic puppy charts.
Signs a Puppy Isn’t Thriving
Weight stagnation or loss is the earliest warning sign of fading puppy syndrome, a broad term for newborns that fail to thrive. Other symptoms include poor nursing, restless crying that can’t be soothed, and a body temperature that feels too cold or too warm. These puppies deteriorate quickly. A puppy that seemed only slightly “off” can become critically ill within hours at this age.
If your daily weigh-ins show a puppy falling behind, the first step is making sure it’s getting adequate access to a nipple. In large litters, smaller or weaker puppies sometimes get pushed aside. Rotating nursing positions or offering supplemental feedings with a puppy milk replacer can help. If a puppy still isn’t gaining despite your efforts, veterinary care is essential. Treatment typically involves nutritional support with milk replacer and sugar supplementation, along with antibiotics if an infection is involved.
A Quick Weighing Schedule
- At birth: Record each puppy’s weight immediately as a baseline.
- Days 1 through 28: Weigh once daily, same time each day, before feeding.
- Weeks 5 through 8: Weigh once weekly and compare against breed growth charts.
- After 8 weeks: Continue weekly or biweekly weigh-ins through the rapid growth phase, adjusting based on breed size and your vet’s guidance.
The entire daily routine adds only a few minutes to your morning, but the information it provides is invaluable. A simple gram-by-gram record is the difference between catching a struggling puppy early and missing the window where intervention is most effective.