A simple template for logging and plotting each puppy’s weight through the neonatal period — the trend line is what matters, so set this up to track over time from day one.
The most important first
- Log weight daily for the first two weeks, then every 2 to 3 days after that.
- Compare each reading against a target of roughly 5–10% daily gain: at least 1.5 times birth weight by day 7, and birth weight doubled by about day 10–14.
- Plot each puppy separately — a flat litter-wide average can hide one puppy falling behind.
- A flat or declining individual curve is a reason to call the vet, even without other visible symptoms.
Free interactive tool
Would you rather chart on screen? The online version plots every puppy and checks the 1.5× and 2× targets for you. Open the puppy weight chart →
What to log
- Puppy ID / collar color
- Date and time of each weighing
- Weight (grams recommended — small changes show up sooner than with larger units)
- Any relevant notes (just fed, seemed unsettled, etc.)
Use a digital scale that reads to 1 gram, and weigh at about the same point relative to feeding each time, so changes reflect growth and not a full stomach. Note any puppy that was noticeably smaller than its littermates at birth. Low-birth-weight puppies carry a higher risk and deserve closer watching from the first day.
Suggested schedule
- Birth, 12 hours, 24 hours (closer spacing in the first day catches early problems fastest)
- Daily through the first two weeks
- Every 2 to 3 days from two weeks onward
What to compare against
- Daily gain of roughly 5 to 10% of body weight, once past the first 24 hours
- At least 1.5 times birth weight by day 7, and birth weight doubled by about day 10 to 14. Some puppies get there a little sooner or later; a steady upward trend matters more than the exact day
- As a rough cross-check, many puppies gain around 1 gram per day for every pound of expected adult weight (about 2 g per kg) — roughly 60 g a day for a Labrador-type puppy. Treat this as a guide; each puppy’s own trend still matters most
- Each puppy’s own trend over time — not a fixed target weight, since birth weight varies by breed
In the first 24 hours a puppy may lose a little weight while nursing gets established. A dip of up to about 10% of birth weight is generally considered acceptable. A larger loss, or a puppy that is still losing on day two, needs a call to your veterinarian the same day, not at the next routine check. A large French study of more than 8,500 puppies found that weight change over the first two days was one of the strongest early warning signs of later loss, especially in puppies born small.
Reading the chart
A steadily climbing line is what you want to see for every puppy individually. A flat stretch or any decline is worth acting on immediately — this is often the earliest objective sign of a problem, sometimes appearing before a puppy shows any other visible symptom. Don’t let a good litter-wide average reassure you if one puppy’s individual line has stalled; check every puppy’s own chart, not just the group picture.
When to call your vet
- A puppy loses more than about 10% of its birth weight in the first 24 hours — call the same day.
- A puppy is still losing weight on day two, or its weight stays flat for 24–48 hours at any point in the first weeks.
- A puppy has not reached at least 1.5 times its birth weight by day 7, or has not doubled it by about day 10–14.
- A puppy that was small at birth is falling further behind its littermates.
- Weight gain stalls in several puppies at once — this can point to a problem with the dam or her milk supply.
- Poor weight gain comes with other signs: weak suckling, crying, a cool body (normal is about 95–99 °F / 35–37.2 °C in week 1) or lying apart from the litter.
- If in doubt, call — your vet would rather hear from you early.
Work on it
A few minutes here will teach you more than re-reading the article.
Ask yourself
- Am I plotting each puppy separately, or just tracking a litter average?
- Would I notice a two-day plateau on one puppy’s chart right away?
Find out & check
- Find out at what point of a plateau or decline your vet wants to be called.
Do one thing
- Set up this chart — paper or digital — before your next litter arrives.
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Sources & further reading
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Davidson AP) — Management of the Neonate in Dogs and Cats. merckvetmanual.com
- Mugnier A, Gaillard V, Chastant S (2023), Animals 13(12):1928 — Relative Impact of Birth Weight and Early Growth on Neonatal Mortality in Puppies. mdpi.com
- Schrank M, Mollo A, Contiero B, Romagnoli S (2020), Animals 10(1):8 — Bodyweight at Birth and Growth Rate during the Neonatal Period in Three Canine Breeds. mdpi.com
- Alves I (2020), Veterinary Medicine and Science 6(4):946–957 — A model of puppy growth during the first three weeks. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Axnér E, Axelsson R, Hermansson U (2023), Animals 13(23):3605 — Evaluation of Canine Neonatal Health by Breeders. mdpi.com
- Royal Canin Veterinary Academy (Abreu & Vannucchi) — A Guide to Newborn Puppy Intensive Care. academy.royalcanin.com
- American Kennel Club (with Fran Smith DVM PhD DACT) — Best Practices for Whelping & Caring for Newborn Puppies. akc.org
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Feeding Orphaned Puppies. vcahospitals.com
- University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine — Fading Puppy Syndrome: When Puppies Fail to Thrive. vetmed.illinois.edu
Where evidence is limited, recommendations rest on established practice and expert judgment, and may be updated as knowledge develops.
Next steps
- Related: Weighing and tracking growth · Neonatal assessment score sheet.
- Return to the area hub: The neonatal period.