My bitch finally had her puppies yesterday, sadly no labour but the pups were distressed so she had to have a section.

It has taken a few hours for her to actually bond with them and fully care for them. I put them to her as soon as we got home. The vet said that she had little or no milk so I should top up pups with Whelpi. The pups were very loud and crying last night so we fed them every 2 hours as thats how often they were crying out. It has been a struggle trying to find the best bottles...and how big the holes have to be in the teats! Why are these things so difficult?
Anyway the pups went from 2am to 5.30am, had a bottle feed and now happy with mum. After having a little squeeze she does have some milk.
Should I still be topping up the pups with Whelpi or let mum get on with it? They have lost a little weight but I weighed them 18 hours ago. She does get a little upset when we take the pups away from her for a feed.

Forgot to say that there are 6 in the litter.

I have no advice, but congratulations on your litter XX

Our bitch had a c section a few months ago, we were lucky as she had lots of milk so as long as we were on hand to keep putting the pups on her they fed really well, but I must say she was rather dozy for the first few days and did no licking or cleaning (cue 2 hourly bottom rubbing and no sleep for us).  I think the pups will guide you, if they're unsettled, crying and rooting they're not getting enough but if they seem settled at and just after feeding, probably best to let them just carry on from mum as the more they suckle the more it will bring the milk in, just weigh twice a day to make sure the weight starts to pick up.  Good luck!!

i had to hand rear 5 puppies on my last litter and gladly everything went ok but my bitch has absolutely no milk so had no choice!! but if your bitch has milk then try to let the pups suckle as much as poss as this will keep mums milk in, there is no problem suplementing if you feel they need a little but if they are not hungry enough then they will not suckle as much and keep mums milk in ...... lea

I had a bitch that needed a section, and the vet told me, after the operation, that there was no milk.

My girl was totally out of things and I put her on a heat pad when we got home.  And latched the pups on immediately.  I felt awful, when the poor girl was too sleepy to do anything, but the suckling brought the milk down just fine.  I saw to toileting until mum felt up to things, and she took over all maternal duties very quickly indeed.

I didn't supplement at all.  The milk needed to be drawn down by pups, and it worked.

I'm leaving her alone for now. At first if the pups were crying I put them on the nipple but mum seems to be fine now and if they are crying she swaps sides (she can lie straight and lies on her side) and the hungry one gets there first.

> At first if the pups were crying I put them on the nipple

Exactly the right thing to do.  :-)

Bringing down mums milk is going to be better for pups than anything we can feed them!  I try to get all the nutrition into mum.  I know she won't be feeling like much in the way of food just now, but later on when her milk production is really high, you will be able to get all sorts of good food into her, and help her rear those puppies that way.

Good Luck!  And Congratulations.

Congratulations!

I've found the quickest way to increase the milk supply (c-section or not) is to get the pups onto mum every hour - wake them up if necessary and put them all on together.  Keep them suckling until the milk lets down - scratching them on the back works for me to keep them suckling. This is presuming all is well with the dam and babies.

I found more often than not the puppies don't even lose weight in the first 24 hours and it gives them a fantastic start to life.

Make sure the dam is drinking and eating plenty.  I've found putting puppy milk in the water works well.

Thanks for the help and information. Mum is now on the Whelpi and her milk came in after 48 hours. All apart from 2 have gone over their birth weight and the other 2 are just being put onto mum every 2 hours.