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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Moms milk dried up?
- By Yuna21702 [us] Date 14.07.12 10:29 UTC
I figured I should start a new thread because this is an entire different topic. I am pretty sure that Bella's milk is drying up, after hours of no sleep and research I think I know why. She only has the 2 puppies and I didn't alternate nipples because I didn't know I was supposed to. According to the research I did if they are not rotated with a small litter and the pups do not pick the same nipple it will not stimulate her enough to produce milk on all nipples. This makes perfect sense.
Last night the pups were crying while they were trying to nurse, after the pup suckling and whining for about an hour they finally were full enough to fall asleep. They were back at it an hour later. Same thing crying while nursing. Of course I have the replacement milk and bottles and I purchased the new scale. I attempted to supplement last night on the third crying/suckling round but they hate the plastic nipple. I don't want to squeeze the bottle to force the milk in , due to the chance of it going in their lungs . Does anyone has any ideas?
- By pja [gb] Date 14.07.12 11:44 UTC
Are you weighing them to see if they are gaining weight?  Mum's milk often doesn't come in fully around day 3, especially after a caesar, so don't give up on Bella's milk yet.  Sometimes until then the pups are very restless.  Give Bella raw minced beef (about 50:50 with her normal food) as that is very good for encouraging milk supply, especially after the trauma of a caesar.  Even with a small litter, she will still need a lot more food than normal when feeding pups.  Also she will need to drink a lot, again after losing blood with a caesar.  I give a bitch warm goats milk to drink when she is feeding a litter (as well as plenty of water). 

If you are sure they are not gaining weight, then by all means top them up after they have fed from Bella.  I have had a singleton pup and in order to encourage milk supply I put her onto the back 2 teats and I massaged the teats while she was feeding to help bring the milk down.  Once she had drawn the milk down from one nipple I put her onto the other (which I had also been massaging while she fed from the other, so there was milk ready in the second nipple).  While she fed from the 2nd nipple I massaged the first nipple, so she could go back onto it.  After a few days her body will realise which teats are required and the milk will dry up in the other teats.  I would keep 3 teats at least going if possible, and you will find that the pups will empty one and then dive for the "spare".  You will have to sit and help out when the pups feed to keep these teats going.

Good luck, what a trauma for your first time!
- By Brainless [gb] Date 14.07.12 13:06 UTC
It doesn't matter how many nipples are use the same amount of milk will be produced for the amount of stimulation the puppies give. 

It may mean that some nipples do not come into production, but had she gone on to have a larger litter another time those nipples would have been utilised.

Not seeing milk, or bagging up of glands is no indication.

My Lexi had a very flat milk bar, never saw milk, but reared her first litter of 7 with very well fed fast growing pups.  With her next litters she had more in the way of boobs but not much.

After all humans only have two breasts yet we can nurse one or two children.

In studies done with Rabbits it has been proved that if one side were taped up the doe still produced the amount of milk the litter needed.

The best indicator of milk supply is weight gain of the pups.  the way to ensure good milk supply is nutrition and plenty of fluids and stimulation buy the puppies.
- By Rhodach [gb] Date 14.07.12 16:02 UTC
I find my litters of 3-4 find all 10 teats, even the 2 under the arm pits, you may have to put them on the ones you think have dried up to ensure more comes done as the pups demand it.

Daily or twice daily weighing is needed if you are not sure if they are getting enough.

Is Mum toileting them? If not then they could become uncomfortable and this will get worse with each feeds hence the whining/crying, to check dip a piece of cottonwool in some warm water and rub it gently over the tail ends of each pup as Mum should do with her tongue, if nothing happens them she is doing her job but if they wee and poo then settle down then maybe Mum isn't doing all she could and you need to keep an eye on this.
- By Yuna21702 [us] Date 14.07.12 21:40 UTC
I weighed them when they came home and the next day . Then my scale broke , I pick one up yesterday and started weighing again yesterday . So I'm weighing again , I am using that to judge. Hopeful all will be well!
- By JeanSW Date 14.07.12 22:38 UTC
Please do remember that you don't need to "see" if she has milk, as long as pups are gaining.  Many bitches appear not to have milk, which means pups are taking it.
- By Rhodach [gb] Date 14.07.12 22:56 UTC
I agree you don't want her dripping milk as that would be a waste,nor do you want her so engorged that the pups can't get a grip of the teats to feed. Pups soon learn that the teats nearest the back legs seem to be easier to feed from and tend to go back,that is fine when you only have 2 pups, when I have had 3 or 4 the bigger ones will push the smaller ones out of the way so I referee to make sure everyone gets a chance at the easy teats

How much have they gained since birth?
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Moms milk dried up?

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