Hi, I'm new here but have been following the pages for a while.
I could do with some advice if anyone has any experience please, bare with me...
My bitch whelped last Friday morning, so pups are just shy of a week, yesterday I noticed that the dogs looked like they were searching for more teats seeming like they were not satisfied, and i had been concerned with the bitches food intake. So, concerned off to the vet I went.
she tried expressing from her and she said there were only 2 giving milk so gave me a bottle  (which they didnt take to so now syringe feeding) and some whelpi formula, under the instruction to be fed ever 2 hours.
The pups today seem happier and are feeding off her then sleeping, so surely they must be getting something off her? Spoke to he vet and she said to have a go every other feed, but they still don't seem that interested. Don't get me wrong some have suckled away at times but most of the time not.

So basically getting to the crunch, I'm just concerned if I don't feed them I'm going to have some poorly pups but then they seem pretty fine today and I shouldn't be forcing milk down. I'm so confused with what to do.

I would be so greatful for any advice on this. Thanks 

Are they gaining weight, sem content and plump, if so then leave well alone they are fine.

I have breastfed, yet could rarely draw more than an ounce of milk off, yet baby fed fro 14 months.

A bitch has to let down her milk, and would perhaps not be much inclined to do so at the vets.

If the pups are healthy and hungry they will take milk.  I have always found that a normal newborn latex teat works best for my medium size breed, couldn't get on with the pet bottles at all.

I also agree with Brainless, at this stage there never seems much milk there but if pups are plump, quiet, content and gaining weight there isn't anything to worry about. If you do need to top up then I also use newborn baby bottle with slow flow teat. If milk flow is still to fast then a bit of new washing up sponge can be used to plug teat and slow the flow

Thank you so much. My gut instinct was to leave them be. Nice to see it in writing!!! Really appreciate the advice on the bottles too - would the new born bottles be ok for a small breed dog, or will the get be too big, if I do end up needing it.

I agree with Brainless too

Pups that are contented, feel sleek and sleep most of the time,  if they are hungry they tend to be very restless and noisy,  not the contented sounds of happy pups  ;-)

One way of knowing if your pups are getting enough is to weigh them at the same time every day and keep a record.   That way you will be able to see which pups are gaining faster, and whether there is a pup who maybe needs a little more time on mum or on the back teats.

If you do have to supplement feed, then offering the milk AFTER the pups have fed from the bitch will ensure that they stimlate the bitch properly so that she can produce milk.     It's supply and demand - if there's no demand the supply will drop off, and a pup that has just fed from a bottle won't make the effort to feed from mum ;-)

Personally, I bought Whelpi, just in case, but gave it to the bitch to ensure she got enough to drink as she's never been much of a drinker :-)   

Another way of ensuring that the bitch gets enough liquids is to soak any dried food in water or stock, this will also help if her mouth gets sore from cleaning the pups :-)

Expect new born bottles and teat will be fine.. pups have a big gobs hence those puppy bottle with small narrow teats being next to useless :)

If you do end up having to bottle feed, don't forget they will need burping ;-) I like to have a Preemie bottle (for premature babies) on hand just in case in my whelping box. Used it last year for one pup for a few days, better sized teat than a standard bottle. Hope they're taking milk off mum ok though :-)

Yes I have been weighing them daily and they have been gaining each day. I've tried feeding the little one and it  really isn't keen on feeding from me, it kicks up a bit of a stink so, I'm hoping its full. I am feeding mum biscuits soaked and actually have been giving her some whelpi as she really liked it.
Thanks all for your advice. Put my mind at ease so much :)

I'm not sure if anyone on here has ever tried this, I haven't tried it myself but found it very interesting and wondered if it would help prevent flooding the pups lungs with milk?
Best of luck with your puppies.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4767246701510&set=vb.1305701179&type=2&theater

If they are gaining, then leave them to mum, weigh them daily to double check each day, but they sound as though they are doing fine without help.

I often find that we cannot get milk out of a nipple but there must be plenty if pups are putting on weight.  I have tried the FB video above.  Sadly lost the pups but they did seem to take better to the sponge than they would have done any other way.

There was uproar on FB about this video but I would give it a go if it meant live healthy pups at 8 weeks old.

My main issue would be how would you sterilise the sponges, and could there be dangerous chemical residue/particles from them.

I reckon soaking the sponges in a solution of Milton, the way you do with babies' bottles, dummies, teething rings etc, would do the job.

They do say to use latex free sponges and I suppose you would clean them as you would any bottles and teats with some sterilising solution?

How much should the pups be putting on? Some days are great and then other days are a bit hit and miss, although they are still content! If the don't put a lot on would you suppliment?

I would use one sponge piece per feed and throw away, wouldn't be happy that all the milk in the sponge was out and not going sour.

If you supplement it reduces the amount that Mum produces because she will only produce what they demand, provided they are settled and gaining then continue as you are.

> My main issue would be how would you sterilise the sponges, and could there be dangerous chemical residue/particles from them.

I haven't seen the vid referred to but I remember from an old dog book (with advice from hunts and kennel men) they suggesting using bread to soak up milk and squeeze into the pups.  Presumably they then threw the bread away or fed it to other dogs...  I'd also guess they were talking about using home made bread, so additives wouldn't have been a problem?

I think it's meant that you only use the syringe once, I know that I did.

Syringes are easily sterilised I was referring to the make-up sponges.

doh I meant to put sponge !!!!