Hi, I have a toy breed who gave birth Friday (18/1), ahead of her due date today (21/1). The last Pup to be born was by far the biggest, I couldn't weigh them immediately as mum was not happy and didn't want me close to them, so they were weighed roughly 12 hours after. At first her milk was not through and they cried but within an hour or so it had coem through. His weight was 156g, and has gained 10g Saturday and 10g Sunday. I'm worried he's falling behind his siblings, his sister who weighed in at 156g too, is now 191g, compared to his 177g. His brother was 123g and now 148g which I also think is a tad low but more reasonable since he is the smallest. He was very lively Saturday and I didn't see any problems until Sunday evening when he just seemed a little quieter and more still. He still has a round belly but not nearly as much as his sister, who looks like she'll explode if she drinks anymore milk. I have checked and he seems to suckle and it is wet around his mouth so he must be drawing milk out. His nose is dry so I'm not concerned of a cleft palate. Am I worrying unnecessarily, is it OK if he's a little behind but still gaining weight? I was told they should gain 10-15% of their body weight a day. I have had lots of cat litters before, but this is the first time with dogs.

I normally expect with my medium bred for a slight loss the next day after birth (I do weigh pups as soon as born while still wet).  This would be up to an ounce in mine that are usually 12 - 14oz, though often a pound or so.

The bigger pups tend to drop more.  the following day I would expect that to be regained and then increasing each day after that.  This would be in litte4ers of 6+.  In smaller litters they gain faster initially after day two.

So I would not worry about him, but ensure that he is put on a teat at every opportunity, for the next few days.  Pups should basically be suckling almost non stop for the first three days or so to bring in the milk which works on a demand and supply basis.

Hello, thanks for the advice! I did want to weigh immediately but she looked about ready to rip my arm off so I left it. I had to help with the last one, the one I'm worried about, as she didn't rip the sack and it was getting to 8 minutes, didn't want to leave it any longer, so we had a bit of fight over that already. :(
I have been putting him on the teat regularly today and he also had a little bit of puppy stim, when he had his weigh in today he's managed to gain 27g so I'm a lot less worried now. ❤️

> as she didn't rip the sack and it was getting to 8 minutes,

I must admit I am am much more hands on at whelping.

I always open the sacks around the head and ensure pups are breathing, then let mum clean up, while I get the wool cut for around the neck and then quickly pop on scales.

I suppose it was how the lady that helped me whelp my first two litters did it. Hers was a medium size gundog breed.

I’m very hands on too, it’s how I’d seen it done and our girls have been fine with this. One of our bitches was carrying so many puppies that she couldn’t get to them as they were born until she had delivered the first 6 or seven (there were 13 in total).