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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Puppies feeding per day
- By Podmoma [gb] Date 06.05.20 08:49 UTC
Hi, our pups are 8 days old, I am feeding mum regular, good quality food.  I've read that pups should feed about every two hours, but it seems more like they feed a lot more often than that, and last night the pups were in the tests for over an hour.  I don't believe this is normal and doesn't allow mum time to produce new milk.  Can anyone advise please.  Much appreciated.
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 06.05.20 09:28 UTC Upvotes 5
Milk is made on a supply and demand basis; the more the pups suckle, the more milk the bitch will be stimulated to make. If the pups are suckling a lot then they're stripping her teats out to get the richest milk which comes last. As long as mum is getting plenty to eat (several meals a day) as well as lots to drink, she'll increase her milk production to match the pups' appetite. (In a couple of weeks she'll be needing at least 4 times her usual maintenance ration daily.)
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 06.05.20 10:03 UTC Upvotes 1
As Jeangenie has written.   However, you may find that these puppies who appear to be suckling for 'a long time', have actually fallen asleep at the teat.   They tend to take what they need immediately, and then do exactly that.

I would just say that despite my best efforts at feeding my girls when nursing, many of them still managed to come off the litter looking like Belson-cases.   Well not exactly, but certainly perhaps not in full condition although we did have one who went back into the ring (Crufts) just one last time, soon after a litter.  Some bitches will give their all, some not so much.
- By onetwothreefour Date 06.05.20 11:07 UTC Upvotes 2
Goodness, just let the pups feed when they want to feed! Puppies nurse for all kinds of reasons, some of which are comfort and reassurance - just like children suck dummies because the act of sucking itself is enjoyable!

Weigh the puppies daily and only intervene in any way at al, if you see they are not gaining for more than one consecutive day...
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Puppies feeding per day

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