Pups are 12 days old now and have gained weight quite steadily. however they still seem hungry and mom seems to be losing her milk. I have given her urtica 30 and loads to drink. Whats the best thing. Should I top them up with a bottle. i have Lactol but is Whelpi better
Sue

Are you sure mum hasn't got an infection? I believe that is one of the reasons for milk drying out early.

No her temp is fine and no mastitis,just not much milk

Is she drinking loads of fluids? Water, milk, watery stock etc?

My bitch had an infected uterus shortly after whelping and her milk started to dry up. She didn't have a temperature, and it was only the milk drying that alerted my vet to the situation.

After being chcked by the vet I would review what she is being fed and given to drink. If milk is failing and there is no health problem then the only thing you can do is up her protein ( more meat real chicken/beefor lamb/eggs/tinned oily fish.) If she can tolerate it give her two or three drinks a day of Whelpi or Lactol daily or diluted as directed evaporated milk. Lots of fluid is really important. You can also give her chicken broth to drink - boil up a chicken joint in lots of water for 30 minutes and give her the cooled broth to drink. She should be on 4 or 5 meals a day. Is she eating well? She should be having exercise now, which stimulates milk production, start with a 5-10 minutes brisk trot twice a day. Make sure her undercarraige is washed clean afterwards before she goes back to the puppies. There is not a lot else you can do really. If more protein /exercise doesn't work quite quickly you will have to start supplementing the pups, but as long as thier eyes are open you can get them lapping Whelpi, dont bother with a bottle. If you haven't already, decide what you are going to wean them on to and get some in as they can have a soaked puppy complete in a week or so, mashed to a porrigey consistantcy. I start my babies onto "babyrice" from the chemist mixed with whelpi.

Thanks
I don't know if its me being paranoid or what. ss tried them with lactol last night and did not make much progress, but on weighing them today they are all still gaining anything between 40 and 80g. (bigger pups gained more).Does that sound an ok weight gain. Mom is on 4 feeds a day and drinking lamlac. It is just when I examine her teats I cannot get anything out, but she does spend most of her time in there so maybe she is constantly topping up. If I try to keep her out for a bit she gets worried. Perhaps everything is ok. there eyes are just starting to open so hopfully I will be weaning them soon.
I thought they were hungry as a couple keep crying but as soon as you cuddle them they stop, or if they snuggle up to Mom they are ok.

Hi, if they are gaining and mostly content then I would think everything is fine - they are just taking all she has, which should stimulate her to make even more. :-)