We have just lost our beautiful Boxer bitch after  emergency surgery to deliver her litter - we are extremely upset and shell shocked at the moment but we need to concentrate all our efforts on saving her puppies who are looking very strong.

If anyone could give me details of any websites with hand rearing info particularly amounts to feed and when to increase time between feeds etc. I would be most grateful I have spent most of today (when not feeding) and come up with nothing of much help, our vets have been great helping us find goats colsotrum etc. but their advice for feeding is just little and often which is a bit vague to say the least - I have supplimented before but never reared a whole litter. We are currently feeding every 2 hours about 15ml per pup they would take more but their belly's feel full and we know we have to be careful not to over feed. Thanks.

So sorry to hear about your girl!!  Betty Bloomfield a hand-rearing expert.  Do give her a ring.  I understand that she is always happy to help.  01462 733030

hi...where abouts in country are you....if your near me i can help with bitch ive just takin pups off....jayne emailme jayneze@aol.com

how kind   x

Sorry to hear about your bitch. x

I would offer substitute milk every 2 hours & as much as they will take. I would use a normal baby bottle with a normal/fast teat. I find puppy feeders & kitten feeders are not much good. A syringe is ok but you will get better results from the bottle as they can regulate better what they are taking in. It will take a few times for them to get the hang of it, but trust me they will.

You'll need to stimulate them to go to the toilet. Use damp cotton wool & gently wipe (not rub) around genitals & bottom. This will be more time consuming than the feeding.

Good luck, it's hard work - but will all be worth it in the end.

Why not join the forum & keep us posted.

Smudgley. x

EDIT TO ADD - if people offer to help out, take them up on it & get as many people to help as possible.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.  Please register with the site and keep us posted on how the little ones are coming on.

Agreed with Smudgley - take all the offers of help you can

Good luck with your litter.

Hayley..xx

im guessing they have managed as never got email from them.....if your reading posts and still need help get intouch...theres  a bitch  here full ov milk,happy to help...jayne

My hand reared pups are now 5.1/2 weeks old, but we were told NOT to over feed them and to stick to the amounts on the welpi box, our vet said letting them feed as much as they wanted could give them an upset tummy and make them dehyrdrated.  So we were feeding 2ml every 2 hours (medium breed)   Reading off the tub it says large breeds birth to 7 days 5ml every 2 hours 10 times daily.  We stuck to the instructions and didn't have any problems.  We used a Boots Prem baby bottle with release valve so the milk didn't flow too fast.

Good luck, I'm sorry to hear about your bitch and like Smudgley says, they do soon get the hang of it!  Hard work is an understatement, but definitely worth it in the end