Hi there, I am new here and hope someone can help.  My cocker had three pups 2 weeks ago, the last one was born 5 hours after the other two and was the smallest.  She seemed to be quite snuffly and when she had not managed to latch on after 19 hours I took her to the vet who advised expressing some colostrum and giving it in a syringe.  He also suggested Whelpi as a supplement.  She does try to latch on but seems to have problems breathing as she sucks.  Also lots of milk comes out her nose!  It has taken her 2 weeks to double her birth weight whereas the other 2 are now 4x their birth weight.  I am still trying to get her to feed from mum but she now seems to prefer the whelpi.  She always sneezes after feeding and her suck is quite feeble.  She is gaining weigh albeit very slowly - but i am worried that it is not enough

Has she been checked for a Cleft palate?

My thought too, Brainless.

I think so!  I did take her to the vet at first and he did look in her mouth (which looks normal) but he just told me that she would probably die but I could try handfeeding her.  After getting her to two weeks old by 2 hourly feeds I would hate to lose her so I'll go back to the vet tomorrow and specificaly ask.  Thanks so much for your prompt replies.

After yu have fed her do you put her back with mum to clean her etc.  What is MUm's reaction towards her? Does the pupp snuggle with her the rest of the time? i do hope she willbe OK but let the vet check for the cleft palate.

Yes her mum cleans her Immediately and she snuggles up to her two siblings whilst they feed, she also lies whith her head on Holly's teat although doesnt actually suckle on her.  I have started trying bottle feeding but again she doesnt seem to suck enough to get anything out.  she just sort of laps which works with the syringe but not the teat or bottle.  Her nose is pretty runny  and when shes sleeping you can see her lips move as she breathes in and out

We had a problem with a small pup who had milk coming out of his nose and not gaining weight and it has turned out to be megaoesophagus.  I would suggest it to vet as because it is not usually associated with my breed they poo poohed it.

If she is lapping would it be a thought to try her on something like the puppy porridge this she could get by lapping if you made it really sloppy, maybe 2 feeds milk and another 2 puppy porridge.

Lynn

Try her with baby rice mixed with either lactol or whelpi, and get pup in your arms and feed with a teaspoon, this is how I introduce solids to my pups its amazing how quickly they will learn to lap, Do this for a day and then try to get her to lap out of a saucer if she wont do this yet, back to the teaspoon.   Just keep trying you have come this far with her.