my bitch had pups on monday and its friday and there is no milk
av started to hand rear as they wernt putting weight on.

any chance she could develop her own milk??
the vet suggested feeding her lactol but no joy,
any help! tnx

When did you start feeding them?  If it's only today then she must have milk.  I have a few bitches which I can't express milk from but the pups have always been fine.

Have they been losing weight gradually or just all of a sudden?

Sorry just so that we can gt a better picture of what's happening.

I could never express milk from my bitch but all her puppies thrived. :)
I too was worried that she might not be producing milk but puppies seemed to be very happy.They fed regularly and were producing wee and poo.
You should remember that puppies,like human babies can lose a bit in the first day or so and then gradually gain it back.
How are puppies? If they are making lots of noise and are restless,then this would suggest she has no milk,but if they are quiet,warm and seem content then I would think they were fine.
Good luck and keep us updated.

I lost 3 pups after 2 days of mum having no milk, so I think if they were born on Monday then she must have milk or the whole litter would be dead by now.

What are you feeding mum?  She needs plenty of food and fluids, I have found red meat to help milk quantity.  You say the pups haven't put any weight on?  Have they lost any?

A good guide as to whether the pups are getting enough milk is whether or not they are warm and contented.  Hungry pups tend to move around and cry/fuss a lot, well fed pups are warm, 'snuggly' and fairly quiet except for around feeding time, at least for the first week or so ;)

One thing is sure, the milk is produced in response to demand, so if she has contented pups, feeding them by hand is counter productive as she won't produce milk if they aren't suckling ;) 

In the first few days puppies can lose a little weight (like human babies) but then they start to gain weight as the milk supply develops.  Try to weigh them once a day at the same time each day, and mark the weights on a chart, then you'll know how much they are putting on. If you weigh them more than once a day it will seem as if they aren't gaining ;)  (apologies if this is what you're doing already ;) )

i am weighing every day. . i think i will just have to hand rear them, as if i dont give them the feed they start crying and dont settle.
my bitch has very very little milk
. i hanvt lost any as i rang vets and they said if they arnt getting milk put the pups on lactol.
tnx for all ya help!