my girl whelped on Sunday everything has gone so well she had milk  and puppies have been thriving ...today one pup has been screaming a little even after feeding I checked her nipples and she hasnt much milk coming through . I have been onto the vet they said to bottle feed three and ellie feed three and alternate.
I am panicking a bit finding it difficult to get them to take the bottle

any ideas would be gratefully recieved

Thanks

Roni

Hi Roni,

Milk comes through on a supply meets demand basis so the more often (and more pups) feeding the more milk will be produced.  If Ellie is well in herself and drinking plenty then I personally wouldn't go down the bottle feeding route at this stage for that reason and remember that the first few days the pups are getting valuable colostrum from mum - not milk :)

Perhaps you could give some Nutrodrops to the pups if your concerned?  Are your pups gaining weight?  If so, then that is the main thing at this time.

give 'em all a {{{hug}}} from me ;)

Teri x

You don't actually normally see a lot of milk come out in the early days, doesn't have to mean there isn't a lot. :) First off, have you checked the pups for cleft palates so you are sure they are able to latch on? And could it perhaps be that the one that cries after a feed has colic?  Can you weigh them and see if they are gaining weight, as that will probably be the best indication of how much they really do get off mum?

I'm sure there will be people with plenty more experience than me that will have other ideas too. Just to add one thing -it will take a while for any baby animal to accept a bottle if they have suckled from mum, you'll just have to persevere. I'm doing it with a kitten currently after a c-section on Saturday so know how difficult it can be when they fight against it.

Hi Marianne,
all puppies have gained weight approx 3oz since sunday one puppy (not the cryer) hasnt gained but hasnt lost he is the smallest .
Funny you should mention colic the cryer has just fed from mum and has started to cry again?how do you deal with colic  havent heard of that one??

I am really worried
pups wake and seem to want to feed every half hour is this too often..

This heat is not helping ..
Ellie has been brilliant and is very attentive but is panicking with this puppy that she cant placate

thinking of visiting the vet but they told me on the phone to try bottle feeding

Roni

I've had colic with pups before until they learn to co-ordinate their sucking and swallowing.  I hold the whinger up against my chest, head on shoulder like a baby, and you'll often hear them burp after a couple of minutes.  I've used drops of gripe water with immediate success and alwas have a bottle in my whelping gear.

Thanks Val ..have just spoken to my breeder who has told me similar that it is most likely colic as she heard him crying I know he has toileted and is eating plus is a good weight ..she has given me a few tips so will give them a go thanks again

roni

Sounds good so far then Roni, good luck with them!

If it's just one pup screaming, and if the litter in general is putting on weight, I would be a little more worried about the pup than about the milk supply. Perhaps a check to see if pup is constipated, and keep a particularly close eye?

M.

If you are thinking about feeding the pup I use an eye dropper filled with either Lactol, or, Welpi, I find it much easier to use with new pups than a bottle, as you can just squeeze a drop onto their tongue, mind you I don't have a large breed of dog so maybe this would not suit everyone. Or, as other posters have said it could be colic.

so far have decided not to bottle feed ..mum is still looking after babies so dont see the need.
gave crying pup drop of gripe water and have been nursing him rubbing tum etc..he has stopped crying for now and has been on mum a few times ..ellie has been caring for him same as others she isnt concerned!

we will see how it goes

thanks everyone for your help

Roni