Hi
Just thought I would let everyone know that my bitch Ivy had her puppies this morning the 1st at 6am and the last at 11am she had 4 dogs and 3 bitches all seem to be doing well although we are experiencing problems getting the smallest one to suckle any advice would be appreciated she is moving around but is not forth coming in opening her mouth to suckle.
Patricia

Congrats!! and well done to your girl!

When I had a pup that did not seem to suckle, I put her on the teats nearer my girls back legs and used my little finger to open her mouth from the side and used my other fingers to place the teat in her mouth, and then my pup started suckling nicely.

Good luck with your little bundles!

Congratulations!
If the little one isn't feeding properly, one way is to let a bigger and stronger sibling get the milk flowing, then remove him/her and put the weaker pup on that teat. That way less energy is needed, the hard work has already been done :p
Good luck with the pups!
Karen

My mum smeared Enervite on the mother teet for her latest litter especially for the first born as he was quite small and he's done brilliantly and is now 3 weeks old.  We've never done this before but I don't know for a dog that was so small and born 8 days premature he's certainly doing well at the moment as are the two girls.