Pippa's 12 pups are 5 days old now and there were 2 smaller ones when they were born. One has caught up quite well but the other has stayed small and isn't gaining as fast as the others.
I have tried topping her up with a bottle of formula, she seems to suck but doesn't take much. Last night we dropped it in with a pipette and got a few mls in but this morning she got very upset when we tried.
She is very feisty and seems to suck well from Mum but I am worried.
Please help...any tips for getting her to suckle the formula? I am using a baby newborn teat but is there something better?
Thanks

I dont have enough experience about the suckling thing but I think I would get the vet to check if there are any visible physical problems affecting its ability to feed. I take it you have had a good look for any signs of cleft palate?

I wouldn't give formula, to be honest, as long as she is gaining some weight. Bottle feeding a pup carries the risk of fluid getting in the lungs, and also the pup is more likely to get the runs.

Make sure you put her on a back teat (these are more productive usually) often, and stay with the pups when they feed to make sure the smaller ones stay at the back teats, as some are more greedy than others and will push smaller pups off the 'nicer' teats. I usually just frequently put my two slightly smaller pups on the back teats at every given opportunity. Some still gained more than others, but as long as they are gaining, then you should be fine.

Have to say I agree with jackson, (human babies are all different shapes, sizes and weights) even in small litters of 3-4 there are generally size differences, in a litter of 9 you are bound to get a varying degree of size, as long as the smallest is feeding well and content don't worry, sometimes the smallest can surpirse you when an adult and grow to be just as big as it's siblings.

There is nothing better than the Dam's milk just pop the smallest on the back teats, though the bigger pups will generally knock her off again, so perhaps wake her up first for a feed, remember the smaller the pup the smaller the tummy, so she can not take as much milk as her larger siblings, so she will finish sooner or begin later to suckle, she can only take so much milk.

The smaller very often come into their own once you begin weaning, if she is happy and healthy don't worry. :-)  Nothing wrong with her being smaller.

Thank you both for your replies.
The vet checked her when she had her dew claws done so I don't think she has a problem with cleft palate.
She usually gets herself on the back teat and holds on for dear life....as I said she is feisty! She has put on a bit of weight this morning so I feel a bit better.

Thanks Carrington, cross posted!
There are 12 of them to feed but she always seems to be in there and happily suckling. I am such a stress head, will try and relax a bit.

sometimes the smallest can surpirse you when an adult and grow to be just as big as it's siblings.

That's true. One of the two smaller pups in my litter, who I have seen frequently, has turned out one of the biggest so far, and with really good bone. She is almost identical to her litter sister, who we have, and was the biggest girl in the litter. (Although not born the biggest, but middling) Tyhe girl born biggest, and born bigger than most of her brothers, has turned out fairly small. So you just never know.

The smallest from one of my litters ended up being the biggest when leaving for thier new homes.
I did give him nutridrops for a little boost.

I don't think that I would worry if she/he is gaining weight.  Some pups are slower than others at the beginning and then they pickup and are quicker than the rest.  Important is that they are gaining weight.  I would only be worried or topping up if they weren't gaining any weight.

Thanks everyone, she is catching up rapidly!
I got her some nutridrops we she promptly spat out LOL!