My bitch has recently whelped last one at 12am today. The pups are suckling on her teats but as yet I can see no milk.  How long should I leave it before giving them a bottle feed which obviously I would prefer not to do but just need to be prepared.

Thanks

If the pups are quiet and don't appear dehydrated then I wouldn't top them up as they need to be hungry to suckle and stimulate the milk to come in.

Make sure the dam is getting plenty to drink, broth or goats milk if she won't drink plain water.

Hello, thanks she is drinking plenty of fluid, I thought she had finished but another pup is on it's way.  They are getting noisy which is what concerns me a bit although don't appear dehydrated.  Also noticed one of her nipples is really red almost raw not sure how that has happened.  What can I put on it to help her?
Thanks

I find aloe vera to be soothing and it's ok if eaten, worrying though that's it's sore this early.  Although milk should come through with the first pup it isn't always so, I had one who had a pup, but no milk until after a c-section for the other pup - the first one actually took his first suck from another bitch who gave birth at the same time (not good planning! - but great for the pup!)

I have had bitches with pups gaining weight extremely well, that never bagged up and showed milk obviously but of course had plenty for the puppies.

For the first three days pups need to virtually be on the bitch no stop to bring the true milk in, as it works on demand and supply.  Any woman who has breast fed will be familiar with that feeling of waking up feeling like a load of bricks are on your chest, on about the third day when the milk comes in.

The pups weight gain is your clue to everything being as it should be.  No gain in the first day or a small loss in medium to large puppies, especially bigger litters is normal, just Monitor for hydration and keep plugging pups on.