Hello I have a dachshund which had to have a c-section on Monday cause 1 puppy was lodged we have 4 nice pups. The problem is that she has very little milk. So i am having to feed the pups. How often should they be fed? I work 8 hours a day & I have no one to help. The pups are always sucking on mom. They cry very little. So maybe they are getting enough they are healthy. We go to the vet tomorrow.But all they say is do your best. Will the mother's milk come in? I sure hope so. I do not know much about all this. My other dog had pup's once before & she had plenty of milk. So could someone help me with my question. Thank You...

Hi, how do they "look"? Have they filled their skins up? If you pick up a little fold of skin on their back does it snap back into place quickly or does the fold stay there when you let go. If it does they may be getting de-hydrated. Is she cleaning them, licking their bottoms to help them wee and poo? You can tell by gently rubbing their bottoms with damp cotton wool in a circular motion. This will often make them do their business even if the mum is doing her job, but if the wee is yellow rather than clear it may be she isn't and you will need to do it for her. The poo should be soft. I am sure the vet will tell you how much milk to give if they need it, but if they need feeding they should be bottle fed every two hours during the day and every 3 hours at night at the very least. IF they are not getting enough from mum and they do need extra feeding, they wont do very well if you are not there for 8 hours, its not really a good idea to breed if you are working full time, but good luck, I hope they make it. If you do need to buy milk for them I prefer Welpi to Lactol myself. Is the bitch drinking plebty? the op will have de hydrated her and if she is not drinking lots she wont be able to make much milk. If she wont drink enough - and giving lots of milk isn't a good idea, I would boil up some chicken joints and give her the cooled broth to drink and take the chicken off the bone and add to her food, say about 2 joints divided into 4 meals. Mine like their food swimming in the chicken broth too. Hope this helps, good luck at the vet.

WestieLover has given you good advise but I have to say I could not leave a new nursing mother for 8 hours a day no matter how well the pups were doing. Apart from the pups needs the bitch needs rather more attention than that, if infection or eclampsia set in she could be very poorly indeed in that time. When I have had litters in the past I have slept on a futon in kitchen for the first 10 days or so waking whenever I heard the pups stirring to make sure each was latching on OK and I was feeding the bitch 4 times a day in order for her to take in the increased quantities needed to sustain milk production. Can you not arrange for some time off work for at least the next week if not what about a competent friend, they do not have to be experienced just sensible and reliable in following your instructions. I don't want to cause you addition worry at this time, maybe things will run along smooth anyway but I do think you should try if you can to make some arrangements, best of luck I hope they continue to thrive :)

wow, I cannot imagine leaving a bitch/pups for 8 hours....when I have pups I make sure I am going to be there 24/7 so that in an emergency I can cope. You have already been given good advice which needs little embellishment from me. I had a terrier bitch with NO milk once, and had to totally hand rear them, every 2 hours then every 4 hours as they got a bit older. if I had had to leave them for 8 hours they would have died. I hope you manage to take some holiday or something as hand reared pups need constant attention. Good luck.

Well I can only talk for myself .
I actually sleep with my bitch and puppies for a forthnight untill I am sure they are ok .
I then I get up every four hours to check them for the next week . that is if they are ok . If I had a worry I would be hard pushed to go to the loo
My family have a good laugh at me when puppies are born its mam wont take her eyes off them in case they disappear.
funny yes but not so unreal I have seen puppies get killed by a sick mom so yes they could very well disappear. any way
Best of luck with the puppies . Mari

Mari
I do that too....are we crazy or what?

No not crazy just careful responsible and good breeders:D Gillian (Who also gives up her bed if she has a litter and catnaps when someone else can be on duty)

When Babs had her puppies last year .I thought I have this barna building very comfy and with heating and everthing I could easily stay out there . and how I would not have one wrecked room when pups were raised
So heater on lights installed . comfy chair couple of books folding bed and sleeping bag and kettle all set .
And then one SPIDER
Update
One wrecked room .
:( Mari

Don't you like Spiders Mari:D or was it Babs
Gillian

Its Me Gillian Babs would just eat them

I sleep with mine for 3-4 weeks as The whelping box is right next to the bed, I couldn't leave mine for 8 hours its bad enough walking the others and leaving them for about an hour!!!!!

Hi, Chobeegirl
Everyone has given you excellent advice,although
like me can`t understand why someone in full-time work with no help would even consider trying to rear a litter as we never know what Mother Nature is going to throw our way! You don`t say whether they are mini or standards,I have experience of rearing mini`s and initially quite often the bitch does not appear to have much milk all the dachy breeders I know are fastidious in weighing puppies a couple of times a day to make sure they are not losing weight
and are gaining steadily.On another point ,did the stud dog owner know that you would be leaving the puppies for such a long period during the day?
When weaning starts who is going to feed the puppies the 4/5 meals a day they will need. I hope you can sort something out for the puppies sake.
Appologies to everyone for going on but.....nuff said

Depending on where you are in the country we live near someone that
actually rears puppies. I have never used her but am told she is one of those sort of people that can just keep puppies alive. Maybe someone close to you like that could help?
But I have to say that alike everyone else I would never have a litter of puppies and leave them. Eight hours is enough to kill little pups that are in need of extra milk.
When I have my litters I whelp them in the kitchen and can lay on the sofa inbetween times, I even have t.v on, make tons of coffee and keep myself awake. I wont even leave them for two weeks, and if I do have to as I have kids to take to and fro school I have my mother and mother-in-law who are both ready for baby sitting. In fact they are brilliant and give me a rest if needed. Its like the whole family will rally around. The truth is they enjoy every minute of it.
I do know of a dachshund breeder who goes to our ring craft and we are good friends. If you wish you can click on my name and see my e-mail address. Email me and I will pass his email to you. He is a really helpful man and his wife has bred dashunds for years and they of course show. I am sure he could give you some info that could help with dachshunds.
Nutkin

Hi just feed them every 2 hours my siberian husky has just had aceserian also and within a day she was feeding them that was 3 days ago andf they are all doing fine, dont worry,
If you work 8 hours a day who looks after the mum and pups?

Leah