I recall watching a program recently (Human Instinct I think) where pig teats were discussed. Apparently the teats up near the armpits had poorer quality milk and the ones further down the belly was richer. Since pigs "claim" nipples and very rarely alter which ones they feed off of, you could almost guarantee which nipples the runt fed off of (the armpit ones).

My question is this, do dogs have similar milk quality production depending on the location of the nipples? After reading about the little rottie that isn't thriving as well as the others in the litter I was wondering if the choice nipples were being claimed by the bigger pups?

Not sure about the milk quality but I do know puppies have favourite nipples. I have noticed the lower ones seem to produce more milk and I always "plug in" the smaller pups onto those.
Sharon
Bullywood Bull Terriers

I would bet that there is truth to it. I always feed the little ones on the back ones if I can too.

Carissa

Was it quality or quantity production?

Pups, unlike kittens and piglets, will often seem to try every teat during a feeding session - you think they are feeding quietly but watch carefully and you will see this rise and fall of puppies like a wave as one snakes it way underneath looking for a spare.

Christine

Okay, now I'm going to eat my words!!!!! I went surfing and found two sites that stated the exact opposite of what I said. Don't you just hate when that happens!

The first born suckle on the teats nearest the sows head. These teats produce the greatest quantity of milk.

For more info....click here

I have no clue about the research that you discussed but I do know that my pups never nurse on the teats near the armpits. The quanitity of milk is high but the pups will only nurse on the teats lower on the stomach. We even shave mom's belly to help with the latch-on...yorkies have long coats and "furry" tummies. The teats higher up appear smaller in my moms also...harder to latch onto?? Just a thought. Anyone else experienced the same thing?

I tend to "Plug" my smaller pups onto the "better" teats during at least one meal all by themselves...so that they don't have to struggle so hard for their meals. I only do this once per day if they are gaining otherwise. I don't want them to lose the ability to "fight" for their meals...just give them a little help when they need it.

My breed must be peculiar as I have foundthe pups actually like the small teats, could be that at first these are easier to latch onto than the big mommas. I have actually found that whenever I deliberately put small pups on the big back ones they don't seem happy and want to move forward.

I do make sure that all the bitches are well used, so that they are all producing milk, then there is always a teat for each pup (as long as the litter isn;t over 9 or 10!!!)