A friend of mine recently brought home 3 two week old puppies from the Refuge Home that were going to be put down. They're 1/4 pit bull, 1/4 staffy, and 1/2 kelpie. I went over this evening and she was giving them cold (straight from the fridge) puppy milk. Quote: "It makes no difference, besides, it's too hot to give them warm milk!" She wasn't holding the pups, they were in their box, she'd just angle their head towards the teat. Also, she didn't know how much milk to give them. There was also some poop in the box where the puppies had obviously done their business but it didn't seem to bother her, and her sister just gave that look that said "as IF I'd clean something that disgusting".

They took the puppies in straight after (as in, the very next day) after their poodle x maltese was run over. Oh, and they got a kitten that day too. Reason why the dog was run over? They let him out to roam the streets for a walk until he's ready to come home. Their previous dog, a dachsund was abandoned at the vets because they couldn't handle his behavioural problems anymore. They told the vet they'd found him wandering on the street.

I didn't stay long, but by the time I did I was none too happy.

Annnyyyyyway, after that little rant: What's the correct way to bottle feed a pup, how much do you feed, and are there any side effects from giving them cold puppy milk? I'd think there'd at least be a greater chance of an upset tummy?

Thanks for reading!

From what I've read (and seen photos in books etc) when bottlefeeding a puppy it should be held upright in one hand and the bottle controlled with the other - I understand the milk is more likely to go down the right way when they're in that position. But never having had to do it, I could be wrong, and I'm sure someone more experienced in this will correct me! :)

Milk should only be given between 38 and 40 degrees. This is vital in newborns till weaned. This is what I was told by several vets when handrearing and a real pain to maintain correct temp. I found a baby bottle warmer, a themometer and a jug of cold water of great use to get the temp. just right.

Hi
The pups should be held in your hand so that their bodies are vertical,shouldn't be fed direct from the fridge,what is she thinking ..and what were the rescue thinking letting her take them ???? at least they should've given instructions on how to care for them :0.
These pups are clearly in the wrong hands, what chance do they have?
Blood boiling..disgusting.
Tracey

This is just so sad - Can't think what will happen to those dear Pups :(

Sweep

Could u maybe down load some information off the net for them so they are aware on how to feed them, how much, and how often, and also to wipe their bottoms ect. It would probably be very helpful for them, and I would not see it as rude at all.
Good luck

ttfn :)

It sounds callous, but sounds like theyd have been better off pts. Ive just sweated blood hand rearing a litter and still lost two due to congenital problems. I find it easier to wrap pups up first in a piece of flannel. Cold milk chills their stomachs. They should be kept warm and ideally fed every two hours if the poor little mites are to have any sort of chance. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I only had 2nd pup put down yesterday, and Im still short of sleep, upset, angry and overtired.
They should also have their privates rubbed gently with a piece of warm, wet towelling or similar to stimulate bladder and bowel emptying.

Hi
Cant say exactly cos depends on weight but should be given round abouts 200mls of puppy milk a day feeding every 3 hours from 3 weeks
bedding changed every feed min all poo removed as soon as to stop infection,
milk should always be warm never chilled as this will drop the pups body temp cause bad bellys and some times send the pup into shock,
If feed to much to soon this can then go down onto the lungs if bottles are not steralised this will cause infection hence if no treatment given death of the puppy,
puppys must be toileted or will also cause bowl infection if somethink soft such as wet kitchen roll or cotton wool isnt used then bottoms become sore bleeding and again open to infection.
sorry to hear about your two pups passing on i worked for animal hos 9 years ago always got the job of bottle feeding cubs that come in is not as easy as the books make it look,
sandy.

well, it's around 3 1/2 weeks I start to offer my pups ground puppy food, mixed with a lot of infant rice cereal and warm water. By 4 weeks they are completely weaned from mom. Cause this is when mom usually says that she can feel their little sharp puppy teeth and doesn't let them nurse anymore. Hopefully those poor puppies make it, but boy oh boy it doesn't sound like they are going to have an easy time of it in that family.

Carissa

Hi folks, just an update on the household.

I visited a few days ago. Their English Pointer pup is huge now, and because they don't have a lawn, just a small courtyard, there's poop all over one side of the pavement. You can tell he's been stepping in it too, but the sisters refuse to clean it up because it's just too disgusting. They say their mum cleans it every morning, but when I was there it was about 6pm and it was eeeeverywhere. Dog sleeps in the garage, and I think he spends a fair amount of time alone nowadays because everyone's so busy.

The three pups were closed up in the bathroom, no one to watch them. No papers laid down, poo and pee eeeeeeverywhere. Literally, everywhere. In the shower stall, all over the floor, and the stench was unbearable. There was a tipped over dish of dog food leftover from the night before and I didn't see a water dish either. Once again, they couldn't be bothered cleaning it up. Apparently the pups hadn't been in the bathroom long, they'd spent most of the day outside, but my gosh it was disgusting.

Note: They're not keeping the pups, nor did they have any intention of doing so. At 6 weeks old, the pups are going to the pet shop where their brother works to be sold.

That just sounds very awful and sad.
Sounds like a good thing though that they are not keeping them, the pups are probably better off. (petshop :( )

ttfn :(