I have a reluctant suckler at 4 hours old - just refuses to open his mouth.  I have managed to get some Lifesaver Puppy Colostrum Supplement into him with a little persuasion,  but he became snuffly and the last thing I want is to get fluid into his lungs.  He does not have a cleft palate.  He suckled fine from his mother just after he was born.  Any help or ideas would be much appreciated.

My hand reared litter are now 5.1/2 weeks old, 3 of the smaller ones were a nightmare to feed, point blankly refused to open their mouths to feed, it is hard work!!  One of mine was also very snuffly/rattley after feeding, I too worried that milk had got into his lungs, but he is fine!  If you are trying to bottle feed at all, make sure the teats aren't too big, I used a prem bottle with air valve, that seemed to help!

Good luck

Thanks Sharon  - what formula did you use? 

I don't think I'd worry at the moment Lewie.  I often find that some need a few hours to recover after the trauma of being born! :)  I like them to be suckling within 12 hours and haven't had any problems with those who are slower to start.

hello is it poss pup isnt hungry yet....or you could try mix sugar with warm water....rub on teat and then pup may feed good luck jayne
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Thanks for your responses everyone, I really appreciate your input  - I've just tried him again on Mum and he's having a go!!!  So fingers crossed!!

Good news, keep us posted!

Regards, Teri :)

Always best if they can feed from mum, just wish my girl had some milk to give them.  My vet told me NOT to bottle feed and keep putting them on mum, after 3 days we had lost 3 pups, my vet still said not to bottle feed, but I ignored her on this advise and thankfully didn't lose any more!

I was using welpi, but don't rush into that if little one is feeding!

Good luck

Sometimes, if they still have a lot of fluid in their chest or stomach from the birth, it can take a couple of days to go and for them to really get an appetite.  If you say he sounds a bit chesty, then that is probably why he isn't very hungry.  Do keep persevering with him and hopefully he will suck as lustily as the others.  But puppies can remain hydrated after birth for a day or so - it is always about the 2nd/3rd day that it becomes apparent if one is not doing so well as the others. 

What breed is he?  In some of the short nosed breeds, although they don't have a cleft palette they can have a soft palette which means that a lot of the milk from the bitch's teats seems to come down the nose, but often a bottle is managed OK.  The soft palette hardens gradually over the weeks and months and in the end the dog is normal. 

It sounds as if he is fine now, but if you have any doubt that he is actually sucking milk in (as opposed to just going through the mouthing motions) then it might be worthwhile having your vet put a tube with a light on the end right down his throat just in case there is a little hole somewhere.

Just to update everyone who responded to my original post - our little male 'Jack' has gone from strength to strength, and I'm sure Val was right when she said he was probably just getting over the trauma of being born!  I had never experienced this phenomenon before and it is so reassuring to hear from someone that has!!

Another trick I was told, for future reference, is to smear a tiny bit of honey onto mums teats.........the pups love it and even the fussiest of feeders latch on really quickly