Mel090680 Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 Hi, Can anyone help me. I am a first time breeder and want to check how often new born puppies should feed. My bitch only had two pups and they are feeding every hour. Is that to much ??? Also as there are only a few pups i am worried about her milk and she seems to have a lot and the pups only want to drink from a couple of nipples and they really need to be made to drink from the others. Can you get expressers for dogs or will her milk dry up ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriment Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 (edited) Hi Mel, Congrats on the new arrivals They sound like strong healthy babies to me, feeding every hour. Nothing wrong with that at all. There are far more experienced breeders than myself who may have more advice for you, if you post this in the Breeders Community section. Good luck ;) Edited: As I said - far more experienced than I!! I'll stick with the warm good luck wishes, I'm safe with those Edited May 23, 2006 by Meriment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel090680 Posted May 23, 2006 Author Share Posted May 23, 2006 Thanks. It is a lot to take in the first couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjosa Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 Hi, I know your dilema the first time is always the hardest, mine was about 35 years ago. Watch your bitch keep her at her peak, usually about the third day the milk will really start to come down and she could act a bit frantic, her udder will become hard and lumpy and what I do is I get warm flannels, wet, get her on her back and keep on putting the warm flannels over the udder until it becomes supple, this will help to prevent mastitis, and do this continually until everything settles down. By "milking" the bitch only stimulates nipples that are not required for such a small litter. With only two puppies I would not be allowing them to run up and down the udder, I would chose the four best milk producing nipples and confine them to them, as if they do not stimulate the remaining nipples they only produce very little and nothing to worry about them getting hard and possible mastitis forming in them, as they can only drink so much. Feeding once an hour is not over the top, if the pups are in with the dam at all times they go and drink when the need arises. Have you got Sandoz to give to your bitch? this also prevents milk fever. Congratulations on your new babies and I hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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