May 23, 2011
Three days ago we had a litter. We have a small one that is having a difficult time. What can we do?
Full Question:
Hi there. I visited your site in search of help with my new pups... one is very small... They were just born on Friday and I can already see and tell this pup is not doing well...I got some milk replacer and started bottle feeding. He seems to eat off of his mom but is much smaller and the big ones muscle him out. We are trying to get him latched on without the others and as of this morning he looked eager to eat, but when I got home from work he looked terrible again. The older kids said that they helped him eat and he suckled for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. What do I do? It's breaking my heart. If you can reply before tomorrow it would be much appreciated. I don't think he will make it to the vet tomorrow.Mara
Cindy's Answer:
I have bred over 360 litter in 35 years.
If anything is going to save this pup it is going to be the mother’s milk. Put this pup on the mother 10 to 15 times per day – make sure it gets milk. There is no replacement for mothers’ milk. When you put the pup on the mother – you need to push the other pups away while this pups sucks.
The bottom line is that there is always the possibility that a pup has a medical problem that is impossible for us humans to figure out and nothing that we do will save the poor pup.
Good luck
If anything is going to save this pup it is going to be the mother’s milk. Put this pup on the mother 10 to 15 times per day – make sure it gets milk. There is no replacement for mothers’ milk. When you put the pup on the mother – you need to push the other pups away while this pups sucks.
The bottom line is that there is always the possibility that a pup has a medical problem that is impossible for us humans to figure out and nothing that we do will save the poor pup.
Good luck
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