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Originally Posted by Mardelin  If you've had success with the dropper, fine. I found it a bit slow and tedious. Where as the nipple does allow sucking reflexes to take place (very important). I usually just plunge in a small amount into the nipple and allow them to suckle. Plus it allows you to measure the amount of milk being taken and document it. Great for communicating with the vets. The litter I was hand raising, just before they were introduced to lapping, were taking in 60 - 65 cc each.....piggies.
I've not every tube fed, and when I suggested it to my vet, (now mind you I took over hand raising of these pups when they were a week old) he was adamantly against it. Just to risky, with the possibility of inserting it incorrectly . |
If I ever had to totally hand raise a litter then I would definitely use your method. I just need to find some preemie nipples. I have only looked for them once at Wal-mart and did not see any. I have the same feeling as your vet about tube feeding. It seems that I have not read too many successful cases where the pups were tube fed plus, like you said, they need the suckling reflex.