bottle feeding and handraising
 

Fiona is a great mother. She cleaned her babies and nursed them and refused to leave them for anything. This morning I woke up to the sound of one of the babies crying. Fiona was still nursing the puppies, but she was shaking. I waited about 30 mins until she was done nursing and she didnt' stop so I called the vet. I rushed her to emerencry vet and they tested her her calcium levels and it's too low. If everything goes well they say I amy be able to pick her up tonight around 11 pm.

Should i ask them to keep her longer?

I just got done bottle feeding one of the babies and I got him to pee. the other three wont take to the bottle what can do to get them to start sucking from the bottle? I am planning on taking the babie to the emergency vet when I pick fiona up. But If i can't get them to eat I might take them sooner.

Do I have to worry about the babies not surviving, I'm so scared. They're very healthing looking and fat.

I dont know exactly what I"m suppose to be doing, I dont know what the right question to ask are. Please just give me any advice you can for me to be able to raise these babies.

I think if you dont know what youre doing you need to go to the vet and let them show you how to tube feed the babes or your going to lose them. good luck.

Try a bit a couple of NutriDrops on their gums....then add a bit of Karo on the nipple to entice. If that doesn't work, maybe your vet will teach you how to tube feed until the pups will readily accept the nipple.

The babies need to be fed every two hours and pottied and kept warm. What nipple are you using? What are you feeding in the bottle? Have you tried a dropper? Maybe the nipple is too big. I am glad you got momma to the vet.

Thats what I did with a kitten recently. It wouldnt feed out of the bottle so I used a droper. A syringe would work also

The vet gave me two bottles and we are using esbilac. The babies are sleeping they've been sleepign since I've feed the only one that wanted to suck on the nipple. I don't think the other three are hungry. Maybe that's why they wont suck when I gave them the bottle. I'll wait another 40 mins and if they're not awake i'll go to the vet with them. that should be about 2.5 hours since momma last feed them.

Just make sure that you check their hydration......use an eye dropper or a syringe.....don't let them go very long without eating...in the beginning if your girl was feeding them....milk will only let down every 2 hours.

Thank you for all the advice. I tried the bottle the vet gave me and I just got done bottle feeding the babies and stimulating them. it's hard to tell if the did urinate or not. I am so tired but I can't sleep, I'm just soo worried about everything and miss my little Fiona so much.

Make sure to weigh them and chart the weights every day so you know if they are gaining. You need to get some sleep between feedings as it will be a very long couple of weeks. I hope you have someone to help you as it seems just when you are done one feeding it's time for the next. Just keep telling yourself it's only for maybe 3 weeks then they should be able to start lapping out of a saucer.

If the momma dog is still having some signs of the calcium defeciency you wont be able to put the pups on her. you will have to keep bottle feeding them, even if they let her come back home. or she will end up back the same. I know a lady who's momma dog is doing the same thing, she decided to put pups back on mom again and same thing happened , vet told her no more. now one pup has died.
you need to keep trying to get those babies to eat, keep them warm and help them to potty. or you will lose them.

I posted this on another thread for some one else that was bottle feeding her little one. so Ill just copy and paste it here for you.

when you bottle make sure the milk dosent come out of their nose? The milk should drip out slowly when the bottle is held upside down. If it runs out the pup could choke or aspirate (breath in) the milk. do not hold pup laying on its back and let it feed from bottle, make sure its always on its tummy. and never feed a cold pup.
I would also be giving this babies nutri drops.
Newborn puppies are not yet able to regulate their own body temperatures and feeding a cold puppy will do more harm than good as they can not digest it when cold. Keep puppy on a heating pad covered by a towel.. The puppy's temperature should be around 97 degrees. Never feed a puppy who is 94 degrees or lower.warm them up first.

please keep us updated on mom and pups.

Mommy is home... I am so worried! I put in some baby cothing to cover her up so the babies can't nurse on her... \

Should I seperate them. I'm thinking about seperating them when I sleep. She's trying so hard to nurse them. I wish I could just make it all better.

The babies seem to be doing fine. What kinda stools should I be looking for in the puppies. I asked the vet and they basically says running is normal.

I've been using esbilac today but can I use just Born???

The only time I put mom in with pups is when I could monitor.....I just made sure that they were kept warm, dry, fed and diapered.

Stools....not too runny kind of soft and moist is ok.

The best thing for hand feeding puppies is Goats Milk with equal parts of distilled water. It's the closests thing to mother's milk....No Just Born, it causes premature cataracs.......

Should I let her stay with babies.... she's acting really weird... she carried all her toys to another room and I think she wants to move the babies there too??? I wont let her nurse... should i jsut let her do waht she wants??

The vet told me she didn't need any meds for her milk... should I demand some meds?

If she wants to stay with her babies...let her as long as she's not nursing. Keep on eye on her to make sure that she's not having another episode and her breast aren't getting to filled....if they are you may have to release some of the pressure.....did you ask the vet for a dry up shot?

If she wants to stay with her babies...let her as long as she's not nursing. Keep on eye on her to make sure that she's not having another episode and her breast aren't getting to filled....if they are you may have to release some of the pressure.....did you ask the vet for a dry up shot?

I used esbilac when I bottle/tube fed Zaccheus. I never had any problem with it.
I found that the best way to warm bottles was to keep a mug of water on a candle warmer. It super heats the water and bottles warm in just a few seconds. Make sure not to over warm the bottle. Have a cup of ice water to dunk the bottle in if it gets too warm.
Using a heating pad covered with a towel is perfect, but I also had a heat lamp over him. You should hover your hands right over the pups to check temp. It should be pretty warm, but not enough to feel hot to your skin. If they cry out or pant, back the light away. Panting burns calories, and you are trying to get them to gain.
I agree that you should chart their weight to assure that they are gaining.
You are going to be very tired for the next few weeks, because these babies need to eat every couple of hours.
I am so sorry your momma can't nurse them, but you can do it. You can save them.

I'm assuming that they are taking the bottle. That is so much better than having to tube feed! Congratulations.
What are you using to stimulate elimination? I always used a paper towel damp with warm water. I've also heard of using a damp cotton ball. You should see them actually eliminate.

As a correction of my previous reply, my only problem with esbilac was that Zaccheus had issues defacating. I had to administer puppy enimas occasionally, and also added plain yogurt to his formula after the first week.
We never knew if it was because of the formula or if he just had other issues. He is fine, now.

I have both esbilac and just born. I didnt' know which to use. I tired both with the babies... is that safe. The funny thing is that when I asked the vet they confused me even more. I guess they dont want to put down one product and encourage another.

So far the babies are doing well. The runt doesn't seem to be growing at all even though we feed him almost every hour. They sleep longer today then they did yesterday and last night. i haven't slept in 48 hours.:D I'm on a caffine high! I stimulate the bablies with a cotton ball and I hold tolet paper to their little wee area to make sure they pee. I've also been letting mommy do the stimulations.

Fiona is doing well, except for her panting which the vet says if mostly likely stress and I shouldn't worry about anything unless I feel muscle tremors. Fiona is in a onse and diapers to make sure the babies can't get through.

I have four helpers helping me with the babies. Is it normal for female puppies to eat less than males???

I have a really hard time trying to get the female to take to the bottle she wont drink any of the esbilac on the just born.

this is their weight today
fatty (the one that eats the most) is 5.2 ounces
female is 5.7 ounces
The runt is 3.7 ounces
Black one is 5.3 ounces

I am really worried about the runt! Should I add stuff to the formula?? I am so scared to but I think it would be for the best I just dont know what or how. The vet told me to just stay with just formula. But I am willing to try anything that would help the babies grow and gain weight.

Thank you for all the advice!

Don't stress, as long as they aren't crying and breathing seems normal all is fine.

The litter that I hand raised didn't start taking off in weight gain until the 2nd week, they even lost a bit, while I had them on Just Born and then my vet a repro/canine nutritionist specialists yelled at me and had me switch them to Goats Milk....just as long as they feel hydrated, diapered, warm and are taking
food.

Keep a close eye on Fioana for eclampsia. If in doubt you may want to run her back in to have her calcium levels checked.

also i have Puppy Drops "from the makers of nutri-cal" is this different from nutri drops???

The karo on the nipple doesn't work with the girl. I even tried putting it in the esbilac she wont drink it. but like i said she drinks the just born.

How do i use goats milk?? do i buy esbilac goast milk.. goats milk in a can ( in the baking area) or which???

I had one boy that didn't like either.....but, when I switched him to Goats Milk....it tasted just like mothers milk.......he made a lil pig out of hisself.

You're welcome! Feel free to PM me if you want to ask me something directly.