Newborn Puppy How Often for nutridrops?
 

I had puppies born Wednesday night, the mom had 5 on day 58. All the puppies but one seem strong, but starting today one of the boys was crying and being pushed out of the way and was cold. Mom seems to have given up on him, she's very protective but doesn't even look up when I pick him up to take him away. She wasn't pushing him away or anything and is licking him, but doesn't care when I take him like she does with the others.

He's sitting on a heating pad right now and I gave him some nutridrops, but how many should he get and how often? I made up some canned goats milk with equal parts water and some karo syrup, but he won't really take any of it, I think I got him to swallow a few drops maybe.

All the puppies were 4-5 ounces at birth and he's really only lost a few tenths of an ounce since birth. He's stopped crying as much, just every now and then, but I'm afraid that just means he's weaker. Every 10 minutes or so I've been trying to get a bit of milk down him, it seems like he gets tired and quits but every time I go back to him he drinks a little more. Can I overfeed him?

I tried to supplement the rest of the litter with some of the milk only one was even interested, the rest fought to get away and get back to mom, but they are all a lot stronger than this guy.

Should I feed the milk mixture at room temp?

I only give nutri-drops one time, right after birth to give them a jumpstart.

Are they not nursing? Why are you supplementing the whole litter?

I thought this with guy doing bad and it being such a big litter I'd try to give mom a break and see if the rest of the puppies would take a little milk.

I wouldn't supplement if they are nursing, momma's milk is best. If you want to pull puppies away after nursing to give the smaller ones a chance that is fine. I would not supplement if they are nursing. Momma will most likely take a break if she needs one. My Abby leaves her box on her own when babies are feed and sleeping.

Well my little weak guy threw up everything I had given him and is laying there gasping through his mouth and is chilly even with the heat pad on him, so I guess he's not going to make it. The rest of the litter seems to be healthy, I guess it was just too big of a litter and they were born so early anyway.

With you posting that he threw up, I hesitate in suggesting anything but a vet.

In general, though, 4 to 5 oz pups aren't too small and should be able to nurse. That they were born early isn't too much a cause for concern by itself. I once had a litter born on day 58 and all were healthy, full-term babies.

Newborn pups will do ok for the first day due to pre-natal nutrition so it may be hard to notice one not doing so well. After that, you really need to intervene if any aren't eating well and gaining.

Any pups that I hand feed are given goat's milk with a little karo. I feed them with an eye dropper. I find the dropper easier to control to help prevent aspiration. If the pup is weak, I'll give a little beef liver broth. One thing to remember is to never feed a cold pup. You really shouldn't let them get cold at all, but never feed one until it has warmed up.

It may be that he was fed too fast or was too cold when you fed him and that's the reason he threw up. In either case, it could be fatal for a newborn. They must be fed every 2 hours as newborns and must be kept warm.

I want to stress that I only posted this as general feeding info. Your pup's throwing up would worry me. I've never had that happen before and would check with my vet about this.

You could warm up a towel in the dryer and wrap him up to get him warm again. Don't give up on him. Get him warm and see where you're at.

Excellent Post
 

:)What a wise and wonderful woman you are! Great advice. I have not bred in 25 years but oh the memories

If the pup is gasping it makes me wonder if it aspirated? If he's still gasping or breathing hard, i'd get it to the vet asap.

Great advice!!

I finally found a vet that would see him, but he passed on the trip there.

You should not feed a cold puppy. That is probably why he threw up.

Oh sorry to hear that. She knew that he was going to die that is why she pushed him aside. Sometime nature knows best.

I lost one the same way, he died before I got him to the vet.

I am so sorry! :( I know how hard this loss is.

I\'m sorry for you loss.
This is the hardest part about breeding is losing little one.
I hope all goes well with the rest of the babies.