Horse-Dog-Advice.com Newsletter excerpt
MAY 20, 2005

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MILK REPLACER FOR NEWBORN PUPS
 
QUESTION:  I have to hand feed a litter of newborn puppies because their Mom doesn't have enough milk. I don't want to spend the money on Milk Replacer from the Vets.  What kind of milk is good for them and how do I feed them?
 
ANSWER:  Preferably go back to the Vets and purchase the proper Newborn Milk Replacer for the pups.  If they don't have the 28 oz cans, have them order it and just pick up a smaller quantity for now. 
 
Directions for use are on package.  Feed newborns every 2 hours for first week, gradually increasing times between feedings until you are feeding every 4 hours for the next three weeks.  Gradually offering them soft puppy gruel 4 times a day starting at about 18 to 20 days old. Having
them on firmer food by approx. 5 weeks old. 
 
 Rule Of Thumb when bottle feeding is to let them have as much as they will COMFORTABLY take.  Stop as soon as puppy wrinkles its lips which means it has had enough. Leave them on the mother so she will clean them and stimulate them to urinate and defecate.  Or you will have to stimulate them after each feeding with a wad of cotton dipped in warm water.  Then dry them to keep their tender skin from becoming chapped and irritated. A drop of baby oil may be needed on their anus and skin of the abdomen after drying them.  Change their bedding material often to prevent urine scalds from wet bedding.
 
The puppies must be kept in a warm, dry environment.  A chilled puppy unless "properly" warmed and kept warm will not survive.  Their digestive system simply shuts down.
 
   
Below is puppy formulas which can be made at home.  They are no where near as good as milk replacer purchased from the Vet.
 
Puppy Milk Replacer is by far the best choice to prevent Diarrhea and "Failure To Thrive" in newborn pups.  It can be purchased in the 28 oz cans (Farnam product).
 
Formula #1: 1 cup homogenized milk, 3 egg Yolks, 1 tablespoon corn oil, 1 Dropper liquid Pediatric Vitamins.
 
Formula #2:  26.5 ounces of homogenized milk, 6.5 ounces of cream (12% fat),1 teaspoon bone meal, 1 egg Yolk, 4 grams citric acid, Liquid Vitamins to provide 2,000 I.U. Vitamin A, 500 I.U. Vitamin D.
 
Formula #3:  Evaporated milk reconstituted to 20% solids (which is 1 part warm water to 5 parts evaporated milk), 1 teaspoon bone meal per pint.
 
Although an eye dropper can be used in an emergency, a proper puppy bottle (you may need to "slightly" enlarge the opening in the nipple if the puppies are too weak to suck long or hard enough) works the best. To large of hole though and the puppies will choke if the milk comes out to fast. A clean 1cc syringe for small breeds, a 3cc for medium breeds or a 6cc for larger breeds can be used IF YOU DO NOT GET MILK INTO THE PUPPIES LUNGS BY DEPRESSING THE PLUNGER TO FAST.  Slow, slow, slow is a must.
 
Warm the milk so when tested on your wrist, it feels slightly warm.  "Keep the formula warmed during feeding".  Never warm in a microwave.  Keep  formula in the refrigerator.  Wash and rinse well all feeding supplies each time "immediately" after each feeding.
 
The correct position for bottle nursing a puppy is to open the mouth with the tip of your finger, insert the nipple and hold at a 45 degree angle.  You must prevent air from getting swallowed down into it's stomach.  NOTE:  "The puppies tongue MUST be under the nipple, eye dropper, syringe, etc".
 
As long as the puppy does not cry excessively, gains weight and feels firm to the touch, the diet is meeting it's nutritional requirements.  Common problems are over feeding and underfeeding.  Both cause diarrhea and/or failure to gain weight.  If the puppy seems reasonably content with a normal stool (firm, yellowish) everything should be fine.
 
 YOU NEED A VET'S ADVICE IF:   Any change in the puppies stool in CONSISTENCY or COLOR which is reason to be greatly concerned.  A continuously crying puppy is a distressed puppy.  A puppy off by itself (away from the other ones) is in serious trouble.
 
 NOTE: All mother dogs must have access to fresh, clean water close to the nest and fed free choice all the "Top Quality" dry dog food they can eat, 24/7.