How to Feed Orphaned Puppies
Have an orphaned puppy? You'll need to step in as nursemaid using the following guidelines.
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Things You'll Need
- Baby Bottle Nipples
- Baby Bottles
- Dog Beds
- Dog Blankets
- Dog Dishes
- Dog Food
- Dog Pillows
- Dog Toys
- Doghouses And Doors
- Formula For Puppies
- Cotton Swabs
- Scales
Instructions
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1
Use a bottle and nipple made for nursing puppies or a human preemie nipple bottle (a nipple for premature infants).
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Buy commercially prepared formulas for feeding orphaned puppies. Avoid using goat's milk.
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Measure out the appropriate amount of milk for the puppy for one day: A 1-week-old puppy needs 13 mL of milk per 100g of body weight, a 2-week-old needs 17mL milk per 100g body weight, a 3-week-old needs 20mL milk per 100g body weight, a 4-week-old needs 22mL milk per 100g body weight.
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Divide the above daily dosage by 4, and feed this amount to the puppy four times a day.
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Warm the milk.
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Invert the bottle to let the milk ooze out slowly before inserting into the puppy's mouth.
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Avoid feeding the puppy while she's on her back. It's acceptable for the pup to slightly elevate her front paws while feeding.
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Check that the puppy's abdomen is enlarged but not overextended after feeding. Puppies should gain 2 to 4 g per day per kg of anticipated adult dog weight.
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Weigh the puppy daily.
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Encourage a 3-week-old puppy to eat solid food.
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Tips & Warnings
Puppies generally just eat and sleep for the first several weeks. If crying excessively, they could be cold or hungry or both.
Orphaned puppies need to be stimulated to defecate. Soak a cotton ball in warm water and very gently rub the anal area.
Never squeeze milk out of the bottle while the nipple is still in the puppy's mouth. This could result in aspiration pneumonia and death.
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Comments
View all 32 Comments-
tnx 4 the info.
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pacmomof6
Mar 02, 2009
I have a dog, Angel, that gave birth last sunday and a week later she is having issues with not makeing enough milk for six puppies, she is little less than ten pounds herself and she is expected to make milk to feed these guys, i am not surprised she is having issues, they just drain her dry every chance they get. and that is nearly every hour. i am trying to bottle feed three of the small ones to compensate for the loss of mothers milk and it has been a battle. they may want to suck for a minute then kick and scream until you just can not hold them anymore. i have tried wrapping in a small towel, laying against my warm chest skin to fur, and the little baby tried to go for my *****. so that idea went away, i mean i didnt mind it, he feel asleep while suckling, but he needed to feed, so we tried it again, i tried to pretend it was a part me he liked, no doin it, tried sitting on the flo -
LorilynFarms
Feb 12, 2009
This article would have so much cuter with pictures!
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LorilynFarms
Feb 12, 2009
This article would have so much cuter with pictures!
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Beadbug
Oct 05, 2008
Very informative article ^5* I wish everyone knew this much!
