Milk drying up at 3 weeks? - Page 1

Xena has 8 pups on her. The last week her milk production has been really low and the pups are losing weight. I have not weighed them on a scale but can tell by the ribbiness and the difference in hand held weight.  I am feeding Xena Chicken Soup for the Puppy l\Lovers soul, 6 cups twice a day with 1/2 can pedigree mixed in at each feeding. She also has dry available at all times. I just put some canned food on my fingers and offered it to the pups and they liked to have gummed my fingers off lol. I know it is to soon to start offering them puppy food but I need to figure out a way to get more food into them. I do have esiblac so I can bottle supplement if need be. Any suggestions on what I can do?

Therese

PS the pups were wormed with panacure at 1 week,  then again at 2 weeks and right now they are on a 3 day worming regime with Panacure per vets reccomendation.

to help the pups gain weight, you could give them Nutri-Stat. Its pretty much puppy miracle grow... : )

Feed Xena Raw chicken legs with the thigh on,  at least one in the morning & one in the evening, make sure it's Purdue, or just as good.  I was told by a breeder years back--and she knew her stuff, that the raw chicken helps with milk production.  I have had many litters of pups & before they whelp, I make sure the moms get their fill of raw chicken.  Don't feed anything else, no dry kibble or especially pedigree, that's crap........I never use canned mystery meat, why would you when you can get lamb, chicken, or turkey at reasonable prices.

I have had mostly litters of 12 or 13 on the average & everyone is healthy, and I don't lose pups!

Also, if your house is noisey or there is something upsetting your bitch, her milk will go away fast, keep her alone, and happy.

This may also sound strange, but trim the pups nails(use people nail clippers) on the front paws only, leave the backs alone (they need traction)
Xena may hate being scratched by the pups, and is moving to avoid them nursing.

http://www.k9power.com/k9_puppy_gold.php If the puppies wont drink it on their own or with a bottle, use a syringe and slowly force feed the mixed supplement.

HOMEMADE MILK REPLACER
This formula is the best, it will last 7-10 days in the refridgerator and
the puppies thrive on it. We have raised several pups on this and I
highly recommend this formula !

1 can evaporated milk
2 cups water
1 cup whole milk yogurt
1 tblsp white Karo syrup
1 tblsp mayonnaise
1-2 egg yolks.
Mix well in blender, keep refridgerated.
Moms love this formula also

You can buy an herb called Fenugreek at a health food store or order it online.

I usually keep it onhand just in case.  You can give her a couple teaspoons twice

a day in food or if you get capsules a few twice a day and normally it will increase

milk production in 24 - 48 hours.  Mom does need to be drinking plenty of water too.

If she is not wanting to spend time with the puppies take her in often and make her lie

down for them to nurse.  The more they nurse the more milk she will have.

At three weeks old they are old enough to drink from a bowl although it make take

a few days for them to get the hang of it.  You can offer them goat's milk or one of the

puppy formulas two to three times a day.  If they are very hungry they will probably figure

it out pretty fast. 

Sometimes moms will wean the puppies early for different reasons as stated.

I would also start them on drinking out of the bowl or start bottle feeding  no point in loosing puppies.

Forcing a mother to nurse puppies puts a lot of stress on her and could do more harm then good.

and for the rest of this litter and the next get a scale and keep track of wieghts that way you are on top of it before they get ribby.

Walmart has a kicten scale for about 10.00 goes up to 5 pounds Roughly 3-4 weeks of age.

let us know how they do. EK

Thanks for all of the advice. I did notice last night that her ninnies were looking a bit scratched up, I clipped and smoothed the frontnails on each pup. She is a good mom and stays with the pups. She has the whole house to herself during the day ( work and school = empty house) I will look at the store tomorrow and see what they have. I have had to wean pups young before but I prefer to leave them on mom if at all possible. It may well be that the nails were causing her to move away from them more. They dont have teeth yet, thats one of the first things I checked. And there will be no more litters.

I have thighs in the fridge for her that I was going to use to start cooking her meals but will start feeding raw. I still worry about choking..........something that you grow up hearing you just can never shake.

I took updated picks this evening. I will post tomorrow. There are a couple I am really keeping my eye on, a little gal that is the first in everything and will more than likely be a real handful as she grows lol very inquisitive yet the first to bark at strange things.  Silly pups :)

Off to bed, 3:45 am comes mighty early lol

Therese

I started feeding my puppies at three weeks old. I feed them iams puppy food three to four times a day plus  they nurse off there mom.So your puppies are old anough to start feed them grull puppy food.  Good luck with them.