Bottle Feeding Puppies

Orphaned or rejected puppies, or a pup who's the 'runt' or too weak to nurse, need your help to get the nutrition they need. This guide to bottle feeding puppies will help you meet their needs.

If you're faced with a tiny puppy (or a whole litter of them) who aren't able to nurse from their momma, it can be a very scary situation.

You might be wondering how on earth you're going to keep them alive let alone thriving! But don't panic, many (MANY) other dog owners just like you have learned to bottle feed puppies and hand-raise them successfully.

You can too, the advice and information on this page will help you get together everything you need, and show you how to make sure the pup/s get the nutrition they need.

I'd also strongly recommend that you get your own veterinarian involved too. He/she will be able to give you the benefit of their advice and professional experience which is priceless.

How To Bottle Feed A Puppy

When it comes to bottle feeding puppies, it's important to use a puppy milk substitute that meets their special dietary needs.

Commercial puppy formulas that are carefully prepared to do just that can usually be bought at your veterinarians office or from large pet stores.

If your dog is pregnant, I would recommend getting some puppy milk in advance, so it's handy if you should need it.

Feeding new born puppies is very similar to feeding new born human babies in that they need to nurse frequently!

Every two hours during the day and probably once or twice during the night in the very beginning.

This adorable video shows a tiny French Bulldog being bottle fed...

Okay, so let's take a look at how to bottle feed puppies yourself, and the equipment that you need:

Obviously his mommas milk is the best food for a new born puppy. If at all possible, try to encourage the mom to allow the pups to nurse for at least the first 24 hours, as this is when they can receive the benefits of the colostrum (powerful anti-bodies and infection fighting pre-milk). Obviously this isn't always possible, but makes a big difference to the puppies.

Depending on the size of the breed your pups belong to, you can feed them using a small syringe (3ml), special bottles designed for puppies or kittens, or baby bottles. The baby-bottle nipples that are specially designed for premature babies often work well.

If there are no holes in the nipple, use a needle (held over a flame to heat and sterilize) to pierce two holes. 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.

Puppy milk replacement formula comes in powder form, or ready-made in cartons. The ready-made is easier to use, but quite a bit more expensive. If you're using the powdered version, be sure to mix it well as you don't want any lumps in it.

Cool formula to room temperature before feeding it to a puppy. You can test it on the inside of your wrist to make sure it's not too hot or too cold, it should feel barely warm.

Always feed a puppy face down on your lap or a table top, never hold it on it's back or upright, as this could cause it to choke or breath in the milk. This can lead to pneumonia and possible death.

Newborn puppies who are being bottle fed usually do well on 6 feedings per day. They should be able to go from 11pm until 6am as long as they are receiving 6 feeds in 24 hours. Smaller puppies may still need to be fed in the night for the first week or so.

By the time the puppies are 3 weeks old, 4 feeds a day is enough, and weaning can begin at around 4 weeks of age.Puppies who are under a month old need approx. 3.5 - 3.75 calories per ounce of body weight, every 24 hours. So, for example, a 6oz puppy would need approx 22.5 calories per day.

Most puppy milk replacers have about 1 calorie per ml, so that 22.5ml of formula can be divided between the 6 feeds. This pup would then need approx. 3.75ml of milk per feed.Of course, this is a rough estimate, some puppies need more, some less. As a general 'rule of thumb', it's better to feed smaller feeds more often, than larger amounts less frequently.

It's also recommended that you 'burp' new born puppies, half-way through each feeding. Do this the way you would with a human baby - by holding the pup up against your shoulder and gently rubbing or patting its' back.

If a puppy is getting enough to eat and is warm and comfortable, it will look plump, feel warm and sleep most of the time between feeds. If a puppy is crying a lot, is always wriggling and squirming, or feels cool/cold and seems lethargic, you have a problem. In these instances, you should consult your veterinarian right away.

To help puppies who are having difficulty feeding, or aren't getting enough nutrition, you can use a vitamin and nutrient-rich paste called Nutrical. I've used it myself for puppies who aren't thriving the way they should, and it is definitely something to keep on hand when you are hand-raising new born puppies. In my experience the best brand is 'Evsco' (linked to above) and puppies seem to prefer it!

Don't try to feed a puppy who feels chilled or cold, or seems to be sick. If a new born pup gets too cold, his organs start to close down and feeding him will only make things worse. A cold puppy who isn't eating will get dehydrated quickly which is very serious.

If you can't get the pup warmed up enough to suckle fairly quickly, get him to your vet as he may need IV fluids and extra help.

After every feeding you'll need to help the puppies to pee/poop by gently rubbing their lower belly/genital area.

CLICK HERE to read more about how to do this, and all the other things you need to do in order to take care of new born puppies properly (including temperature control, tube feeding, weight gain monitoring and more).

Newborn Puppy Supplies

Now you know HOW to bottle feed those puppies, you need the right supplies to do it with!

Here are some of the products that I'd recommend. Some of them you may be able to find at your local Pet Mega-store, others you will probably need to order online.

If your dog is expecting a litter of puppies it's a good idea to make sure you have these handy ahead of time....