Puppy can't latch on to nurse

I have a puppy that can't latch on well to nurse. What is the cause and solution for this?



Hi
The most common reason for a puppy having difficulty like this is that there's a defect in his palate (the roof of his mouth). It's not terribly unusual, but is more common in some breeds than others. Particularly the ones with short muzzles.

I'd strongly recommend that you have your vet examine your pup to see if this is the case here. If there is a palate problem, depending on how severe it is, this little one may need treatment.

Bottle feeding may not help in some cases, and the pup may even aspirate the milk into his lungs which is dangerous. In that situation, tube feeding is recommended, but it's something that your vet will need to show you how to do.

It's very important for a newborn pup to get enough nourishment and fluids, so please get this pup to your vet asap. I wish you the best of luck and hope this pup grows up big and strong.