Mother won't bond or feed her new born puppies

[Emoore]

That's terrible about Esbilac! How do they get away with selling it?

[robinhuerta]

Chris... I whole hearted agree...

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by Chris Wild

You need to get the puppies eating some from the mother. Even if you supplement with tube or bottlefeeding, it is important for them to nurse from the mother *within the first 24 hours* in order to pick up the antibodies in her colostrum.

If you have to muzzle her and sit on her to allow that to happen, so be it.

You may find that if you can force her to nurse the pups, her attitude toward them will change once the hormones released as a byproduct of nursing get coursing through her system. Then again, she may never take to the pups. Either way do not leave her alone with them for even a moment, and please spay her as soon as possible after this is all over.

This!

[msvette2u]

We raised puppies on Just Born and they did okay?
I would be quite concerned about muzzling her as a dog can still damage through or in spite of a muzzle. If you do this please be sure to have at least one person to hold the mother down.
And be aware it might not work anyway due to her being too tense to let the milk drop.

If you're unsure at all, do get the formula and have your vet help you get started with the bottle feeding process.

[wyominggrandma]

Because the company said it never happened, although there was quite a big thing about it years ago. I have never used it for raising babies, always did half and half goats milk and water. Never had issues with diaraha or problems like that, the goats milk digests easily.

[selzer]

After getting the cholosterum in them, you might want to tube feed -- much easier and quicker than bottle feeding. A vet can show you how and provide you with what you need and how much to feed.

You have to keep the pups warm. If you feed them cold, they will die. Talk to your vet.

I am sorry you are going through this. It is not unheard of. I am curious at how old your bitch is, sometimes young bitches have trouble. Hard to say.

Tube feeding will be quicker and easier to get enough milk in each puppy, until you can wean them. I hope your dam gets over this, but I agree that leaving them together alone ever is a terrible risk.

Also, VERY IMPORTANT. You must stimulate them to get them to relieve themselves. Take a warm wet cloth and clean them in that area until they pee and poop, and clean it up.

Good luck.

[msvette2u]

BTW, between 5-10 days they'll start sucking on each other and must be separated. If they aren't, they can cause horrible sores on each other and we received a 5 day old litter left together where one puppy sucked another's intestines out his rectum. It can be a huge mess. Even if that trauma doesn't happen, they will suck on each other's potty parts and cause problems in that region.

We used a heat mat (the kind for outdoor use-- lectro mats or whatever) and put each puppy in a separate kitty carrier to keep them from sucking. You simply cannot feed them 24/7 and they require way more suckling than we can replicate with bottles.
We had to have them right by the woodstove too, not too close or too far away, and we also had one start to fade so had to use a rice bag (microwaved and placed in one area of the kitty crate) to keep her warm. She survived...but it's a full time job for about 3-4 weeks.

[dazedtrucker]

Another thing that is of concern...when a mother doesn't nurse her pups, she will be at high risk of a uterine infection. The act of nursing stimulates the uterus to contract and return to normal. If it is not caught soon enough, she can die. (I lost a rescued greyhound. Rescued too late . RIP Missy, you were loved)

[Stevenzachsmom]

I hope the OP comes back and I hope everything is OK.