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I recently posted a series of short videos on puppy & kitten bottle feeding. Those contains the essentials everyone should keep in mind when doing this. Thought I’d compile them all together in one blog so they can be found more easily ! And if you want to learn more about milk replacers, don’t forget to check this article I wrote about this topic, you can find it HERE
Why cow’s & goat’s milks are NOT ideal for newborn puppies ?
The belief that cow’s or goat’s milk can serve as an optimal substitute for a mother’s milk in newborn puppies is not only misguided, but it could potentially lead to harmful health consequences for these young canines.
Contrary to popular belief, the reality is that cow’s and goat’s milk are far less ideal for newborn puppies due to their significantly lower energy and mineral content. These nutrients are paramount in supporting the rigorous growth and developmental demands of newborn puppies.
Moreover, another lesser-known but equally important aspect to consider is the osmolality of cow’s and goat’s milk.
In essence, osmolality refers to the concentration of particles per unit of water. In the case of goat’s and cow’s milk, they exhibit a higher osmolality compared to a mother dog’s milk.
This imbalance can lead to a range of health problems, with the most common being diarrhea. Diarrhea can be particularly hazardous to newborn puppies. Considering that puppies are composed of approximately 82% water, any imbalance can lead to severe dehydration, a dangerous condition that may be fatal if not promptly treated.
These scientific insights point towards a singular, more effective solution: specifically formulated puppy milk replacers. Unlike cow’s and goat’s milk, these scientifically designed products closely mimic the nutritional profile of the mother’s milk. They offer a more nutritionally complete and balanced alternative, providing the puppies with the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
Dispelling this myth and promoting correct feeding practices will go a long way in ensuring the health and wellbeing of newborn puppies.
The most common error when using a powder based puppy milk replacer ?
The appropriate preparation of milk replacers is of vital importance when it comes to newborn puppies. A common but potentially harmful mistake made by pet owners is incorrectly reconstituting the powdered formula by adding too much (or not enough) water. This mistake, while seeming simple, can have a significant impact on the young puppies’ health, and it’s critical that this point is well understood.
Excessive water in the mixture dilutes the nutritional content of the milk replacer. This can lead to malnutrition in the puppies as they may not receive the essential nutrients they require for their rapid growth and development.
On the other hand, a mixture that’s overly thick or oversaturated in water can cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and constipation. This can lead to discomfort and potential health complications, which are undesirable, especially in the critical early weeks of a puppy’s life.
Therefore, strictly adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions when preparing a puppy milk replacer is not just recommended, it’s crucial. It ensures the resulting mix provides the right balance of nutrients, calories, and hydration that the puppies need for healthy growth.
Knowledge about the correct preparation methods for puppy milk replacers is key to avoiding these common, yet harmful, errors.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT POSITION TO BOTTLE-FED NEWBORN PUPPIES AND KITTENS ?
Proper feeding techniques are critical for the health and wellbeing of newborn puppies and kittens, and a significant part of this involves the correct bottle-feeding position. Many pet owners, unfortunately, continue to make avoidable errors in this area, which can lead to unnecessary complications.
One might instinctively think to bottle-feed a newborn animal much like how we would a human baby, holding them horizontally in our arms. However, this position is incorrect for puppies and kittens. This method, while suitable for human infants, can lead to aspirational issues in puppies and kittens, as their swallowing mechanisms differ from those of human babies.
The right way to bottle-feed these young animals is to keep them upright or in a position where their belly is in contact with a surface, such as your lap or the floor, and their head and neck are elevated slightly. In this position, akin to how they would feed from their mother, they can comfortably and safely ingest their food. This posture ensures the milk flows down the esophagus naturally under the force of gravity, preventing aspiration.
This information is crucial, as correct feeding practices directly affect the survival and healthy growth of newborn puppies and kittens. As such, it’s an important message to spread among pet owners, breeders, and animal lovers in general. Too many mistakes are still being made, and we need to raise awareness to change these incorrect practices.
What MUST you do BEFORE bottle-feeding a newborn puppy or kitten ?
The first and foremost aspect to consider when preparing to bottle-feed a newborn puppy is not the type of milk replacer to use, nor the correct mixing ratio of the powder, and not even the appropriate position for feeding.
All these factors, while important, are secondary to ensuring the puppy’s body temperature is in the safe range. This might surprise many, but it’s critical to understand that a newborn puppy’s ability to digest is heavily dependent on their body temperature.
If a newborn puppy is hypothermic, meaning their body temperature is below normal, they cannot digest their food properly.
The implications of this are serious; even if the puppy is fed appropriately in terms of the type of milk and the feeding position, they will not benefit from the nutrients if they are hypothermic. This can lead to malnourishment, slowed growth, and can increase susceptibility to diseases.
Therefore, before any feeding session, always ensure to check the puppy’s body temperature. If they’re cold, the immediate next step should be to safely warm them up. Only when their body temperature has returned to the normal range should you proceed to bottle-feed them.
This crucial piece of information is often overlooked, but it’s the cornerstone of successful bottle feeding. By adhering to this approach, we can significantly improve the survival and growth rates of newborn puppies, and give them a healthy start to their lives.
Interested to learn more about canine neonatology? Download my free ebook on the topic HERE!
One of the most common challenge we encounter in breeding kennels is NEONATAL MORTALITY.
It can be very frustrating… even heart-breaking.
Good news though : you can do something about it !
We now have more knowledge than ever in this discipline.
In recent years, new research brought us a much better understanding of what can be done to optimize the health of newborn puppies.
By taking this course, this is what you will learn indeed !
DR. EMMANUEL FONTAINE 