Tube Feeding (This was written for us by Deborah Sullivan)
BEFORE ANY TUBE FEEDING IS DONE MAKE
ABSOLUTE SURE THAT THE BABY IS WARM
NEVER FEED A COLD BABY
The advantages of tube feeding are that it takes about two minutes to complete each feeding and very little air is swallowed. Tube feeding also ensures that a proper amount of formula is administered to each puppy.
Tube Feeding is not difficult and can be mastered in a few minutes. It requires a soft rubber catheter tube size 5 to 10 French, depending on the size of the puppy. A puppy weighing less than 8 oz requires a size 5. You'll also need a 10--20 mL plastic syringe. These can be bought at your local drug store. A puppy's stomach is even with his last rib. Measure the tube from the mouth to the last rib and mark the tube with a piece of tape, on the outside of his body. Arouse the puppy and place him on his chest in a horizontal position. Moisten the tip of the tube with formula and allow the puppy to suckle it breifly. Then pass the tube slowly over the puppy's tongue and into the throat. With steady pressure the puppy will swallow the tube. Pass it to the level of the mark you made on the tube with tape. Slowly inject a small amount of water into the tube. If the puppy coughs or gasps, the tip of the tube is in the lungs. This is not as serious a problem as if formula were injected, because water is more easily absorbed. Draw the formula into the syringe, taking care to expel all air, and warm it to body temperature by immersing the syringe in hot water.. Never microwave the syringe with formula.. EVER.....Withdraw and reposition the tube. When the tube is in the correct position, attach the syringe to the tube and slowly inject the formula into the puppy. All feedings, particularly the first feeding, should be injected gradually so as not to distend the stomach. If the formula is injected too rapidly, it will be regurgitated and may cause aspiration pneumonia. When all the formula has been injected, remove the tube and raise the puppy into a vertical position and allow a burp.. Swab the anal and genital areas with a piece of cotton soaked in warm water after each feeding to stimulate voiding and defecation.
CALCULATION OF FORMULA
1 week old 60 Calories per pound 6 Feedings
2 week old 70 Calories per pound 4 Feedings
3 weeks old 80 Calories per pound 4 Feedings
4 weeks old 90 Calories per pound 3 Feedings
Here's an example of how to use this table....A one week old puppy weighs 4 oz at the morning weighing. He will require 15 Calories that day. He requires 6 Feedings on that day so divide that 15 Calories by 6 and you will find that he needs 2.5 mL per feeding of formula.. 6 times on that day. As he increases his weight you increase the formula based on this table. If the puppy weigh's 8 oz at the morning weighing, he will require 30 Calories that day. He requires 6 feedings on that day so divide 30 by 6 and you will find that he needs 5 mL per feeding of formula 6 times on that day...
A FABULOUS PUPPY FORMULA..
I have used this for years and there is nothing like it.. It puts weight on puppies and they thrive beautifully on it.. You may want to try it so here is the recipe..
1/2 cup distilled water
1/4 cup carnation evaporated milk
small carton 35% whipping cream use 1/2 tsp
1/2 tsp pure honey
1 egg yolk
Combine all ingredients and heat and serve.. Keep in fridge but for 2 days only
Bottle Feeding
I hand reared my two puppies Cachet and Chloe , after Nala without warning did not produce milk. I used a dog milk substitute and used it as suggested on the label for kittens. I thought perhaps because the poms were so small that that would be a more suitable formula. I was successfull in hand rearing and have reared others dogs too doing this but please do not follow my advise see a Vet or Breeder as soon as you discover may have to hand rear. This is only my experience im telling you about, and I am not a breeder nor am I a vet. Things required for Hand Rearing...................
1 . A maternity room, a room kept immaculate, free from draughts, other animals and other dog owners. Pups that are hand reared do not have the protection that a real mums milk can give them, so however tempting it may be to show off the pups, take a photo, do not allow anyone near them,keep the room, bedding and all feeding material immaculate and sterilized, wash your own hands before and after handling each pup. I f you do not have a spare room like i did, section of a bit of space in your house and use that as your own maternity ward. Puppies must be kept really warm the first week a constant temperature if 95 f slowly dropping to 75 f by the age of three weeks.
2 . A container of the dog milk supplement of your choice, remember when making this up , do as you would a child, sterilize.Think clean I cant state this enough, cleanleness is a must when hand rearing.
3 .A dropper or Kitten feeder ( I used the latter ) all available at your local pet shop, with lots of extra teats, and a spare bottle also.
4 Cotton wool pads to clean the pups , and to toilet them.
5 .A piece of kitchen roll to put over the puppys head to collect any spills.Use it like a bib
6 A small piece of cloth(like a minute shawl) for holding the puppy secure while you are feeding it.
7 Baby sterilizing tablets to clean all feeding utensils and also put one in the wash with the bedding which must be immaculate.
8 A heat pad with removable pad for washing to keep the puppys warm should the temperature drop
9 The most important thing the patience of a saint,and determintaion, be prepared for hard work, little or no sleep for the next three weeks, and hopefully someone who will assist in the care of the pups. I moved my mum in for three weeks, she attended to the household chores and Danielle and I attended to the puppies ( we actually have a video step by step from when the pups were born) Its Hard Hard work but so worth it at the end.
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