My dog stopped nursing her puppies. What should I do to help them?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some dogs are just not great mothers. A lot of times this behavior is repetitive with subsequent litters so I would consider spaying her after the puppies are weaned. She could start to improve in her habits but she may not. Sadly you will have to do more work if she won't cleaning them, etc. Hopefully she is at least letting them nurse. You can encourage her to lay in the whelping box with them more. It is ok for her to leave them for periods of time. Be sure Loki is eating high quality puppy food and that all of her mammary glands feel normal. Also be sure the puppies are having normal stool. I hope this helps and I wish Loki and her pups the best!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Some mom dogs are just not good mom dogs. In the circumstances where the mother dog won't feed the puppies you can either try to make Bella lie down and attach the puppies to her nipples (check first that she is producing milk), or if she is refusing the puppies all together you will need to feed and nurse them yourself with a bottle. This involves bottle feeding a puppy replacer (not just milk or 'puppy milk') as well as wiping their penis/vagina and anus so that they will pee and poop. I recommend a visit with the vet for both mom and babies to make sure Bella isn't sick, and to check on the puppies and be shown how to properly bottle feed. Best of luck with Bella and the puppies!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At almost 5 weeks old they can be totally weaned in the next week or two. Karma will dry up. Start offering the puppies canned puppy food the wet dry kibble mixed with canned. I would only let them nurse twice a day for the next week and only once a day the next. Then keep them off her. I hope this helps?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’ve seen it take up to a week for a new Mom to accept the puppies. Just calmly encourage her to lay with them. You can take a warm soft cloth after the feedings and stimulate them to urinate and defecate. And gently wipe them down two times per day until she starts doing it. If she never accepts the puppies I wouldn’t breed her again. I hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! If you think Mula should still be nursing you can purchase bottles and nipples and puppy milk replacer. I will attach links to find them online or you can find them at Veterinary hospitals or Pet stores. Around 6 weeks start offering puppy food, either canned or moisten dry food. By 8 weeks the puppy should be exclusively eating puppy food. You can bring Mula to the Vet to help confirm age and have him dewormed. Vaccine are started around 7-8 weeks of age. I hope this helps and good luck! http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=665 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=28141

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It isn't ideal to feed adult food but if it is impossible to get it then you can only do what you can do. I would discuss with your Vet supplementing with Calcium as she is a small breed dog and low calcium is risky right after birth from nursing. They can decide if she is at risk and provide dosing and when to start. I wish you and Coco the best!

Hello. Yes, this is fine. Unfortunately, not all dogs make good mothers, so if splitting up the litter makes it easier on the people that have to care for the puppies, then I think this is a good plan. When the puppies are a little older & getting close to weaning age around 3-4 weeks old, you can put them together, if you want. Otherwise, there will be no problems keeping them separated. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.