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Summary: Knowing how to tell if your puppy is dehydrated and needs additional milk beyond what the puppy's mom can give is an important item to be aware of during the nursing stage. We cover warning signs of puppy dehydration and how to get your puppy hydrated again. (Disclaimer: This article contains information that is strictly the expert opinion of AskABreeder.com personnel or other professional breeders based on their experience. It should not be substituted for a veterinarian's expert advice.)

It is frightening if you start to see puppies go down hill because they are not getting enough milk from the puppy's mother. Dehydration can happen for a variety of reasons. Puppies are generally especially fragile during their first two weeks of life. If you have a puppy or puppies that are showing signs of dehydration, there are milk replacer products available on the market to come to the rescue and get your puppy rehydrated!

How to Tell if Your Puppy Looks Dehydrated.

One way to tell is if the puppies are being nursed, but they look abnormally skinny. Or if the litter is an above average size for the breed. Or if you pick up one of your puppies, gently pinch the skin behind the head on the back of the neck. If it quickly returns back to place then the puppy is generally hydrated properly; however, if the skin remains standing up you must take quick action. The puppy is dehydrated. Please refer to the video clip below for a brief demo of how to do this on 1 week old puppies.

Rehydrating a puppy involves using a supplemental milk replacer that contains the necessary nutrients to help a puppy develop. Milk replacers that contain colostrums is necessary for a tiny puppy's survival. There are milk replacements that have goats milk in them as well that is much easier for a young puppy to digest. There are also regular dog milk replacers on the market along with natural pet milk replacers. Available also are specially designed dog feeding bottles and nipples to assist in giving dog milk replacement to small or fragile puppies.

	Some of the dog milk replacement products are a powder that needs to be mixed according to directions with water. Other dog milk replacement products are already mixed and ready-to-feed t your puppy. Most of the dog milk replacement products claim that they contain antibodies similar to that which the puppy's mother would produce.
Drs. Foster & Smith Inc. carries a puppy milk replacement formula called Esbilac. They describe the product as, "Esbilac Milk Replacer is the perfect partial or total mother's milk replacement for puppies. Formulated with a balance of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy growth in puppies." It is highly recommended by many veterinarians and comes in both powder and liquid form.	Esbilac Milk Replacer 12 oz. (powder for puppies)
PetSmart carries goats milk. The product is called 'Goat's Milk Esbilac' by Pet Ag. It is an alternative for puppies with 'sensitive digestive systems'. We have provided a photo and link to the product on the right.	Goat's Milk by Pet Ag
If you are having to supplement your puppies, you will probably want to invest in a Nursing Kit. PetSmart has a great kit available called 'Pet Ag Nursing Kit'. They describe the kit as "The next best thing to mother herself. Specially designed bottle and supplies to ensure puppies get the good nutrition they need."	PetAg(reg) Pet Nursing Kit

WARNING: The normal nipples of the mother dog are supposed to be warm and soft. If they become hard it could be a sign of infection. The dog should be taken to a veterinarian.

If you have further comments or questions about 'Puppies that aren't Getting Enough Mother's Milk', feel free to visit our Forums, Use our 'Ask a Breeder a Question Link' or make a Comment on this article below. We encourage participation and feedback.

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