Have you found a puppy and he needs to take a bottle? Although the ideal is always that puppies can take their mother’s milk, especially the first call colostrum, it is not always possible. We may find that the mother does not produce enough, rejects her young, is very ill or may even have died and, therefore, we must take care of feeding the little ones until they can eat on their own. It is very important not to waste time, because the first days are the most important for the little ones to get ahead. We can buy maternal milk, but we do not always find. Thus, in this oneHOWTO article we are going to explain to you how to make breast milk for dogs, so you can use these recipes in an emergency.
The importance of breast milk
Before going into details about how to make breast milk for puppies it is necessary to know the importance of the one offered by the mother. A) Yes, breast milk It is vital for all newborns of any species, as it provides all the nutrients necessary for the development of puppies from their first day. This food is 100% irreplaceable, since it is the most complete and best adjusts to the needs of the little ones and even adapts according to their age.
The first maternal food that is produced during the first days after childbirth is colostrum and it is of great importance so that the puppies begin to develop normally. It is a thicker liquid with more nutrients than the food that the mother produces later.
For this, we should not substitute breast milk without a compelling reason. So only when the mother can’t Offering this food will be when we must act and feed the little ones ourselves. In this case, we can use formula milk that we will find in veterinary centers or we can replace breast milk for dogs by making it at home, but we must always bear in mind that no matter how hard we try, these products will never exceed or equal the mother’s food.
Lactose in formula
In all maternal milk there is lactose, as this is necessary for the growth and development of the little ones, regardless of the species. Lactose is a sugar present in this type of maternal food in all mammalian species and, therefore, is a nutrient needed for newborns.
We should not fear that children may have lactose intolerance, because naturally in their intestines there is a enzyme, known as lactase, which uses lactose to produce galactose and glucose necessary to nourish puppies well and to obtain enough energy for their development. But it is when mammals grow that little by little lactase is being lost until weaning, at which time there is generally no more enzyme of this type in the intestine and, therefore, this food is no longer necessary and can lead to intolerances. This does not mean that all mammals, including us, become lactose intolerant when weaned; some will have a little, others a lot, and others not at all.
It is for this reason that it is important not giving lactose-free milk to puppies infants, it is better to make one that is suitable for them or buy it.
How milk is made for newborn dogs: nutrients
Before explaining how to make emergency puppy formula we will have to know what are the nutritional values of this maternal food to be able to substitute them in the best possible way. Specifically, in 1 liter of bitch milk has between 1,200 and 1,300 kcal distributed among these nutritional values:
- 90 g fat
- 80 g protein
- 35 g of carbohydrates
- 3 g calcium
- 1.8 g phosphorus
We must know that 1 liter of whole cow’s milk of the one we find in supermarkets has so only 600 kcal, that is to say the half that the bitch has, providing less amount of nutrients. If we use this product we should give the puppy 2 liters to provide almost the same as it would get from the food offered by its mother. Anyway, that of cow or other animals such as goat is not a suitable diet for dog puppies.
How to prepare milk for newborn dogs: doses and intakes
To know how much milk to give in each feeding, you must first weigh the puppy to be able to calculate the necessary nutrients and the amount of each dose. If we have not been able to weigh it at the vet, it is recommended that we do it with a kitchen scale due to the low weight that the little one will still have. The calories required according to weeks of life and weight of the animal will be the following:
- First week: 12 to 13 kcal / 100 g of weight / day
- Second week: 13 to 15 kcal / 100 g of weight / day
- Third week: 15 to 18 kcal / 100 g of weight / day
- Fourth week: 18 to 20 kcal / 100 g of weight / day
Example
A puppy that weighs half a kilo (500 grams) and seems to be of a medium or large breed is surely in its first week of life, so the corresponding daily dose is about 13 kcal / 100 g of weight / day. This puppy would get 650 kcal / day.
In addition, since they suckle from their mother several times a day, the ideal is to give them one take every 3 hours, distributing the total kcal (in this case 650 kcal / day) in several times. In a day, that is, in 24 hours, if the puppy eats every 3 hours in total, he will have to do 8 servings a day, among which the total kcal per day is distributed. Thus, this puppy in the example would have to take 81.25 kcal in each feeding to eat 650 kcal in one day.
Little by little the shots should be spaced, the optimum is that in the third week only take 4 daily feedings, that is, every 6 hours, as other factors may also be added to the diet such as water and baby food.
It’s very important prepare just the right amount for the shot and do it half an hour before feeding the puppy. It is not advisable to keep it for future shots, although if it is done for a few hours it should be kept very well closed and in the refrigerator. Likewise, we must always go to the vet to check its health and to help us adjust the care to the health and growth stage of our furry.
In addition, bottles can be found in pet stores, veterinary centers and even in pharmacies. You can also make one out of a bottle and a bottle nipple.
Recipe: formula for emergency puppies with 900 kcal / liter
This first recipe is designed to provide 900 kcal for each liter to our furry. You just have to whisk together the following ingredients until you get a uniform mixture and you can give it to him:
- 80 ml heavy cream (containing 40% fat)
- 1 egg yolk
- 900 ml of whole cow’s milk
Remember to do it preferably at the time of giving it or at most a half hour before.
Recipe: breast milk for dogs with 1,100 kcal / liter
This other recipe from homemade puppy formula It is also very simple to do and offers up to 1,100 kcal per liter. You will have to follow the same procedure, but you will have to use these ingredients:
- 150 g of cream mascarpone cheese
- 850 ml of whole goat milk
Recipe: formula for puppies with 1,300 kcal / liter
Finally, the most complete recipe and the one that will provide the most kcal to your furry is the one that has a total of 1,300 kcal per liter. To do it, you must follow the steps mentioned above and use the following ingredients:
- 10g butter
- 1 egg yolk
- 25 g of milk protein (calcium caseinate)
- 50 ml heavy cream (containing 40% fat)
- 400 ml of whole cow’s milk (in this case better without lactose)
You may also be interested in knowing when to change food from puppy to adult for later.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to make breast milk for dogs – emergency recipes, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.