Taking care of the dog's diet is essential at any stage of life, but when they are still puppies this care must be even greater. In the development process of the first weeks of life, the puppy needs all the nutrients considered essential for healthy growth, which are found mainly in breastfeeding. But after all, how many ml of milk does a puppy need?What should you do with a puppy that doesn't suckle? We've put together some curious information on the subject below!

How many ml of milk does a puppy suckle?

It is normal for first-time owners to be a little lost with feeding their puppy in the first weeks of life. Puppies tend to suckle a lot during this period and the frequency is also higher than the amount of times the dog eats as an adult. In the very first week, the puppy should be fed with 13 ml of milk every 2 hours. In the second week, the puppy should be fed 13 ml of milk every 2 hours.It is recommended that it be 17 ml every 3 hours, and in the third week 20 ml in the same time interval. From the fourth week, breastfeeding should occur every 4 hours, with about 22 ml of milk being offered to the puppy. It is from this same phase that the introduction of puppy food into the puppies' diet usually begins.

Breastfeeding time for puppies can vary

The breed and size of the animal are factors that greatly influence breastfeeding. The duration of this process is usually one month for small or medium-sized dogs, but if it is a large dog, such as the Siberian Husky, the duration can be longer than that, reaching two months of breastfeeding. This is because large dogs have a slightly slower development than a medium-sized dog.the smallest - they only reach maturity after two years of age, while small or medium-sized dogs reach adulthood after one year. If there is any doubt about how long your puppy should nurse, it is worth talking to a vet to clarify this.

Puppy who does not suckle: the use of artificial milk can help maintain the nutrition of the puppy

My dog doesn't want to suckle her puppies, why does this happen?

This is not a very common situation, but it can happen for different reasons. Sometimes one of the dog's teats suffers from a problem called inverted beak, which is when the breast is hidden inside and the breastfeeding of the puppies can bring some discomfort to the mother. Mastitis in bitches is also another possibility, which consists of inflammation of the mammary glands, although it does notLastly, when the bitch has her first litter of puppies, the breasts can become more sensitive to touch, so contact with the puppies' mouths is uncomfortable. This sensitivity usually goes away within the first week.

What to give to a puppy who does not suck?

Breast milk is the main source of nutrients for puppies in the first few months, but sometimes circumstances make it difficult for the puppy to access breastfeeding. So, what to do with a puppy who does not suckle? There are artificial formulas that fulfil the role of breast milk when it comes to nourishing puppies. Even though it is artificial milk, the product is similar to that produced by the glandsmammary of the bitches, having all the nutrients that are important to strengthen the puppy in the early stages of life. To give the artificial milk to the puppy that does not suckle, it is enough to have a bottle suitable for pets and keep the liquid always at room temperature (37ºC).

Breastfeeding puppies: baby food can be introduced into the diet from the 4th week onwards

Soon after reaching one month of age, the puppy begins to be interested in foods with different textures. This is the ideal time to start the food transition. As the puppy cannot eat very hard foods, the baby food helps in the transition between breast milk and dry food. Wet food (sachets) also help in this process. The transition should be gradualand only when the puppy is around 45 days old is it possible to start introducing solid food.