Did you just get a puppy? If you answered this question with an enthusiastic “yes,” you probably have many questions about feeding your new best pal, like how to make homemade puppy formula?
When it comes to feeding your puppy, the ideal situation is that your puppy receives milk from its mom since the mother’s milk is full of many key nutrients.
What if the mom isn’t willing or able to feed your puppy, though? The answer is homemade puppy milk. Check out why you should feed your puppy homemade milk, how you can make it, and discover some great alternatives.
How To Make Homemade Puppy Milk
If you’re interested in making homemade puppy milk, you’ll be extremely happy to know that it isn’t hard to make. You probably already have many of the ingredients for this recipe in your kitchen. If not, you can definitely find the ingredients at the local grocery store. Here are two great recipes for making homemade puppy milk.
The first homemade puppy milk recipe requires evaporated milk, water, light corn syrup, and full-fat yogurt. Make sure to avoid using vanilla yogurt because it contains lots of sugars, flavorings, and artificial ingredients that can harm puppies.
Place 10 ounces of the specified milk and 3 ounces of water into a blender. After placing those ingredients in the blender, add 1 cup of full-fat yogurt and ½ teaspoon of light corn syrup. Mix all of these ingredients together, and then pour the mixture into a feeding bottle.
The second homemade puppy milk replacer recipe requires the following ingredients: Fresh goat’s milk, raw egg yolk, full-fat yogurt, light corn syrup, and mayonnaise. Similar to the previous recipe, you shouldn’t use vanilla yogurt in this recipe either.
Place 12 ounces of the specified milk and 1 raw egg yolk into the blender. Next, add 1 cup of full-fat yogurt, 1 teaspoon of light corn syrup, and 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Combine all of these ingredients, and then place the mixture in a feeding bottle.
Please note: Before making a homemade puppy milk replacer, be sure to consult with your vet. When you talk with a vet about the right homemade puppy milk for your pup, you’ll be ensuring that your pup receives the nutrients that it needs.
What can I use instead of puppy formula?
If you don’t want to give your dog puppy formula, you can always serve it evaporated milk or goat’s milk.
Goat’s milk is the best substitute for puppy formula because it has many benefits for pups such as regulating stomach pH, preventing a wide variety of diseases, lessening the risk of allergic reactions, promoting a healthy immune system, supporting excellent eyesight, and much more.
Always remember that cow’s milk is never a good substitute for puppy formula because it can upset your pup’s stomach.
You can always consult with a vet to determine the right type of milk for your puppy. When you get a vet’s recommendations regarding the best milk for your pup, you’ll ensure that your pup receives the necessary nutrients for optimal health.
In an ideal world, puppies would spend the first weeks of their lives nursing happily from their mothers. However, this is not always possible and the puppies may need to be bottle-fed in order to survive. Store-bought milk replacements can be purchased from your local pet store or veterinarian, but homemade milk replacements are an acceptable substitute for hungry puppies.
Cow’s milk is not recommended for puppies, but goat’s milk is an acceptable choice for your hungry litter. Goat’s milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk, and allows puppies to absorb vital nutrients without digestive upset. Pour 12 ounces of fresh goat’s milk into a large plastic bottle, and add in 1 raw egg yolk and 1 tablespoon mayonnaise. Shake to mix the egg into the milk, and add 1 cup whole yogurt and 1 teaspoon corn syrup to the bottle. Put the lid on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend.
Before feeding your puppies, ask your veterinarian how much, and how often, to feed your litter. 1 cc of food for every ounce of body weight is a good estimate, but your vet will give you the most accurate amount for each puppy. Pour the milk replacement of your choice into a small animal nursing bottle, and warm it to body temperature in a pan of hot water. Test the milk on your wrist; if it feels warm but not hot, it’s ready to feed. Hold the puppy on her belly on a table or across your legs, and let her nurse at her own pace. Wipe her face clean with a towel, and rub her lower belly with a damp cotton ball to stimulate her to potty after every meal.
Evaporated milk is a staple in many homemade milk replacement recipes. It’s thick consistency and high calorie content is similar to that of mother’s milk, making it a suitable base for this recipe. Pour 10 ounces of evaporated milk into a blender, and add 3 ounces of distilled water. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon of light corn syrup into the milk, and add 1 cup of full fat yogurt. Blend the ingredients until combined. Don’t over-mix the milk, or it will be too thick for the puppies to drink.
Illness is one of the most common reasons your litter may need to be bottle-fed. If the mother is unhealthy, her body will not have the resources to produce enough milk to feed her puppies. Absence of the mother is another reason to hand-feed your puppies. The dam is the sole source of nutrients for the litter, and they will eventually starve without assistance. Very large litters may also require supplemental feeding if their mother is unable to produce enough milk.
FAQ
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