How to Bottle-Feed a Puppy Without Aspiration

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Bottle-feeding is a skill. Done well, it keeps orphans and underfed puppies growing. Done badly, it can send milk into the lungs and cause pneumonia, which is serious. The key is position, patience and the right equipment.

Equipment

• Puppy bottle and teats. Choose a size appropriate for your puppy's age and mouth. Teats should drip slowly when the bottle is inverted, not stream.
• Puppy milk replacer. Powder or ready liquid formulated for dogs.
• Syringe, for very small or weak puppies, if your vet advises.
• Kitchen scale and notebook.
• Clean towels and warm cotton pads.
• Sterilizing supplies, such as a pot or a sterilizing solution made for baby bottles.

Preparing the milk

1. Wash your hands.
2. Mix the milk replacer according to the label, using clean water.
3. Warm it to about body temperature. Test a drop on your wrist.
4. Discard milk that has been out too long, and refrigerate leftovers briefly according to the label.

Do not microwave bottles directly, as hot spots can scald. Use a warm water bath instead.

The correct position

Place the puppy on its stomach on a towel, with its head level or slightly raised, like a puppy nursing from its mother. Do not hold the puppy on its back like a human baby. Gently open the mouth with the teat and let the puppy suckle.

How to feed

1. Hold the bottle at a slight angle so the teat fills with milk, not air.
2. Let the puppy suck at its own pace.
3. Do not squeeze the bottle to force milk.
4. Watch for swallowing.
5. Stop if the puppy stops swallowing, coughs or pulls away.
6. Keep feeds calm and quiet.

Weak puppies may need more patience. If a puppy will not suck, call your vet.

How much to feed

Amounts depend on age, size and the product, so follow the label and your vet. A common approach is to calculate daily milk by body weight and divide it into feeds. Overfeeding can cause diarrhea, bloating and aspiration, so do not push more than the puppy wants. A puppy should have a slightly rounded, soft belly, not tight and hard.

Burping and toileting

After a feed, hold the puppy against your shoulder or on your lap and gently pat or rub its back to release air. Then stimulate it to pee and poop. See our guide to stimulating a puppy to pee and poop.

Signs of aspiration

• Milk bubbling from the nose
• Coughing or gagging
• Gasping or noisy breathing
• Blue or pale gums

If this happens, stop feeding immediately, tilt the puppy's head down so milk drains out and call your vet at once. Later signs include wet breathing, lethargy and refusing to feed.

Cleaning bottles

Wash bottles and teats in hot, soapy water after each feed, rinse well and sterilize. Replace worn teats and replace any that are blocked.

Keeping track

Record the time, amount, toileting and weight. Compare your notes with the growth pattern in our guide to newborn health checks.

Transition away from the bottle

At about three to four weeks, introduce a shallow dish of milk or gruel. See our guide on how to wean puppies.

The takeaway

Bottle-feeding works when you keep the puppy belly-down, the milk warm and the pace slow. Learn the technique from your vet if you can, and never hesitate to call if something seems wrong. See our overview of caring for orphan puppies.