How Often Should a Bottle Fed Puppy Pass a Stool?

When a new mom deserts her pups or if she is unable to care for her young, you may be forced to feed her puppies yourself. Bottle-feeding a newborn puppy can be challenging, especially when you are incorporating potty training into the agenda. The frequency of your new pup's stools relies on several factors and you need to keep an eye on her to make sure she continuously relieves herself. Consult your veterinarian before you begin bottle-feeding and let him know if you have concerns about elimination.

  1. Feeding

    • Newborn puppies rely on mother's milk for the first four weeks of life. If you have to bottle-feed during this time, use a milk replacer specifically designed for newborn puppies. Bottle-feed your pup every two hours during her first week of life. After this initial stage, she can eat after longer intervals, as long as every three or four hours. She will probably whelp and cry to let you know when she is hungry if you wait too long. Knowing her feeding schedule and diet helps you determine how often she should be moving her bowels and what her stools should look like.

    Passing Stools

    • Your puppy should need to relieve herself within 30 to 60 minutes after eating, explains Dr. Gary L. Clemons, an Ohio-based veterinarian. If you are bottle-feeding her every two hours, she should be passing a stool approximately half an hour after your start feeding her. For example, if you give her a bottle at noon, make sure you put her on a puppy pad or other potty area by 12:30 p.m.

    Ways to Help

    • During your new puppy's first few weeks of life, you will need to help stimulate her bowels. After feeding, the mother dog usually licks her new pup's anus and surrounding areas to help her newborn go to the bathroom. You can mimic this action by rubbing her back end with a warm wet washcloth. By stimulating her bowels after you bottle-feed her, she should be able to pass a stool in less than an hour.

    Consistency

    • While you are bottle-feeding your puppy, her stools should be a pale to dark brown color and have a slightly loose consistency. If she struggles to pass a stool or if her stools seem hard, add more water to the formula you feed her. Green stools may be a sign of an infection, while red stools may be a sign of blood. In these cases, seek the attention of your veterinarian. As your puppy gets older and transitions into solid foods, her stools will become more solid and formed.