Reasons Why a Baby Animal Won't Suckle

With any newborn mammal, it is essential that it gets its first meal as soon as possible after birth. A newborn mammal that has not fed within the first 24 hours is at risk of death. Some animal babies are unable or unwilling to start suckling, and it is up to the owner to figure out why and solve the problem quickly.

  1. Cleft Palate

    • A cleft palate is a genetic defect that involves a hole in the roof of the mouth. The palate is the part that separates the mouth from the nasal cavity. It has a hard bony plate at the front of the mouth and a soft fleshy part at the rear. If the hole is large enough, it prevents the baby animal from forming suction with its mouth, making it unable to nurse. Less severe cleft palates may lead to pneumonia, as the animal may breathe milk into its lungs while suckling. Veterinarians usually recommend euthanasia for baby animals that are unable to nurse at all because of cleft palate.

    Hypothermia or Fever

    • Take the baby's temperature using a rectal thermometer to make sure it is not suffering from hypothermia or fever. If the animal's body temperature is too low, soak it in warm water. If the temperature is too high, soak it in cool water. Make sure to hold the animal's head out of the water and massage its limbs to increase the blood flow. Contact your veterinarian to find the reason behind the change in body temperature.

    Illness

    • Baby animals may be too weak to suckle because of illness. This is a problem in animals in which the baby must stand to nurse, such as goats, sheep, cattle and horses. If the mother was infected with certain diseases just before birth, the infection could have been passed to the baby, leaving it too weak to stand. If possible, draw milk from the mother and nurse the baby using a bottle. You will need to consult your veterinarian for advice on treatment.

    Problems With the Mother

    • Under certain circumstances, some animal mothers may reject their babies and refuse to let them nurse. This can be related to medical problems that make it painful for the mother to nurse or to too much human intervention. Do not mess with the baby animals unless there is an obvious problem. If at all possible, allow the babies to nurse during the first 24 hours so they can get the immune system benefits that come with colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk that is filled with antibodies from the mother's immune system. It provides protection against disease for the first few weeks of life. With medium-sized animals such as dogs and cats, the mother can sometimes be held down or comforted while the babies nurse. If she is still rejecting them after that, you will need to take over and nurse the babies with a bottle.