I've had litters where the dam didn't have enough milk to satisfy the pups completely, or had a tiny pup that needed extra. At this age you can thicken their formula with some baby rice cereal and put some yogurt in too. You may have to enlarge the hole in the bottle nipple a bit.
What works better for me than using a bottle is a regular 3cc syringe with the needle removed. They tend to take in less air, it is a lot less messy than using a spoon and you can easily tell how much they actually ate. The syringe will handle thicker formula than the bottle too.

I've had litters where the dam didn't have enough milk to satisfy the pups completely, or had a tiny pup that needed extra. At this age you can thicken their formula with some baby rice cereal and put some yogurt in too. You may have to enlarge the hole in the bottle nipple a bit.
What works better for me than using a bottle is a regular 3cc syringe with the needle removed. They tend to take in less air, it is a lot less messy than using a spoon and you can easily tell how much they actually ate. The syringe will handle thicker formula than the bottle too.

Give the formula to them slowly, you don't want to give it faster than they can swallow. Hold them at about a 45 degree angle when feeding, I cross my legs and put them in a towel on my lap with their heads propped up on my right thigh - I'm right handed.
An eye dropper also works well. As they suck on it the formula will flow out and they can regulate the speed themselves. The dropper from the liquid antibiotic bottle is small but has graduation marks on it.

Give the formula to them slowly, you don't want to give it faster than they can swallow. Hold them at about a 45 degree angle when feeding, I cross my legs and put them in a towel on my lap with their heads propped up on my right thigh - I'm right handed.
An eye dropper also works well. As they suck on it the formula will flow out and they can regulate the speed themselves. The dropper from the liquid antibiotic bottle is small but has graduation marks on it.

I go by weight more than by age to figure how much to feed. My pups are usually in the 3-4 pound range by 2-3 weeks of age.
Try feeding them 3-4 full syringes each meal at first, then as they can take it, give more. Since you are having trouble with them, I suggest weighing them twice daily and adjust the amount fed from there. They should show slow steady gains of about 3-4 oz daily.
Even if they aren't getting much from mom, they still need to try nursing on her, and need the cuddle time with her.
Burp them after wards and if they seem to have gas, Mylicon drops work well.

I go by weight more than by age to figure how much to feed. My pups are usually in the 3-4 pound range by 2-3 weeks of age.
Try feeding them 3-4 full syringes each meal at first, then as they can take it, give more. Since you are having trouble with them, I suggest weighing them twice daily and adjust the amount fed from there. They should show slow steady gains of about 3-4 oz daily.
Even if they aren't getting much from mom, they still need to try nursing on her, and need the cuddle time with her.
Burp them after wards and if they seem to have gas, Mylicon drops work well.

I am having the same problem. Puppies are losing interest in eating, sleeping all the time and today one was bluish around mouth and tongue. I just fed them with a tube but would rather try feeding with the syringe. Please let me know how much they should be drinking, I am trying to feed them every 3 hours around the clock.
Thanks,
Sheryl

I am having the same problem. Puppies are losing interest in eating, sleeping all the time and today one was bluish around mouth and tongue. I just fed them with a tube but would rather try feeding with the syringe. Please let me know how much they should be drinking, I am trying to feed them every 3 hours around the clock.
Thanks,
Sheryl

IMHO they are too young to give up on milk, so you do need to supplement them. Is this your first litter? Be sure to burp puppies who have been nursing a bottle. Use care when deciding which nipple to choose...too small/slow and they will tire, too big and they will choke with milk coming up thru the nose and the possibility of pneumonia! Have a bulb-syringe on hand in case this happens (check your local pharmacy; they carry them). I think at 3.5wks you can start them on gruel...of course you can try sooner but they won't take in enough to really fill their needs.

IMHO they are too young to give up on milk, so you do need to supplement them. Is this your first litter? Be sure to burp puppies who have been nursing a bottle. Use care when deciding which nipple to choose...too small/slow and they will tire, too big and they will choke with milk coming up thru the nose and the possibility of pneumonia! Have a bulb-syringe on hand in case this happens (check your local pharmacy; they carry them). I think at 3.5wks you can start them on gruel...of course you can try sooner but they won't take in enough to really fill their needs.

You will need to make them gruel,
Go buy some baby rice cereal and mix the formula in with it, Get a spoon and let them lap the food off of it.

You will need to make them gruel,
Go buy some baby rice cereal and mix the formula in with it, Get a spoon and let them lap the food off of it.