Bottle Feeding Orphan Shih Tzu Puppies

Nursing bottles for orphaned Shih Tzu puppies can be obtained
through the veterinarian, pet supplier, wholesale catalogs or
the internet. You should purchase several nipple styles to see
which works best for you and your Shih Tzu.

Shih Tzu puppies can become colicky just like human newborn
babies. Be careful about allowing a Shih Tzu puppy to ingest air
when either tube or bottle feeding. Always turn the bottle and
nipple end down, before offering it to the Shih Tzu puppy. All
the air in the bottle will rise to the solid end. When the Shih
Tzu puppy is nursing freely bubbles rise in the bottle. The
bubble flow should be fairly rapid, small and uniform in size,
rising in even response to the Shih Tzu puppy’s nursing. If the
bubbles are large the Shih Tzu puppy may also be ingesting air.
Check the nipple cap.

Occasionally remove the bottle from the Shih Tzu puppy’s mouth
to allow a return passage of air back into the bottle. A return
passage of air occurs either through turning the bottle upright
or by momentarily loosening the cap. Do not abruptly pull the
bottle from the Shih Tzu puppy’s mouth. Place a finger in the
corner of the Shih Tzu puppy’s lip to break the nursing hold.

Some Shih Tzu puppies may instinctively resist the unnatural
feel of a manufactured nipple. 1. If the dam is available, rub
the bottle and nipple and a towel over her mammaries. 2. Drape
this towel across your stomach and lap. 3. Hold the puppy on
your lap against your abdomen. 4. Express a small amount of
formula from the bottle and wipe it over the nipple. 5. As you
introduce the bottle’s nipple to the Shih Tzu puppy’s mouth,
move your legs slightly, jiggling your lap. 6. Also jiggle the
bottle up and down in the puppy’s mouth using tiny motions. The
movements re-create the dam’s breathing and Shih Tzu puppy’s
nursing position on the dam that should cause the Shih Tzu puppy
to instinctively and reflexively latch onto the nipple. 7. Have
lots of patience.

You will need to burp the bottle fed Shih Tzu puppy after each
feeding. Do not allow the Shih Tzu puppy to nurse the bottle dry
to avoid a colicky baby. You can burp your Shih Tzu puppy the
same as you would a newborn human baby on your shoulder with
gentle pats and rubs between the shoulder blades.