During their first four weeks of life, it is not uncommon for puppies to get intestinal gas and bloating. This might be from nursing too quickly, as a reaction to their mom’s milk, or when being supplemented. Supplemented puppies tend to develop more gas than nursing pups.
If a pup is a strong nurser and otherwise normal but is crying a lot and/or has a bloated belly, try these options:
- If you are bottle feeding your pups, try burping them after feeding. Even the best bottles and nipples tend to end up with pups taking in air. Put the pup on your shoulder, as you would a baby, and pat its back until you hear or feel it burp. You can also do this with nursing pups that are taking in air as they nurse.
- Give human baby gas drops containing simethicone.
- Give a little at a time to ensure the pup swallows. You can use these liberally, giving 0.1 to 0.4 to newborn pups and 0.5 to 0.8 ml to pups from 1 to 4 weeks old.
- Gently massage the pup’s belly. If this causes the pup to cry more, then stop but if it seems to help, you can continue.
- Lube and gently insert a rectal thermometer to see if that will help the pup pass the gas.
- For large pups, Windi Gas and Colic Relievers can help. They are basically a hollow tube that assists in moving gas when lubed and inserted like a rectal thermometer. However, since they are made for babies, the end is too large for small pups.
