Syringe Feeding: The Ultimate Guide

When mum can’t, you can. Learn to feed your newborns.

Our guide to syringe feeding discusses how this is a safe and effective way to provide nutrition for newborn puppies and kittens that cannot nurse from their mother. It involves using a teat/nipple and syringe filled with an appropriate puppy or kitten formula, such as a commercial animal-specific milk replacer and nipple, to deliver nutrition. Syringe feeding is only necessary when the puppy or kitten is too weak to compete for a teat (i.e., supplement feeding is needed to meet nutritional requirements) or if the mother is unable or unwilling to nurse the newborns.

If the puppy or kitten is born too weak to suckle, tube feeding may be required before moving to syringe feeding. To find more information on tube feeding and how to do it safely, read our blog article ‘Tube Feeding Made Simple‘. If done correctly, syringe feeding is an easy way to help close any growth gaps that might appear in the litter and support the growth of happy, healthy young.

Preparing for Syringe Feeding

To syringe feed a puppy or kitten, you will need to gather the following supplies: an appropriately sized syringe for the size of the pup or kitten, a nipple that fits securely on the end of the syringe, and a formula specifically designed for puppies or kittens.

Syringe

There are two main benefits of using a syringe over a bottle for supplement feeding or hand rearing. Firstly, using a syringe lets you know exactly how many millilitres have been given to the pups or kitten, even if they stop suckling prematurely. Secondly, correctly syringe feeding with a nipple has a reduced chance of aspiration (i.e., fluids entering the lungs) because once the puppy or kitten has created a seal around the nipple with their mouth, they create a volume within the syringe that pulls the plunger down. When using a bottle, the puppy or kitten needs to break the seal their mouth makes due to the increasing pressure of the volume when sucking. When they release, there is an increased chance of aspiration if not done correctly. While you can essentially use any syringe for syringe feeding, we recommend using an o-ring (luer lock) syringe as they fit well with the Miracle Nipples.

Nipple

Using a nipple when syringe feeding creates an easier process and a more natural feeding experience. There is a range of nipples you can use that have different shapes and are composed of different materials. Things to consider are:

Regarding shape, you ideally want to use a nipple that resembles the mother’s and fits comfortably in the puppy’s or kitten’s mouth. The puppy or kitten can “become used” to a size even if it is not ideal, but it will be easier and quicker for them to learn to suckle from the nipple if they can easily create a seal around it.

The material the nipple is composed of determines the feel and longevity of the nipple. Latex nipples tend to be the best-feeling nipples (i.e., most closely resemble the real thing). Still, they are also a natural material that will degrade over time if exposed to sunlight or long exposure to chemicals (i.e., over-soaked in Milton). Silicone is the other most common material nipples are composed of and are longer lasting and cheaper, but some pups and kittens can be slower to wean onto them.

We often recommend the Miracle Nipples for syringe feeding. There are 4 sizes; Mini, Original, Small Puppy, and Large, as well as Mini/Original and Small Puppy/Large sampler packs. Mini and original are typically best suited to kittens or tiny breed dogs under 100 grams when born. Small Puppy is best suited for puppies between 100 and 300 grams. The Large Miracles Nipples are recommended for medium to giant breeds born from 300 grams upward. Of course, this is only a guideline about sizing, and breeders have successfully used nipple sizes that might be smaller or larger than recommended.

Milk

The milk formula should be made fresh each day and prepared as per the manufacturer’s instructions. The formula can be stored in the fridge for 24 hours after preparation, but you cannot store unused milk after reheating it. This reduces the quality of the milk and poses a health risk. When it is time for feeding, use the syringe to draw up the required milk and place it in a cup of warm water until the milk is about 35-37ºC. This is the best temperature range to give the milk as it is easier to digest and does not bring the temperature of the puppy or kitten down. There should be information on the packaging of the milk formula that informs you on the volume of milk required based on their nutritional composition and the weight of the newborn.

Extra Items

Towel: helps to clear any spills.
Clipboard: used to note who has been fed and how much.
Toileting supplies: feeding is a natural stimulus for toileting for puppies and kittens. It is important to have damp gauze, tissues, or cotton pads to toilet the pup/kitten by gently rubbing the genitalia and anus. This can be done before or after syringe feeding or both before and after.

Essentially, these are the essential items you need to do syringe feeding well. With these supplies collected, you are ready to start syringe-feeding your little ones!

How to Syringe Feed: Step-by-Step Guide

Remember to toilet the pup/kitten before and/or after feeding.

Draw up the required volume for the pup/kitten in your syringe for this feeding session. Cap the syringe and place this in a glass of warm water until the milk is about 35-37ºC. After heating, place the nipple onto the tip of the syringe. To remove the air inside the syringe/nipple, point the syringe upward and push down the plunger until a bit of milk comes out. You may be able to see how filled the syringe and nipple are by placing a light behind it.
Place the pup/kitten into the feeding position. They should be in a sternal position, belly down (do not place them on their back for feeding). Their head should be in a neutral, slightly elevated position.
To stabilise their head, support them under the jaw with your thumb and middle finger (pictured below). This hand position is good for two reasons. The first is it allows you to assist with creating a seal around the nipple when they are first getting used to it. The second reason is that you can feel their swallowing and suckling movements, which is an encouraging sign. As they progress, your grip will likely change to cupping their head in the palm of your hand, as seen below (Evolved Grip) as well as in this video.
Introduce the nipple by placing it into the mouth with a bit of milk on the tip of the nipple. You can assist with creating the seal around the nipple by extending your thumb and middle finger from the head-stabilising hand position.
Once the pup/kitten has latched properly, the plunger should be sucked down through the vacuum created in the barrel. You should not actively need to push on the plunger. If, after a few uses, the plunger is not sliding smoothly, have a look at our troubleshooting tips at the end.
Once the pup/kitten has finished, you can remove the nipple from their mouth. You need to be careful when you do this, as a vacuum is created in their mouth. To safely remove the nipple, move it to the side of the mouth. This positioning of the nipple (in the corner of their mouth) should break the seal before you remove it from their mouth.

Initial Grip (Newborn)

Evolved Grip (Older)

Common Mistakes About Syringe Feeding

Some mistakes should be avoided when syringe feeding. Some common mistakes are listed below, and how to avoid them.

Improper Volumes: It is essential to calculate the proper volume of milk formula needed for each pup/kitten for each feeding session. Remember that you can overfeed just as easily as you can underfeed. Overfeeding can lead to discomfort and vomiting, while underfeeding can lead to nutritional needs not being met. It is essential to be in the “safe zone”, and for that, you will need to calculate the volume based on the milk formula you have.
Incorrect Temperature: You must ensure that the milk is at the correct temperature before feeding (not too hot, not too cold). It is not crucial that it is perfectly 35-37ºC the entire feeding session for one puppy, but the closer you can have it to that temperature range, the easier it is for the puppy/kitten to digest and the happier it will be. Use a thermometer to gauge the temperature.
Preparation of Syringe and Nipple: After drawing up the calculated volume of milk into the syringe, you need to ensure there is no air in the syringe. This ensures that the volume of milk in the syringe is correct. Once the milk is heated appropriately and the nipple has been attached, the excess air in the nipple must also be removed before feeding can begin. Allowing air into the stomach can cause discomfort for the puppy/kitten.
Poor Hygiene Practices: This relates to your milk formula and equipment. Milk must not be older than 24 hours (when kept refrigerated) and should not be reheated more than once after being made. While it is unnecessary to sterilise syringe feeding equipment, you need to properly and thoroughly clean it with soap and warm water and rinse in hot preboiled water after each feeding session.
Incorrect Positioning and Handling of Pup/Kitten: For syringe feeding, the pup/kitten must be in a sternal position, belly down. Being on their back risks aspiration if they regurgitate the milk. The aforementioned positioning of the body and head of the pup/kitten is the best and safest way to syringe feed them. Additionally, caution must be used to remove the nipple once feeding is complete to mitigate any injuries to the roof of the pup/kitten’s mouth. The seal around the nipple must be broken before removal of the nipple.
Incorrect Handling of Syringe: It is vital to understand that you are not “injecting” milk into the pup/kitten’s mouth. If you push down on the syringe plunger, you risk aspirating the pup/kitten. If you need to assist the plunger down the barrel as it’s become “sticky” after a couple of uses, you must have the proper syringe handling technique (see Trouckleshooting Issues below).

Troubleshooting Issues

Syringe Not Gliding: After a few uses, your syringe might become a bit “sticky”. That is, it is not gliding as well as it did brand new and might have some spots where there is notifiable resistance to the smooth sliding motion. Your syringe will become “sticky” due to the factory lubrication being gradually washed off. As demonstrated in this video, you can re-lubricate syringes with food-grade castor oil or silicone oil. At some point, you will need to purchase new syringes though.
Not Taking The Nipple: Unfortunately, it is often just time that is needed for the puppy/kitten to adjust to the texture and shape of the nipple. This process can be made easier if you express a small amount of milk on the end of the nipple before feeding. Remember not to put any pressure on the plunger unless the pup/kitten is actively suckling and the syringe is “sticky” (use correct syringe handling).
Nipple Falling Off: If your Miracle Nipple is starting to fall off the luer lock syringe, you may need to use an EnFit syringe instead. While it is not common, sometimes, after a few uses, the inner ring of the Miracle Nipple may stretch slightly, or your syringe may have shrunk in hot water. This might cause the nipple to fall more easily off the syringe. The EnFit syringe has a larger tip that is threaded which can fit the slightly stretched Miracle Nipples better and more securely.
Milk Not Coming Out: First of all, check that the nipples you are using have pre-made holes. The Miracle Nipples do, but other nipples (e.g., Womabroo Nipples) do not. If there are hole/s, but the milk is coming out poorly, it may be an issue of how you have prepared the milk. If prepared incorrectly, the milk may contain clumps, which may block the hole/s in the nipple. Also, check that your milk is not expired, as this may also affect the texture of the milk.

Final Thoughts

Syringe feeding is a fantastic way to hand-rear puppies and kittens that require extra help or cannot suckle from their mother. Over time, the puppies and kittens become used to the feel of the nipple, and the feeding process becomes relatively quick and easy.