Vets would probably be better here, but my understanding (from my great
Aunt and other relatives who have farmed for eons) is that the milk line
(humans have them, too, but not so often used like on other mammals--or as
prominent the entire line) varies in glandular tissue (aha! Now, THAT
should sound familiar!) depending on whether the teat in question is more
centrally located along the belly or closer to the back end (nearer the
groin).  It is those that have less tissue--apparently.

Now, I am NOT saying they are more externally prominent, although that can
occur as well (particiuarly in dogs, tho far less obvious in cats).  As we
know with humans, the external size has far less to do with predicting
adequacy of supply than does the presence of the glandular tissue within.
(And with humans, thanks to the work of Daly and Hartmann and colleagues in
Perth, Australia, size seems more related to storage capacity than
prdouction).

In cats, the kittens feed VERY FREQUENTLY, espec. in the first 1-2 months
(depending on if one is allowing THEM to show interest in solids rather
than pushing it on them). I am less familiar with dogs, but recall that
their first 2-5 weeks were characterized by LOTS of nursing bouts, too.

Once again, if the pup or kit latches on to a hind tit, that baby tends to
get less milk (according to my farming relatives) than would be the case if
it had latched on further up the line.  Do you suppose that (since kittens
latch on pretty quickly after birth) the first ones born have more choices
and thus are more likely to get onto the ones further up the chain while
the last one born gets what's (literally) left over?  Just a thought....

Jane Bradshaw; please ask Randy about the above.  Am I way off base, or
deriving all this from too limited experience and/or relatives whose animal
experiences are the exception rather than the rule?

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Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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