Life Drops vs Puppy Stim

When to use them & why I always have both on hand

Let’s be honest – I’m all for doing things naturally when it comes to our dogs. But there are moments, especially around whelping, when nature needs a nudge. And in those moments, I couldn’t care less if a product is organic. If a pup is fading or struggling for life, I need whatever works – and I’ll do it fast.

Two things I always have in my whelping kit are Life Drops and Puppy Stim. They’re not the same thing, and they’re not used the same way. So let’s talk through what they actually do, and when you’d reach for each.

Life Drops: for that critical first breath (or when it's not happening fast Enough

Life Drops are one of those products you hope you don’t need – but when you do, you’ll be glad they’re there.
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They’re herbal drops designed to kickstart vital functions, often used in newborn animals that are sluggish, unresponsive, or just not bouncing into life after birth. The key ingredients like Capsicum, Peppermint and Hawthorn are there to stimulate the system, support the heart and circulation, and give a little jolt to get things going.
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How do you use them?

Straight after birth, you should always start with the basics – rub the pup vigorously with a clean towel, suction out the mouth and nose (I use a simple bulb aspirator), and keep stimulating. That alone often brings them round.

But if you’ve done all that and the puppy is still slow, struggling to breathe, or just very lethargic, that’s when I grab the Life Drops. One or two drops directly onto the tongue – not just near the mouth – can be enough to make a difference. You're aiming for the absorption through the mucus membranes.
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It’s not something you use repeatedly – Life Drops are a one-time, urgent intervention, not a daily supplement. If they work, great. If they don’t, you’ve lost nothing by trying.

Puppy Stim – Ongoing support for the fragile or fading

Puppy Stim is a different beast altogether. It’s not a reviver in the way Life Drops are – it's more like a little energy drink crossed with colostrum support, designed for weak or underweight puppies who are alive, but not thriving.

It contains a blend of glucose, triglycerides, probiotics, iron, vitamins, and colostrum, so it’s ideal for pups that are a bit behind the rest of the litter, have lost weight, or need a pick-me-up while bottle feeding or recovering from illness. Some versions even contain guarana or kola nut, which give a natural stimulant effect too – but nothing like the herbal kick of Life Drops.

How do you use it?

Puppy Stim comes in a little syringe, and you just give a small measured amount (usually based on weight). I’ve used it for the runt in a litter, or a puppy that had a rough start but is now breathing – just not feeding or gaining as well as the others.
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Unlike Life Drops, you can give Puppy Stim several times a day, and it’s completely fine to do so over a few days or even a week, depending on the situation.

Do you need both?

In my view – yes, definitely.

Life Drops are your emergency button. That moment where you’ve rubbed and suctioned, you’re still not seeing a breath or a response, and you need to try something – fast.
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Puppy Stim is your safety net. It keeps the strugglers going, helps them catch up, and gives you a bit more reassurance that they’ve got something in their belly even if they’re not latching properly yet.
And like I said earlier, at times like these, I’m not fussed that neither are completely “natural.” I wouldn’t use them lightly – they’re not part of my daily puppy-rearing routine. But when you’ve got a tiny new life in front of you that needs help, the sooner you act, the better the outcome.

Want to chat through your whelping kit or what to have on hand for those just-in-case moments? I’ve got just the thing.

Inside my Holistic Breeding Support Club, we go into all the details – from what to include in your kit bag, to how to handle tricky births, to what’s actually worth having on hand when the time comes. Plus you’ll get access to me on our fortnightly video calls, so you can ask whatever you like.

Come join us – you don’t have to do this all alone!