My dog has stopped nursing her 4 week old puppies!!?

Question

I have tried keeping her enclosed with them, and she just keeps walking away when they try to latch, and she pushes them off of her with her paw. She runs in and checks on them if they whine, but she has no interest in nursing them at all!!

I have started giving them softened puppy food, but they don't eat very much of it.

Should I get milk replacement, or just start feeding them puppy chow all the time?

Answer 1

ok now the pups are 4 weeks old and now the mom is starting to wean them and she knows when that is. the pups should be started on solids now , but you can give them a replacement milk till they reach 6 weeks, and that is the age they should be completely weaned from mom. give them foods that are soft for them to eat. i breed golden retrievers and when i weaned my pups i did a combination of solids and still letting them nurse on mom, the types of foods you can try are: canned puppy food, a dry puupy food, and you can use canned condenced milk. that is what i do for my pups when they are being weaned. good luck

Answer 2

Hi Beckie,

There could be a lot of reasons she has stopped nursing, the most common one is mastitis in your mom dog. Do her nipples look red, raw and sore to the touch. This is a serious medical condition and you should take her to the vet.
Are the puppies nails scratching her to the point of pain?
You need to cut little puppy nails!
4 weeks is a good time to start weaning your puppies -
Absolutely get a puppy milk supplement at the pet store, and mix it with a good high quality puppy food, and warm it up in the micro (only for 2 seconds!!! NOT HOT. Warm). You'll have to hold the puppies and introduce the mush - they will turn away at first, but just keep offering it to them throughout the day.
The mom should still be weaning the pups off her nipples but not cold turkey. It's a slow progression. Have her checked out, it's not normal for her to stop so abruptly.
It is not true that if there is human scent on the pups the mother will turn away from it. That's for baby birds.
Something is bothering her, you need to find out why. Now.
Good luck to all of you!!

Answer 3

First of all, how big are the puppies, bigger puppies are able to eat softened puppy food, a lot of times the smaller breeds will not. But definately give them the mild replacement, Esbilac is a good one (I think I spelled that right). But at four weeks old, if they have teeth already coming in, and they should, try the softened food too, they will not eat alot, because their little stomaches are not big yet. I have had to feed and look after puppies like that many times. My husband breeds beagles for hunting and pets. The puppies may have gotten teeth and they nip the mother when they nurse and she doesn't like that. My German Shepherd has four week old puppies and I am giving them softened puppy food now and they gobble it up and are doing great. They still nurse too. Good Luck.

PS What pierre wrote above is correct, puppies tend to eat warm food over cold food.

Answer 4

I have a litter of 4 week old pups and the momma won't nurse them at all. I feed the pups & if I'm not watching she will eat all their canned puppy food, drink all the goat milk & then just leave them crying. So I have separated them for now. I make her nurse once or twice a day. She will get up & sneak away if I am not watching. So I have cut way back on her food so she will begin to dry up. The pups are outside in a sheltered kennel with food & water and a insulated dog house. They are already eating dry too. They don't really have a choice since moms being a brat. :/ But they are doing good. All are healthy. I did supplement them with Goats milk early on they are fat lil roly polys.

Answer 5

Mom is just doing her job. The puppies should be weaned at 3-4 weeks old. If you leave moistened puppy chow where they can see and smell it, they'll figure it out when they get hungry enough!

Check the link for help.

Happy puppies!

Answer 6

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A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 7

Is it okay just to give them soft puppy food at 4 1/2 weeks, because mom wont feed

Answer 8

For two more weeks, you should give them ***** replacement milk, and add a few kibbles of puppy food at the bottom..they will lap the milk, and get around to eating the soaked kibble..Always serve it warmed...as they eat more and more of the soaked kibble, increase the amount you add, until they are eating just moistened kibble. They will need their shots as SOON as they turn 6 weeks..

I feed young pups in a baking pan..depending on how large of a breed, either a strong pie plate, or a 9X13 pan..glass is best, as it washes clean (very important) and doesn't over-turn..Allow them to step in it..they will usually climb in and slip n slide...lol..but, they will wash each-other clean, and you can wash them with a washcloth...dipped in a bowl of warm water, with a generous spoon of Listerine added.

Answer 9

your puppies are ready to eat food and drink water....this does happen and theres not to much you can do... your girl is probably sore and the puppies are hurting her..... it happens..... u can confine her with them they will get some milk from her but have food there for the puppies... when they get hungry enough they will eat...sometimes you have to blend the food... you can get milk replacer but its not really that nessasary.. in a couple of days they will realize there is no more mommy and they will start eating more ... put a little honey in the food that helps also.... good luck !! another good point make sure that the puppy food is warm they dont like cold food when they first start eating puppy food .

Answer 10

They should start eating the soft food. However milk replacement would be a good idea for the extra nutrition. I would suggest a good quality canned puppy food like science diet until their teeth get a bit stronger.