How is the best way to go about weaning pitbull puppies? Also how is the best way to get the mother to quit lactating quicker?
2006-10-12 10:11:00 · 5 answers · asked by edailey 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
she will stop lactating when the puppies stop feeding. You can start to seperate the puppies and offer them wet puppy food. If they dont like it don't rush them. Some dogs take longer than others. Also, make sure that you arent weaning them before they are 4-5 weeks old.
2006-10-12 10:19:45 · answer #1 · answered by cherrydevil119 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why would you want her to stop lactating quicker???
Start feeding the puppies several times a day a mixture of water and a good brand canned puppy food. it will make it where they are not relying on their mommas milk quite as often, I recommend starting the wet feedings when they are about 3 weeks of age. Just make sure its not chunky and is well mixed up - I use a blender. I am in the middle of doing this right now with 7 Springer spaniel pups.
2006-10-12 22:58:56 · answer #2 · answered by Erica M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 Weeks is a good age to start. Use biscuits soaked in a little hot water, then mash it down with some puppy milk. The puppies will only lap the milk anyway, often leaving any hard bits.
Always be sure to soak any dry food, what happens is, when pups can chew, they may over eat, the biscuits will swell once inside the stomach and you can get problems of stomach ache and constipation.
I start mine on baby cereal, it is rice based, I just add hot water till it is quite thick, then thin it out with puppy milk, till it is luke warm.
You can offer this to puppies 4 times a day. Make sure you take mum out or she will eat it. When pups have finished and go for a nap, you can let mum back in, her finishing off the food will also encourage the puppies to come back for more, they will learn from her how to lap it up properly.
I start on baby food for the first 4 days, then I add a small amount of puppy tin food, about a dessertspoon mixed in for flavour.
By the time the puppies are about 4 going onto 5 weeks they are put onto the dry puppy food (mositened as stated above) with a small amount of tin food mashed through it and puppy milk.
As soon as you start this, the sooner mum starts to dry up. But also once you start, she will no longer clean up after them, poo I mean. You will have to keep their quarters clean from then on.
2006-10-12 18:04:19 · answer #3 · answered by lucas 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
AT ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS START SOAKING 2 CUPS DRY DOG FOOD IN WATER UNTIL IT IS SOFT THE PUPPIES WILL LOVE IT, DO THIS ABOUT 3 X A DAY AND THEY WILL START DRINKING FROM HER LESS AND LESS AND DON'T FORGET THE WATER. SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS
2006-10-12 17:21:24 · answer #4 · answered by Curious 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would never had started breast feeding them in the first place...
just thinking about it makes my nipples hurt...c'mon, pitbull's?
2006-10-12 17:18:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋