My 1.5 year old Boston just had 6 puppies and we can just tell that they are sucking her dry. She is not able to keep up the demand of milk that they need. They don't seem to care, and are getting fat! My breeder stated that we can have them weaned by 4 weeks old. When is it right to start, and with what food?
2006-12-05 08:09:06 · 11 answers · asked by Recruiter 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Puppies are now 10 days old. Mom is eating 2-3 cans of high quality wet food daily. We bought some replacement formula but the nipple is too big for their mouths still.
2006-12-06 02:16:26 · update #1
It's not healthy to wean the puppies that soon. Start feeding some of the puppies with milk replacement formula yourself every 2-4 hours. That will keep them from taking so much milk from the mother. Also, if you aren't already, try putting the mother on vitamins. And are you feeding the mother puppy food? She needs different nutritional requirements during lactating and some vets recommend feeding her puppy food during the time she's feeding the puppies.
2006-12-05 08:12:55 · answer #1 · answered by Astro 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with one of the other answers. It is not exactly healthy to wean them too soon. Although you can start to give them some solids with some milk to soften the dry puppy food. That will help them to be more full. You could also supplements mom's milk with some of the powder milk sold at the pet store. That will also help give mom a break. They don't seem to care, because they don't have to. They are puppies they are doing what comes naturally. Also feed mom a little more, she will produce more milk. Even if they eat the dry food, they will still go to mom for a drink until weaned by mom.
2006-12-05 08:20:09 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Puppies will wean when the mother is ready to wean them. You can't make them wean. It is nature and it happens when it happens. The mother should be pulling away from them letting them know she is done. If they are getting fat then they are getting enough milk. Mom my look dry... but I bet she isn't. If she is still allowing them to suckle then she is fine. Start putting puppy chow soaked in water down for them at about 4-5 weeks before that, their little tummies won't digest it. Just enough water to soften all the food. And in about two weeks they will be ready for the hard stuff.
2006-12-05 08:20:29 · answer #3 · answered by ditto805 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I breed Min Pins and start my pups at 3 weeks old on soaked down puppy chow with warm water put it on a cookie sheet and let them eat for 20 mins 3 times a day but they still need to nurse from mom untill they are at least 6 weeks old but this gives the mom a break and helps with the weening prosses,,, I hope this helps and good luck with them they are so cute when they start eating puppy food cause they get food all over there face its so cute to watch them,,,
2006-12-05 08:18:33 · answer #4 · answered by hunter 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the better way to help mom is to give the puppies suplemental feeding, at least 3 times per day.. You didn't tell us how old they are, but at 3 weeks, you can get them to drink puppy formula from a dish (I use a glass pie plate) Make sure it is warm, and give it to them plain at first, and gradually add quality puppy kibble (no grocery store stuff) Begin by dipping your finger in, and getting them to lick it off,,they will soon catch on to the fact that there are other food sources besides mom.. they need to nurse and stay with mom until at the very least 7 weeks old, as it is the foundation for their mental health and socialization..so, filling them up, and giving mom a break will certainly help..Also, be sure to keep their toenails very clipped, as with voracious appetites, they will scratch her tummy and it can lead to infections, as well as pain..
2006-12-05 08:16:27 · answer #5 · answered by Chetco 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should be weaning 5 week old puppies - no wonder your b itch doesn't want to feed them anymore. They should be transitioning to soft puppy food by now, and your mentor should know that.
2016-03-13 03:45:08 · answer #6 · answered by Lydia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really shouldn't wean them before 8 weeks. Allow them to nurse for shorter periods, and supplement their diet with commercially-produced puppy milk, as well as wet puppy food.
2006-12-05 08:16:20 · answer #7 · answered by Shellbell 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
at 3 weeks start bringing a food bowl to the whelping box with a mixture of high quality dry dog food, 1 can of puppy milk and water. You take the mixture and soak it until it is soft, or you can blend it in a blender. at 5 weeks they should be weened. Good luck. i bet they are some cute puppies.
2006-12-05 08:13:19 · answer #8 · answered by Sara 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can start them on solids at 3 weeks. Start with formula mixed with ground kibble, gradually make it thicker as they are able to handle it, then go to soaked kibble.
Let the mother wean them when she is ready.
2006-12-05 08:47:40 · answer #9 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
stop giving them milk doh!
2006-12-05 08:12:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋