What do you feed a 6 week old puppy?

Question

My daughter arrived home yesterday with a 6 week old puppy. It is a crossbreed (staff, Rotweiler, Pitt bull). I have no idea what to feed it.

Answer 1

Whoever gave a child a six week old pup is negligent, at that age the pup must be around its mother and litter mates. Plus kids cannot legally be sold or given an animal.
It won't have been wormed or vaccinated either.
It is essential that you see a vet and get advice about feeding, worming, vaccination and flea control; as you don't know how to wean a pup.

Also, get the pup to puppy training classes as young as you can. Dogs that are taken away from the litter too early fight with other dogs as adults. With this cross it is doubly important that you prevent this happening.

Answer 2

While it is not really advisable to get a puppy at this early age it's not an impossible situation to cope with, the earliest I have reared a puppy from was 4 weeks.
You need to take it to your vet, that must be your first port of call I'm assuming that you are in the US? as Pit bulls are not allowed to breed in the UK. Get yourself some really good puppy food, read the dietary instructions on the bag and work out from there how much to feed the pup at each feed. he will need at least 5-6 small feed each day + you can get some dried puppy milk to supplement what he should be getting from his mum. Your vet may even suggest that you also add extra vitamins to the feed, don't do this off your own back but follow veterinary advice. You may not have too much luck re. toilet training at this age but there is nothing to stop you making a gentle start on it IE.Take pup out after each meal or drink, after he has been playing and of course after he wakes up, you really are going to have your work cut out for you but believe me it will be worth it in the long run.
I wish you all the very best.X


EDIT
Just for point of interest, having just read a recent answer, Pit Bull Terriers ARE NOT allowed to breed in the UK, they have to be Neutered by law! so if in the UK you shouldn't get Pit Bull Crosses!! Look on Defras website

Answer 3

Hi, Try feeding somecornflakes with milk or weetabix. You can also get puppy food from the supermarket also, but be careful it maybe a bit rich for your dog and upset its tummy. If you are still not sure then ring the vets, After all you will need to get it check out any way and vaccinated before it is allowed out of the how for a walk. I would book your puppy into a vet a soon as possible you can then ask the vet everything you need to know,

Answer 4

Definately feed Puppy Chow. There will be a feeding guide on the bag to tell you how much per day he should be eating for his size. You should divide this into 3 feedings. You can use a little warm water to soften the pieces. At 6 weeks old, he has already started the weaning process (his mom already limited how much milk he was drinking because teeth hurt) , he has teeth and is perfectly capable of eating food (Puppy food). Never give people food - it can cause digestive upset and make puppy reluctant to eat.

P.S. NEVER feed bones! They can splinter inside the stomach and intestines and cause cuts, bleeding, and sometimes will perferate (or poke thru) the intestines which is a VERY serious condition.

Answer 5

Just feed the puppy a good dry dog food like puppychow,pedigree,etc.Put in a low bowl so it can reach easy and mix regular milk or water Let it sit until starts to soften and let it get full Its stomach may get upset at first but whatever you start with dont change it.It will will get better after a few days.Good love and you will have a good dog. Good luck. Dog breader for 10 years of all kinds of small dogs and pittbulls very smart dogs all on how you raise and treat them

Answer 6

You could ask the local vet. It may be best to get the puppy checked out anyway for worms etc. Might be an idea to try and get a book from the library which could give you some more information about looking after a puppy/dog. It perhaps might have been a better idea if you actually knew that you were going to be getting a puppy before your daughter came home with one!! You might have been better prepare then!

Best of luck to you !!

Answer 7

Hi, for a start, Pit bull crosses are not illegal in the UK, and people ranting manically about children being idiots is futile and puerile, we dint know how the child came to h ave the puppy, only that they are asking for advice, puppy's are taken from their mother between six and nine weeks, but i agree six is too young, you mus find a good vet, who will worm him and deflea him, he should not leave the house until he has had his inoculations, IE: distemper, as for feeding him , at this age consult your vet, as we don't know if the puppy has any medical conditions, if he is a stray you have taken in this even more important as we don't know if the mother was carrying Toxicariasis or parvo, both of which can be transmitted to humans and is extremely contagious , if it is a stray you have taken in good luck, dogs are wonderful companions, and don't rant like some loony humans, take care of him/her.

Answer 8

Hi,
Hopefully the puppy has been weaned properly. 6 weeks is a bit young to leave it's mother. There are several brands of tinned puppy food which are the right texture and nourishment content for a pup. Giving goats milk is good for them, NOT cows milk as they find it difficult to digest and it might give the pup a runny bot!
good luck with the new member of the family.
Relcorra

Answer 9

My brother has a pedigree Rottweiler and her litter was nearly put down due to poor health. The breeder decided to stop feeding them Pedigree puppy food and go for a cheaper alternative. Turned out it was the expensive puppy food that was killing them. You never know what is in manufactured food. I'd go with a more natural alternative. Just wanted to point out that you should be careful! Good luck.

Answer 10

My puppy (a Staff and also had a great dane, years ago) I gave mine dry food like eukanuba and mixed with milk in the morning first thing then dry food late afternoon but don't feed after 5 ish otherwise it will mess all around your home. Avoid tin brand food they can make this type of dog hyperactive with the additives and also make them smell. Hope this helps.