My Friend has a puppy. The people they got it from said it was a Great Dane. But it looks like a lab. Also the people she got it from said that she was 6 weeks old. But she looks like 4 weeks. She’s still very wobbly and she’s very small.
But I just want to know exactly how to take care of her. Because I will be watching her while my friend in is South Carolina and I want her to be kept in good care. I couldn’t find any good sites either to help me out. So anyone that knows how to take care of 4-week-old puppies PLEASE HELP ME OUT. I have been giving her water. (She has had it supplied to her at all times) and they only have small hard food. But I have been putting milk in it to make it soft for her. So your comments are greatly appreciated. :)
Please and thank you...Nicki
2006-12-20 08:45:35 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
okay lol the puppy is not in bad health people jezze lol. its just like 4 weeks old. and why should the peopel who gave it away go to jail?? and there isnt a way to find out how old it is for shur. and its in a 80 degree house its not going to get cold. some of you people are overeacting like its going to die. its not. and i dont need to go to a vet. i can look it up an find something if i look hard enough. but thanx to the people who didnt freak out and think it was going to die lol.
2006-12-20 09:35:06 · update #1
Awww...poor little thing.
I would advise against using cow's milk to soften the puppy food -- it will upset her stomach. I suggest using warm water, instead.
Puppies at 4 weeks are barely (if even) weaned, and 6 week old puppies are still much too young to leave their mothers. Poor baby.
Even a 6 week-old Great Dane puppy would not be considered "small". The people who sold this dog should be strung up.
You may want to consider getting some Esbilac (milk replacer) from a pet supply store or vet to mix with her food. It will give her some added nutrients. Make sure she's on a good quality puppy food, such as Nutro or Royal Canin. Even Eukanuba.
Definitely allow her access to water. She should be able to potty on her own, even if she is only 4 weeks. Did your friend have the puppy examined by a vet? She should definitely do that before she leaves the puppy with you -- that way hopefully some of these issues will be resolved, and you will know that she's healthy when before she comes to stay.
Good luck!
2006-12-20 08:54:36 · answer #1 · answered by Loki Wolfchild 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not positive but four weeks may be a bit young to be away from her mother. I think six weeks is the suggested age. If she is indeed six weeks old as the sellers said then she may be the runt of the litter. Anyway, I would suggest that you call up a local vet and explain the situation. They'll be more than happy to help out I'm sure.
She might be a bit young for hard food, even with milk in it. If she seems to be eating it then it's probably ok. If not then you may have to get a small baby bottle and check the local pet store to find some sort of puppy formula for her.
Other than feeding her regularly (I'll guess every couple of hours or so if she needs a bottle) there's probably not much more you'll need to do for her. She's likely too young to be house trained so you'll be doing some cleaning up after her so you should expect that. She'll also probably sleep quite a bit so make sure you have some place warm for her with some blankets. A standard dog crate or even a travel kennel with blankets in it should be good. Since she's so young you'll want to keep an eye on her.
Good luck with the task ahead of you!
EDIT: Looks like everyone covered everything while I was writing my reply (isn't that always how it is?) and, of course, they did it much better than I could hope to do. :)
2006-12-20 08:58:09 · answer #2 · answered by Digital Haruspex 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
POOR THING!
I found a 2 week old puppy once and feeding him cow milk was our biggest mistake. Cow milk has way to much calcium! Try using a milk replacement like Esbilac
At even 6 weeks that is way to early to be taken away from her mom and littermates, The puppis were probably a "mistake" and the breeder wanted to get rid of them as soon as posible, because puppies are really exspensive. A dog should not even consider leaving it's home till 8 weeks and if he is 4 weeks like you think that means that he is way to younge. Since great danes are so big it would be easier to sell them at this age. I would suggest looking for some younge puppies around his age and asking if the puppy can be introduced to them because if he does not learn how do behave around dogs can become agresive or shy. Your friend should not have gotten this dog if she was going on a vacation soon because she is going to miss the bonding weeks, and chances are the dog will like you more than your friend. Make sure to not let him bite and do not let him suck on your fingers because it is hard to get rid of this habit. Take him to the washroom after he eats (should be fed 5 times a day) or he will go on the floor and watch him 24/7. Make sure to clean him because he can't clean himself.
Be careful not to leave him alone and feed him a replacement.
Good Luck! and takehim to a vet to find out just how old he is and what breed he is
2006-12-20 10:02:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A puppy that young might not be weened yet. Call a local vet and see if it needs formula or make sure you mix in milk with its food and really mush it up. Keep it warm and not alone for more than a couple hours at a time. Toys are a must but no more than three and puppy proof the house so he/she does not get into cords or stuff like that. Good luck.
2006-12-20 08:52:21 · answer #4 · answered by moussesdad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO MILK unless it is puppy milk replacer or goats milk. Regular whole milk is not good for them
Put a handful of puppy kibble in a bowl, float it in some hot tap water and let it sit until it softens up. Mash it up a little and add a little warm milk replacer or goats milk.
She will need to eat ever 2-3 hrs for at least a week. then it can be stretched out a little at a time
2006-12-20 09:01:13 · answer #5 · answered by Pam 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cow milk is not good for puppies, its to hard for them to digest. If you think she isnt ready for hard food you can go to a store like walmart or target and get canned puppy milk. If she seems to be ok with the hard food, add a little water to soften it up. Make she she stays warm and always has clean water. Put all house hold cleaners and any other possible poisons where she cant get to.
2006-12-20 09:05:00 · answer #6 · answered by airgirl_01 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't put milk in it to make it soft. Put warm water in it to make it soft. Milk is hard for dogs to digest and will result in an upset stomach. If the puppy isn't eating well you can get milk replacer for puppies at the vet or pet supply store like Petco or Petsmart. If the puppy isn't going to the bathroom rub its rear with a damp warm wash cloth to stimulate it. The mother would have done this herself. Keep the puppy warm with warm bedding such as towels and even a hot water bottle if the puppy feels cool. I hope everything turns out ok.
2006-12-20 08:52:53 · answer #7 · answered by LYNN W 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The pup will eat soft dog food. It should be fed a can the size of mighty dog twice a day - or one large can of food, split into two portions and hard food left in a dish to eat as it gets hungry during the day.
Puppies should not be given milk whatsoever. It doesn't do anything for them except make them have diahrea. Soft food will be easy for them to digest and the hard food will be good for their teeth.
Make sure the pup has shots. One of my pups died, was not vacinnated and came from bad litter, mother was sick and passed it on.
2006-12-20 09:12:33 · answer #8 · answered by jayndee13 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop moistening the food with milk, unless the milk is puppy formula. Definitely do not use cow's milk. If you wish to moisten the food, use water and make sure that the dry food is a puppy formula. The puppy will probably be just fine eating the water-moistened dry puppy food.
2006-12-20 08:54:33 · answer #9 · answered by AK 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How long has the puppy been on solid food? If it is just getting started on solids, you could try getting rice cereal for human babies. You can mix with warm (not hot) milk and most puppies eat it up. It is good that you are providing plenty of water too. This can transition them to the real puppy food. You could also try going to Petsmart and see if they have any thing for very young puppies. Good luck!
2006-12-20 08:58:16 · answer #10 · answered by nursbetty 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋