5 weeks pup?

Question

I just took home my pup and she is only 5 weeks old. The lady i got her from said she had been eating milk replacement mixed with puppy food for about a week now. Right now my pup seems ok but it seems like everytime i try to feed her she tries to suck on my fingers thinkin its her moms breast i think. She seems really healthy so far and when she is awake very playfull. Do u think i need to take her back to the lady so she can continue breastfeeding from the mommy or any suggestions on how to take better care of her? I never taken care of a puppy this young soo i get very worried that something might go wrong one day

i 4got to add what kind of dog she is,, she is a little chihuahua very very very tiny..

well we live in alabama and so does the lady that we got our pup from. i guess she is almost about 6 weeks now anyways and seems like she really eats alot. It's almost as though she grew over night cuz of how much she likes to eat. I havent really seen her drink water yet but she just likes the milk. So far she seems very healthy because she sleeps alot and when she wakes up she acts soo playfull ..

i also have a two year old chihuahua at home already soo would that be good enough socialization ?

Answer 1

You may need to go out and get the nurser bottle for puppies and give that to her about 2 times a day, but still do the mush concoction as well. Seeing as how she is only 5 weeks old, I don't know if she was weened or not, but she seems attached to the nipple. Give her the bottle in the morning and at night. And when you make the mush, use the same milk replacement and a little extra water and mix that into the puppy food until it is soft and give her that 2 times a day as well.

Answer 2

first of all, it is a wonder this was legal! I purchased a puppy in July that was 5 weeks old (was told he was older) and I no longer have him. He turned very aggressive and I spent over $500 trying obedience school, early neutering, etc..... I think he was put to sleep. First off, it is VERY important he gets his mothers milk, Second, he NEEDS to companionship of the rest of the litter. He will learn very important lessons by playing with them. It may not sound very important, but they learn bite inihibition. I would highly recommend taking him back until he is at least 7 or 8 weeks of age. I sure learned the hard way!! I also brought a 4 wk puppy home (mother was killing the babies!) She ended up being put down at 4 years of age!!! The local humane society told me the success rate of removing young pups from the mother and litter is very low!!! Please, no matter how attached to her you are, it is worth the absence of 2 or 3 weeks to make sure you get a nice healthy socialized puppy!

Answer 3

I don't know where you are, but in the State of Fl, it is a law that puppies or kittens cannot be transported into the state or offered to new homes until they are 8 wks of age.

Keeping a puppy with its mother and littermates is more than just being able to nurse. After 4-5 wks there is alot of "order" stuff going on. They learn from one another, and mom starts correcting them for certain behaviors. That is there learning process.

Puppies can be weaned at 5 wks of age. Soaking the kibble in milk replacer and mashed up is fine, and he should do fine on it. Gradually leave the soaked kibble in larger pieces. Then gradually reduce the amount of milk replacer (thin it out more with water), then work toward dry kibble.

Answer 4

This puppy is way too young to be away from mom & littermates. It is also illegal to buy, sell, adopt or give away a puppy this young.
A puppy should NEVER be rehomed under the age of 8 weeks.
This is important with all breeds but particularly true with toy breeds.
I'm sorry to say the "breeder" you bought this puppy from is very irresponsible and isn't a person that should be breeding. She should be reported to Animal Welfare.

Answer 5

no she is learning how to ween from her mother. its natural. i breed dogs so they all do the same thing. just give her time. usually when they are 6 to 7weeks old they will stop. its okay. try giving her just puppy food w/out the milk to help her stop. b/c as long as the milk is still there they think their mother is still there. also in a couple of weeks start to put some dry dog food mixed in w/ the puppy food. good luck

Answer 6

5 weeks is quite young, but she will do fine. When she starts suckling on your finger slower move it down to the feed pan. She will get a taste of the food and start eating, then slide your hand out. This may take a couple of tries but it'll work. We've had a ton of bucket calves and one bucket foal and this method always works.

Answer 7

Puppies should not be taken from their Mama until they are at least 10 weeks old unless their is no choice. KMR (milk substitute) is fine, but the puppy still needs to learn how to be a dog from it's Mama. This is basic breeding knowledge. You need to get this pup back to it's Mama and yell at the woman you bought it from. If it's AKC registered, you also need to report her so she loses her license.

Answer 8

Don't worry, the puppy is trying to continue to do the only thing he has ever known. She will get used to eating the puppy food and learn this is her new way of life.

Side note: Puppies do not have to be 10 weeks old to leave their mom's. They should be 6 weeks old, but 5 is ok.

Answer 9

Puppies are usually not taken from their parent until they are six weeks old. If she is eating okay -- and you should probably take her to a vet to be sure -- then she should be okay. Remember kids hold on to pacifiers well past weaning. So, your dog is probably just using your fingers as a kind of pacifier. Seriously, see a vet to make sure she's okay.

Answer 10

As long as she can eat she will be fine-make sure she is warm-if you had any doubts on how to care for a pup this young you shouldn't have taken her yet.

A pup will try to suck whether its weaned or not-how many of you had soothers as kids?

Side note:I agree six weeks is a good age to get a pup at!