do i start feeding puppies at 3 week?

Question

can i use can puupy food (pedigee original)

but i dont think she giving much milk there is 7 puupies

Answer 1

I am a professional breeder licensed within my municipality. It is best to go ahead and start the puppies on food. If you wait until the puppies are six weeks, as suggested, they will be starved, bony, and stunted-- if they survive at all. Most likely about half would die, making enough milk available for the survivors, but even then, those pups will suffer nutritionally. It will also make it hard for your mother dog, as she can pull nutrients from her own body to make milk for the puppies. Makes sure she is getting plenty of food and water.
Many dogs do not have enough milk as the demand for milk increases at the age these puppies are now, especially in a litter of more than five puppies.
I feed a raw diet to my puppies, following a modified Barf style of feeding for my puppies. This may be impractical for you to do. If you cannot afford raw ground meats, I would suggest canned meat for dogs, or at least, canned meat added to soaked kibble. You may need to mash the kibble with a fork so that the puppies can ingest it. High quality puppy chow is best, but any dog kibble which is high in fats is a good one to use. The difference between puppy chows and regualar dog kibble is mainly in the fat content.
You should feed them three to four times a day. If they are already thin, you should attempt to feed them four times a day to catch up to where they should be. You can back off to three times a day at about five to six weeks.
They should also have access to water. At three to four weeks, most puppies will crawl over to,and discover on their own, the water dish if it is low enough for them to get into.

If they are not drinking water on their own, then add enough water to help get fluids into their little bodies. If mom is not making enough milk for nutrition, then they are definately not getting enough liquids either. It is critical for the survival of the puppies that you do this immediately.

Be sure that they are staying warm enough as well. Puppies cannot regulate their own body temperatures until the age of three weeks. Even at three weeks, the attempt to keep themselves warm will use up their internal reserves fast.

Good luck with your puppies.

Answer 2

Cow's milk is a big no no. There are various puppy starter milk powders on the market and you can definatly give them to them warm. You mix the powder into a paste first with cold water, then add warm boiled water to it....just the same as a baby. I wouldn't recommend weetabix or ready brek as these would not contain the correct levels of nutrients. Buy a good quality puppy complete and soak with warm water until it is mushy, then you can add the warm milk to it and squash it into a porridge. Not all puppies will want it at 3 wks, but certainly by 4 wks they will. It is a good idea to do that now. As the puppies grow, change the diet so they have soaked puppy complete (without milk) 3-4 times a day, and 3 warm milk feeds. The milk can be reduced to 2x daily by 6-8 wks. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you feel they are not getting enough milk they have puppy milk formula at the local Wal Marts. Preferably the already made one (it comes in a can).Feed them that while they are still nursing. At 6 weeks introduce them to can puppy food not dry (they can choke) but continue to put the puppy milk that you get from Wal Mart in the can food, mix up and serve to the pups. Great results from all 3 of my littlers. When their teeth are strong enough then put them on dry dog food.

Answer 4

Yes but do not feed canned food. Too much water in canned food and it is very rich that could cause stomach upset. Start offering one meal a day at three weeks of the mothers dry food soaked in water. Increase it up to four times per day as they grow within the next three weeks. She will nurse them less and less as their desire for solid food increases. You can also add some plain cultured yogurt to each meal. It helps with their digestion.

Answer 5

You should ween puppies around 6-8 weeks. Until then, let them feed from their mother. Three weeks is too early to try and feed them puppy food.

Answer 6

There are products available to supplement the mother's milk they would require that you hand feed the pups at so young an age. Check with your vet for a recommendation but first have the vet take a look at momma and see if there is an inadequate supply of milk. Sometimes it's just us worrying too much.

Answer 7

Let them feed from mom for the next 2 weeks... Also you can offer them some baby cereal milked down... and once they start there thicken it up some slowly and then add some soft / wet food that is a patte

Answer 8

You should continue to let them feed off of the mother, she has enough milk. Just make sure she is eating healthy. If you want in about 1 week, you can mix some evaporated milk with water so when they use the bathroom it can be solid. They will in up weening off of her when they get teeth.When you do satrt feeding them, make sure it is a good brand name food, & stick to it if they like it & their growing healthy.

Answer 9

we just had a litter of puppies and i always kept mushy dog food down starting at 2 1/2 weeks they started eating at 3 weeks so i say the sooner they will eat it then let them but dont wean them from mom yet.

Answer 10

Nope, leave them to mama dog for a while. All you will get is a big mess to clean up if you introduce food. At about a month she will start to ween the pups as their teeth will become uncomfortable for her to nurse them. Then introduce some puppy kibble with a little chicken broth each day until you notice them eating only the kibble.