Our dog gave birth to 3 beautiful puppies and at only three weeks, she is starting to get DRY and doesn't care to feed them anymore. She will occasionally feed them , but it just doesn't seem like they are getting enough. How old do they have to be.
They don't even have teeth yet. Help and Ideas please.
2007-03-06 09:59:01 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
A puppy should be 8 weeks old before you stop giving them their mothers milk.
2007-03-13 10:44:19 · answer #1 · answered by smile 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I had asked this question before because i just bought a puppy from a breeder not too long ago... The breeder told me that around 6 weeks is when they can start to eat solid foods (because they are getting their baby teeth). Eukanuba is the best food for them, and the easiest on their digestive system. And there is always formula in pet stores that will help out the transition from milk to solid food. Add a little water to the solid food to make it easier for them as well.
2007-03-14 08:58:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mix the warm water and puppy chow in a blender. Now,,, take a regular dinner plate, place a small bowl upside down in the center of the plate and distribute the food around the bowl. As the puppy's get larger you will need to replace the plate with a serving dish that has higher sides. This really makes a difference in keeping the pups clean because without the bowl it will be one of the pups standing in the center instead.
Separate the mother from them during the day and put her back with them at night. It is very important that you keep them nursing at least a little until they are 5 weeks. This is because it is by nursing that they retain their mothers immune system.
2007-03-06 10:17:14 · answer #3 · answered by tom l 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Puppies begin to eat moistened food as early as 3 weeks.Just go and get puppy food (Dry) moisten it with warm water and offer it to the pups.You must use a flat saucer or plate so as not to let them fall into it head first.Separate Mom from pups or she will gobble it up!She won't like it but she will continue from now on to wean them.Just give her a little help.I use Eucanuba Small Bite puppy food but there are many good Dry foods available.Good luck !!!!!Puppy Chow is fine too.Good Luck!!!
2007-03-14 10:06:32 · answer #4 · answered by mcnatt c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can moisten the food and feed small amounts at 4-5 weeks. Make it kinda runny then gradually decrease the amount of water until they are on all dry puppy chow by about 6-8 weeks old .I would ask your vet for a supplemental formula to feed by bottle to make sure they are getting enough milk until the are 6 weeks old .
2007-03-14 08:06:17 · answer #5 · answered by darsow@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same thing happened to the last dog we had to give birth. She accidentally got pregnant and it was too late to get rid of the babies so we had to go through the labor. The mother didn't want anything to do with the puppies around their third week and would not feed them. We had to hold her in place in the bed so the puppies could eat. Soon we tried feeding the puppies scrambled eggs, that's what we had done in the past and almost every puppy we feed them to liked the eggs, this bunch didn't so we took bread and broke it into little pieces and covered it with milk (we drink 2% so that's what we used) and warmed it up in the microwave and hand feed it to them, seemed to work until they got old enough to soak puppy food in milk and do the same.
2007-03-11 14:48:09 · answer #6 · answered by Rissy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the puppies.
Most puppies have their incisors and molars grow in around four to six weeks of age. Around the same age, they usually start eating some of the mother's food if they have access to it, and at that point they're usually ready to be weaned.
Since yours are only three weeks old, I would consult with your vet about this. He may recommend that you feed a soft puppy food and supplement it with giving milk replacement from a bottle. Milk replacement can be purchased at most pet stores.
2007-03-06 10:46:07 · answer #7 · answered by Abby K9 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Usually about four to five week when they have started getting their teeth. If however the mother has started weening them the you need to supplement their diet. Make sure to have puppy chow available mixed with water. You may have to sort of encourage the puppies to eat this by putting it on your finger initially.
2007-03-14 10:33:03 · answer #8 · answered by don n 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They need to be around 8 weeks old before you give them puppy food.... Make sure it is watered down to mush though, because they don't have teeth, and their mouthes are are sometimes very tiny... I had chihuahua puppies that is how I got this idea.... Wait for the solid food crunchy food for at least 2 more weeks after you start the watered down food... I hope this helps... ^-^
2007-03-14 09:33:32 · answer #9 · answered by Yuna 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Um keep the mother on puppy food. This will help her produce milk. start laying down wet food for the pups. you can buy those at petsmart. make sure to put the pups near it so they see it and if you really want to you can nudge their noses in it. After they get used to that, start getting hard puppy food and put a little water in it. Then they can be changed over to hard later
2007-03-13 07:51:37 · answer #10 · answered by Cat Lover 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to bottle feed the pups for another week or so - Go to the pet store and get formula / bottles. When they are 4 weeks, start mixing puppy food with formula until it's mushy, but continue to feed them by bottle. The more real food they get, the less they will want the formula, but it's a good idea to continue bottle feeding them until the time they are at least 6 weeks, if not 7.
2007-03-06 10:20:23 · answer #11 · answered by Yo LO! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋