questions about new puppies?

Question

A lady who was obviously unfit to take care of a litter of puppies (they were dirty and neglected) gave me a couple 3 week old pups. They are a german shepherd/golden retriever mix.

Isn't that way too early for them to be separated from their mom?? She already had them in a separate room because she said the mom was annoyed by them, so I didn't feel guilty taking 3 of them to my house where they would be taken care of better.

They cry ALL THE TIME! I know puppies probably cry a lot but if they're not sleeping they cry until I come and hold them.. I feed them twice a day and they always have water so I can't think of any reason why other than they miss their mom?

They were so dirty that I gave them a bath, and one of them was shaking a lot, even after she was dry. It wasn't because they were too young to bathe was it?

Will they have a hard time being separated when its time for them to go to new homes? When do you think is the right time to separate them?

Answer 1

Yes, they are wayyyy too young to be away from their mother. You've just become mom. (no, most puppies who are healthy and happy do not cry a lot... they eat, poop and sleep... at 3 weeks they can barely eat solid food, let alone play).

They need to be fed every 3-4 hours round the clock (yes, their mother gets annoyed and tells them off.. but that is how they learn doggy manners).

Yes, it probably was too young to bathe, but its done now, don't worry about it.

Your job now is to keep them fed and have humans spend as much time as possible with them (I have the neighbor kids come and play with my pups after 6 weeks of age).

You may want to set up a penned in area where they can sleep in clean blankets (washed when the get soiled) and have the other end with potty pads or newspapers. In a short while they'll start needing washable toys that are safe to chew on. I usually set up my pen with a crate and blankets on one end to help them with crate training.

Do not separate them until 8-12 weeks. If you know a puppy friendly dog you may want to consider allowing them time with that adult dog.

You're, essentially, raising orphaned puppies now.

Feel free to email me at [e-mail]

Answer 2

That was way to early to be taken from their mother. They should be fed a minumun of 4 times a day. Make sure you are feeding them a quality food mushy and not purina anything. They need better nutrition. Find a food with no more then 2 grains listed in the first 5 ingredients. Its also time for them to be wormed for the first time. Get a weight on them and get some wormer from the vet right away. They will need another dose in 7 to 10 days. The worms could be part of why they are crying a lot.
They will separate ok at 8 weeks. NO sooner, they have already been deprived of the teachings of their mother, the 3 of them together will teach other some things, like pack order and not biting to hard. Make SURE whoever gets these pups will spay and neuter them so they do not have the same fate as their mother and the rough start they have had. Be resposnible please and choose your homes wisely.

Answer 3

at 3 weeks old they are to young to have been taken from mom.
Yes mom would get tired of being with them all the time but she should not have been seperated completely.
3 week old pups are able to try to start weaning but this usually is done at 4-5 weeks.
These pups should be on either puppy formula or goats milk that is warmed. and be fed every 3 hours 24/7. At 4 weeks they can be started on very mushy dry food ( I have been breeding for 20 years and have very healthy dogs and pups and I feed Purina) this should be offered at least 4 times a day and continue to follow up with the milk.
at 5 weeks make the food a little thicker. At 6 weeks a little thicker and add some dry to it and then start leaving water and a small bowl of dry so they can try to munch if they want. by 7- 8 weeks they should be on just solid food.
The pups should be wormed evey 2 weeks and they should have fist vaccines at 6 weeks old.
They can go to new homes at 8 weeks and should have had at least 2 wormings and their first vaccine.
Teh wormer should be gotten at teh vets office.
They should be on a heating pad until they ar about 6 weeks old.
If you feel they need to be bathed they should be blown dry
If you need anything else feel free to email me at [e-mail]

Answer 4

3 weeks old is WAY too young to be away from the mother. Puppies are weaned by about six or seven weeks--that is the EARLIEST it's okay to separate them. At three weeks they still need milk. You can buy Esbilac dog formula milk at the pet store. Put it in a small bottle or small syringe or dropper and feed them slowly every few hours. They should not be eating solid food consistently yet, and certainly not hard food. At around 3 weeks they can start having soft food mixed with the formula but they still need the formula separately for most of their nutrition.

I'm not sure how the pups are doing with their pooping and peeing, but they should at this stage be able to do it by themselves. If one of the puppies doesn't seem to be going potty, get a warm damp washcloth and gently wipe its bottom, like a mother dog licking. This may help it to go. If it doesn't and the pup still seems sick, take it to a vet immediately. You will only need to do this in the beginning. As I said, by now puppies should be able to potty by themselves.

Puppies do cry a lot. They need to be fed frequently and kept warm. You will have to be the mother dog for them for a few more weeks until they're eating hard food. Talk to a vet for more specifics, including the weaning process. Good luck with the pups.

Answer 5

You must feed a 3 week old pup about every three hours.I would suggest getting a pasteboard box and put a heating pad in the box then place a thick towel folded on top of the heating pad and place the control on low.This will keep the babies warm,as pups don't usually cry unless they're cold ,or hungry.When they reach four weeks old ,you can began trying to feed the dry puppy food soaked in warm water til softened.These pups should have been wormed at two weeks old,then again every two weeks,but would suggest seeing a vet to do that ,as you may overdose them.

Answer 6

they are too young... You really need to buy a baby bottle ,since they are a large breed a regular baby nipple will be fine, if it seems like they aren't getting enough out slit the holes in the nipple just a little to open it up better.. I suggest a formula of 1 pint whole milk 1 teaspoon of white Karo Syrup, and the YOLK ( not the whites) of 1 egg for protein. Warm it like you would for any baby as not to give them a tummy ache but not to warm.You should not be able to feel a drop of it on your forearm skin..making it about 98 degrees. DO NOT heat in micro.. or if you just have to, 30 sec intervals maybe twice then test, leave top off of the bottle or it will blow up. They should get all they will hold 4 times a day.. for at least 3 more weeks .. I would introduce "solids" around 5 weeks.The heating pad is a good suggestion but you'll need to turn it off for short periods as to not dehydrate the pups.. And never leave it on over night unattended.. a nice fuzzy blanket would be a better choice.. Take an old wind up alarm clock and put in a nice box along with the blanket.. puppies like to feel secure in a nest or enclosed area its comforts them, so will the regular tick of the clock.. they will soon calm down. a few soft toys would help them chew those milk teeth in and news ones out... And give them company... I agree with the warm wash cloth but take it real easy doing it because you can cause irritation and actually cause bleeding if not done delicately.. After all it is baby skin... A little Vaseline, rubbed on the rear will have the same effect..

Consult a Vet if you think you need to.. Enjoy being a MOM...:D

Answer 7

They should be fed more than twice a day. Offer them food every hour or two.

Contact your local vet, and they'll give you basic information on how to care for such young pups.

They shouldn't really be bathed, until 8 weeks old, but if they were filthy, it's fine, just make sure the water was lukewarm.

They shouldn't be separated until they go to their new homes, which shouldn't be until they're between 8 - 12 weeks old.

Answer 8

Unfortunatly yes this is way to young to be away from mom and yes they should he fed way more then twice a day. they should be eating about 8 time a day about every 2 to 3 hours. They should still be getting puppy milk and try mixing the milk with a high quality canned foos to get them interested. Continue feeding the milk with a bottle or eye dropper until they are 5 weeks then start doing the food and milk mix.

Make sure you do not give them human milk though only puppy milk and it has to be warm
Good luck. that lady should fix her dog!! Hope they all make it.

PS the heating pad idea is a good one!!

Answer 9

This was way to early for them to be separated from their mother, but it sounds like you took them for a good reason. Here are a couple tips:
-Make sure you still feed them milk by an eye dropper. They should not drink water yet, they are too young.
-When the puppies are five weeks old(or when they get fully visible teeth) start feeding them normal food with some water in it to get them to start drinking water as well.
-Keep them in a contained area and do not let them outside until they have had their first shots and are 5 weeks old.
-Do not give them a bath again simply towel bath them.

Puppies cry no matter what age. They will miss their mother and there is nothing better to do than spend lots of time with them. Hopefully soon they will think of you as their mother! Hope this helps!

Answer 10

Now that you have them, start dropper feeding them milk replacer. I like maternalac, but anything at a 40-30 content will do even if you make it yourself. The higher the fat/protein content the better. Try to make the carb content at least 20percent.

At three weeks they will be ok. Yes they were too young to leave Mom, but you have them now. So feed them. I have raised young puppies or supplemented them many times. It is a lot of work, but they will be fine if you are willing to do it. They need wormed now. Pyrantel can be used at three weeks. My vet gives .2cc to each puppy at that age. I feed young puppies (under 8 weeks) 6 times a day.