we just inherited five chihuahuas a friend didnt want anymore so i am the new owner they are only 10 weeks old what is the best food for them now andwhat is a good way to potty train them because they are in a box as they are so little but they make mess in box then i have to wash and change them everyday like babies which i dont mind maybe theres an easier way???
2007-12-19 04:48:29 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
and yes they have been to the vet and he said milk for now but i dont know??
2007-12-19 04:49:26 · update #1
thats why im asking because i dont think the vets answers is right either and yes we have a different vet!!!!
2007-12-19 04:54:18 · update #2
First, no vet worth his salt is going to tell you to give 10 wk old puppies milk.
By now they should be able to eat a good puppy food for small breeds. If necessary soak it in warm water for a hour or so to soften.
The easiest way to keep a litter of puppies is a baby pool lined with lots of layers of old newspaper, or cedar shavings. This makes it easy to clean up mess as they make it...it's absorbant and limits the spread of the mess.
The baby pool should be surrounded by a puppy pen or wire that will keep them from climbing out and getting into trouble/mischief when you can't watch them.
HOWEVER, at 10 wks these pups should have a routine of being let out of their pen every couple of hours to go potty outside. When I have litters, they learn very early to do their business outside and by 10 wks most have gone to their new homes with comments of how they were practically housebroken already.
Your pups are old enough for new homes and it would be best to do that as soon as possible so you don't have the burden of cleaning up after all of them. In the meantime, just try to take them out as often as possible....immediately after they nap and again a few minutes after each feeding. Puppies basically have a cycle; eat, potty, play, sleep. Just get them on a good routine and they'll catch on quickly
2007-12-19 05:01:22 · answer #1 · answered by Becky 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Like the other posters said, you don't need milk - just a good quality dog food for small breeds.
For the potty issue, I would suggest putting them in a larger space (maybe a spare bathroom ?). You can partition it so it is not TOO big and you can put down "puppy pads" for them to go on.
You can purchase puppy pads at pet stores or at walmart. They're just thin, absorbent pads that you put on the floor. The best ones are scented (you won't be able to smell it but the pups will) to encourage the puppies to use it for a potty. A lot of people use them as the first step in house training. You can just roll 'em up and toss 'em.
Also, puppies that are in a small enough space that they can soil in it and have to get it on them become very difficult to housetrain as they get older. You'll save yourself headache later if you get them out of the box now and let start to learn that they don't want to mess in their "den."
2007-12-19 05:04:53 · answer #2 · answered by surprisewind 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously they should be eating solid food by now. I have a Jack Russell and I started feeding her solid food at 6 weeks (she came from a shelter). Just soften the food a little bit so that it can go down easier.
You are not supposed to wash them everyday, but if they keep soling themselves, do it. You don't want them running around with poop and urine all over them. Open the space some, and close it when they get older. When training, they should only have enough room to stand and turn and comfortably..
2007-12-19 05:58:52 · answer #3 · answered by Tom M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't be washing them everyday, it will dry out their skin.. it really isn't good for puppies to be bathed that much. Even a full grown dog shouldn't be washed too often. As for the pups, can you put them in any room in your house? Maybe the kitchen? Buy a baby gate and keep them in one area of the house. On a floor that they can't ruin. As for training them.. they're still young so it will take time. But make sure they know where the door is, and take them out often. You are certainly going to have your hands VERY full for a while!... Also, try crate training.. it is an excellent idea. Dogs usually won't go to the bathroom in them, and they sleep threw the night... well.. it takes some time. But, good luck
Oh, and PLEASE get these dogs FIXED!
2007-12-19 04:54:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The VET said MILK???? I'd find another vet. They are well old enough to be eating a good, high quality dry kibble, and good old H20. You need to kennel train them this isn't going to be easy with 5 of them.
Cool another vet is the best idea, sorry it's just hard to hear a vet said that, scary really.
2007-12-19 04:54:24 · answer #5 · answered by Calamitty 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
your vet probably told you milk is OK for now because they weren't weaned,
changing their food suddenly is not good for them.
i wean my puppies onto Farley's rusks mixed in with their milk, then i add puppy meal, then raw minced steak, but you could use cooked chicken instead. then your choice of dry puppy food mixed with the meat (tinned is just full of water so your puppies need to be given more).
a box is not ideal to keep puppies in, especially as they are 10weeks, they need to be able to see everything around them, try to get a puppy pen, put lino under it and paper or pads on top of the lino, you need to change the paper regularly, instead of washing them everyday use baby wipes, regular bathing is not good for their skin.
are you selling the puppies?? if you are, advertise them now as soon as they are weaned they can go to new homes, 10-12 weeks is the best time for little dogs to be re homed. the older they are, the longer it will take them to adapt.
2007-12-19 06:09:18 · answer #6 · answered by little miss cavalier 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 10 weeks of age, they no longer need milk. Give them a high-quality puppy food and get a new vet. They also need puppy vaccinations.
2007-12-19 04:53:06 · answer #7 · answered by Dig It 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is NO vet that told you 10 weeks old Chi's should be getting MILK for food.
Get a GOOD quality small breed puppy kibble and SOAK it in hot water. Feed 3-4 times daily. Keep water available at all times.
2007-12-19 04:52:17 · answer #8 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
when potty training my dog we sectioned off a bit of the garden by the back door and made her go out there for doing her business. it worked well and if she ever tried to do it in the house we would squirt her with a small water spray so that she knows she must not do it. It works.
2007-12-19 05:08:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got a chiuaua a month ago and they told me to give him milk and one of my friends go a chiuaua from the same guy a day later. I got home and feed him Royal Canin from Petsmart and he got a nice coat and a nice body. My friend kept feeding him milk and it got skinier everyday. Soon enough he died because he wasnt feed right and my dog is healthyer than ever
2007-12-19 04:56:32 · answer #10 · answered by Boricuaboi 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋